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100 Years Ago This Month

March 1916

March 3

New Garage Company for Emmitsburg

Articles of incorporation are now being prepared for a new garage company with a capital of $15,000. Options have been taken on several pieces of property and it is expected that very shortly building operations will begin. Under the articles of incorporation, this company is empowered to buy, sell and deal generally in motor vehicles of all classes including accessories. Quite a number of local men have already taken stock in the new enterprise and the subscription list is still open. Par value of shares is $10.

Auto Collides With Buggy

The Standard Oil truck collided with a buggy driven by Robert Witherow of Cumberland Township, along the Emmitsburg Road, near Gettysburg, on Monday morning, but the results were not serious. The buggy of Mr. Witherow was broken slightly and the mule was cut about one of its legs.

Civic League Plans Improvements

The Civic league has announced it will offer prizes -the first $2.50, the second $1.50 in the third one-dollar for the best rear premises from April 1 to October 1, the object being to encourage property owners to keep their lots in a sanitary and presentable condition. It was explained that this did not necessarily mean that flowers were to be grown, but that fences were to be whitewashed, paths cleaned and well defined and garden beds be kept in a trim and attractive manner.

The League will secure a number of ornamental trees and will distribute them to any who agreed to plant them. A number of strong and thoroughly practical flytraps were also contracted for. The league committed itself to the payment of five cents a quart for dead flies.

As a means of obtaining money for the activities of the League, it was decided to hold a spelling bee on Friday evening March 1. Spelling bees, which were quite popular last season, have lost none of their attractions and they are the means of contributing much pleasure to the viewers. As their admission is merely nominal, $.10, it is hoped that a greater number than ever will take part.

March 10

Boarding House Burned

Fire early Tuesday morning destroyed a large 12-room boardinghouse at Blue Ridge Summit. The property was valued at $9,000. The fire was the work of an incendiary, it is supposed, as the building was not occupied at the time. It was one of the oldest buildings in the Blue Ridge section having been erected by the Western Maryland Railroad when the line was built over the mountain in 1867. It had just recently been remodeled in preparation for the summer.

Lack of Ice

Ice cutters in the rural districts, especially the creamery men, greatly fear that they will not get their houses filled this winter. The supply this year, they say, was the poorest for a number of years, both as to quality and quantity of ice, as the average thickness was only five or six inches as compared with 10 to 12 inch ice of previous years.

March 17

Sales Season Begins

The reports of sales has been very encouraging. Bidding has been spirited and settlements have generally been made in cash. William Smith, known all over the section as one of the best auctioneers is enthusiastic over the good show made. He recalls scarcely a sale season where the farmers seem to have more ready cash then they had this year. As he puts it, "all the farmers appear to have plenty of money." B. B. Wortz’s sale in Liberty Township, last Friday, was attended by 500 people. The best horse brought $151; the best cow $70, the best goat $12.50; the best sow $42; hay $22.75/ton; potatoes $1.25/bushel; and corn $.84/bushel.

May Have Smothered in Well

Last Friday evening, while playing hide and seek with a number of his companions, Harry Boyle narrowly escape from death. In the course of the game the little fellow, who is 13 years old, fell into a 30-foot cesspool and sank up to his neck. He called loudly for help, and in his struggles caught a protruding stone in the unused well, holding on by one hand. When nearly exhausted, Frank Elder, hearing his cries, came to his assistance and with the aid of others, succeed in rescuing him from his perilous position. Had not help arrived, the brave lad, who was handicapped by an overcoat and heavy clothing would have suffocated. Outside a number of bruises on his body and legs and his severe nervous shock there was no serious effects from this mishap.

Unmarried Men To Be Taxed

Unmarried men should pay a fixed sum of money, in the form of an annual tax, towards the support of public schools, according to William McAllister, one of the progressives of Baltimore County, who went to the state House at Annapolis, least week to introduced an anti-bachelor bill. The measure provides that all unmarried males over 21-years of age shall pay an annual tax of two dollars to be used for public school purposes.

March 24

Ice Plant

Emmitsburg will soon have an ice plant. The wide-awake and progressive firm of Rosensteel and Hopp are responsible for the new business. They have closed a deal with Frick Company of Waynesboro, who will install the machinery at once. The plant will have a daily capacity of five tons of ice and the output will be the clear evenly blocked "manufactured ice" so much in demand by the users of this indispensable commodity in the cities. Business is expected to commence by May 1.

New 5 & 10-Cent Store

The Emeralds are remodeling the lower floor of their hall on Frederick Street, recently occupied by a moving picture company, for a Hanover company, which is understood will open a 5 & 10-cent store this spring,

Construction Begins on People's Garage

Work has started on the erection of a handsome new brick and steel building which will be home of the People's Garage, a company recently organized. The garage which will be a modern one will be built at a cost of about $5,000. The plans call for a building 50' x 100' in dimensions built of brick, with steel trusses, metal sashes, and wired glass. The entrance will be in the center of the building and on the left will be the display rooms. The public office, private office and ladies room will be on the right. Large plate glass windows will be used along the street, with brick arches spanning them from peer to peer. The machine shop will be in the rear and the driveway on the south side. The location of the new garage is on the Dukehart property on Frederick Street, and was recently purchased by the company for $1,500.

Carroll County Buys Gallows

The Carroll County commissioners bought the Adams County gallows for $25 to be used in the hanging of Solomon Sudler who will be executed on April 14 for the murder of William Brown, of Silver Run. The gallows was built in 1884 and has been used in two executions.

March 31

Runaways on Main Street

A wagon pulled by a team of four horses, being driven to Emmitsburg from Graceham on Saturday morning, became frightened near the station from the sound of steam from the engine of the Emmitsburg railroad. The small boy driving the wagon could not control the horses who turned suddenly and began running. The tongue, axel and other parts of the heavily loaded wagon were demolished. Although several persons were on the vehicle none were hurt, nor were any of the animals injured.

Storm Damage

Snapping off telephone poles, uprooting trees and causing considerable minor damage, a wind, rain, hail and electrical storm swept over Frederick County Monday afternoon. The electrical storm, according to old-timers, was one of the most severe to visit the area at this time of the season for many years. The Monocacy rose about 10 or 12 feet. Water covered the roads and traffic was at a standstill for some time.

Boozer’s Protest Bachelor Tax

The Former Former Boozers gathered in the Square Saturday night to protest the call for a bachelor tax. The plan to burn William McAllister, who proposed the tax, in effigy, was called off when it was found Bill Shields had drunk the ‘spirits’ that were to be poured over the effigy so it would burn. In his speech to fellow Boozers, President Dan Shorb said everyone knew marriage was an institution created by women soon after man discovered how to make booze – and that marriage clearly was focused on preventing man from enjoying booze as it should be enjoyed – liberally" Mark my words," warned Shorb, "if they are successful in taxing men smart enough to escaping the bondage of marriage, you can be sure they are going to try to tax your booze next." Following the speech, the Boozers retreated into the Hotel Sagle Bar where the conversation generally focused on the good old days before members had been forced into marriage.

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