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100 Years Ago This Month

March 1917

March 2

To Complete Gettysburg Road

The people of this district will be delighted to know that Pennsylvania has pledged to complete the Maryland - Pennsylvania road to Gettysburg. Maryland has completed her end of the road to the Pennsylvania state line, but so far the Keystone State has made no move to build their end of a highway. Last Saturday the Pennsylvania Gov. claimed that he had only recently heard about the road and would push for its construction immediately.

New Sewing Club Organize

14 of the Junior Children of Mary have organized a sewing class and will meet at St. Euphemia on Saturday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m.. Ms. Mazie Zurgable has been elected President of the "Our Lady’s Sewing Circle," and we hope their efforts will be crowned with success so that later on the Senior Sewing Society, which is now doing such splendid word as the "Ladies of Charity", will take them in as useful members.

Shooting Accident

As a result of a shooting accident in McSherrystown on Saturday, young Philip Lawrence, son of this Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lawrence of this place, was struck in the mouth from a ball from a small rifle, the ball knocking out two teeth and lodging in the throat under the jaw, where it still remains. The shot was fired, it was said, by William Weaver, another boy, who was aiming at a board Lawrence was holding up over his head as a target. The injured lad is not seriously hurt, it is believed, and is expected to recover.

Civic League

The meeting of the Civic League last Friday night was one of the most interesting this winter. The most important questions centered about sanitation. The fact that the condition of certain alleys, pig sties, and other objectionable places within the corporate limits have been the subject of continual complaints it was determined that, in so much as these places are being allowed to remain in an unsanitary condition, a condition deleterious to the health of the community, the matter would be referred to the State's Attorney for legal action.

In order to instill the idea of town cleanliness into the minds of the schoolchildren, the League voted to award substantial prizes upon for a limited number of boys who would be willing to gather and properly dispose of paper and trash thrown upon the streets and pavements.

Home Burned

We are sorry to hear of the misfortune of our former neighbor, Theophilis Hahn and family who were burned out of house and home Sunday evening near Detour. The house and the contents were burned. No insurance was carried. The origin of fire is not known.

March 9

A Very Ingenious Pet Cat

"Kitty Kimo" is an Emmitsburg cat - a Maltese cat that does wonderful clever things and displays great ingenuity when it comes to getting what she wants. Mistress Cynthia Clagett, whose protégé "Kimo" is, says that "Kit" comes nearer filling that qualification applied to dumb animals: "doing everything but talk," then any cat she ever saw. All the neighbors vouch for "Kitty Kimo’s" sagacity, and they are willing to wager that no other cat can open the front door like this feline wizard.

The latch on Mistress Cynthia's outside door is at least 4 feet from the level; but "Kimo," like the proverbial lover, laughs at locksmiths and their intricate locks. When she wants to gain access to the house she leaps up to the handle, places her left paw within the loop, hangs on, and with the right paw presses down the latch and, presto! "Kitty Kimo" is within. Hall of Fame? "Kitty Kimo" is the next applicant.

Death of Marshall Saylor

On March 3, one of Motter Station’s most cherished citizens, Marshall Saylor, once a prominent businessman here, later rail road agent and postmaster, died. Mr. Saylor died on the farm he was born on in 1856.

Snowstorm

Paralyzing traffic on county roads, wrecking buildings and flooding streams, Frederick County was hit Sunday by one of the worst snowstorms in recent years. About 12 inches of snow fell in Emmitsburg in just under five hours. In Liberty Township the barns of George Sites, Edward Seabrook and George Shryock suffered severe damage by the heavy snowstorm.

Over $5000 Found In House

Search through the humble home of Amos and Annie Shang, brother and sister, who died within a few days of each other, has revealed gold, silver and notes aggregating in value between 5000 and $6000.

The couple, who dressed shabbily and were apparently on the verge of poverty also, where the owners a quantity of clothing, 20 fine skirts being one item, which appeared on the appraiser's list made public Tuesday.

The elderly brother and sister had spent their entire lives on a little farm east of Fairfield. It is said that only two or three times did they go as far as 10 miles from her home. The brother died the day after the sister’s funeral and their nearest relatives, two cousins, searched the house. The first thing that came upon was $650 in gold, then $360 in silver and finally the balance in notes and bank certificates.

March 16

Found In Hay Loft

Charlie Miller, formerly known as "Dutch Charlie" in this neighborhood where he has lived for a number of years, was found Wednesday by accident in a half starved condition in the hayloft of Mr. George Beam. Some charitably dispose people helped the poor fellow and reported the case to the authorities. Miller was suffering from the results of exposure at his feet, which were frightfully frozen. He was sent to Montevue so he could be cared for properly.

Road Open To Emmitsburg

The stretch of State Road between Thurmont and Mount St. Mary's College, which has been in a torn up condition for several months pass, is now open. The improvement will be completed altogether by about June. For some time it has been necessary for autoists to take another road along sections of the stretch in order to get through to Emmitsburg. Now that the road is open is expected that much more traveling will be done.

March 23

Herman Kane Returns From Trip To German Barred Zone

Many people in Emmitsburg remember Herman Kane, who back in 1898 was the proprietor of the Western Maryland Hotel, now the Hotel Spangler. Mr. Kane remained here for several years before moving to Motter’s Station where he conducted a hotel there for year. For Motter’s Station he went to Taneytown. After spending several years in Taneytown he moved to Gettysburg where he has since made his home. Mr. Kane is at home taking a vacation having just returned from a rather exciting trip to the German submarine exclusion zone.

The ship on which he sailed carried 1,030 horses for the armies of the Allies and the journey across the ocean required 16 days. During the voyage, Mr. Kane was made assistant foreman over the force of horse tenders, and sees chance not only a further adventure, but also of advancement. It is not unlikely that he will make the trip in the near future.

$500 Awarded for Garden

The jury in the condemnation case of the Western Maryland Railroad against Martha Eckenrode awarded the latter $500. The railroad company had purposed enlarging the siding and claimed that the land they required as not worth very much money. Mrs. Eckenrode held that it would be damaging to her property which is situated near Emmitsburg and that to sell the land to the company would mean a loss of a part of her garden.

"Dutch Charlie" Dies

Charles Miller, known in Emmitsburg as "Dutch Charlie," who was taken to Montevue Hospital, died at that institution early Wednesday morning. He was 64 years and 11 days old. His death was caused by lockjaw resulting from the effect of exposure. The funeral took place at Montevue yesterday morning.

Spelling Bee To Be Held

A spelling bee will be held at the Toms Creek schoolhouse on Wednesday evening, March 28. If the weather is inclement it will be held the following evening. Peanuts and homemade candies will be sold.

Formation Of Local Militia.

Ever since the European war began, the need of preparedness has become plainer day by day. It is important that all men know something of military affairs. It is therefore suggested that the young men of this vicinity former a troop of cavalry, or company of foot soldiers, ready for volunteer service. After having been well drilled, the government will provide guns, uniforms and other equipment.

Letter To The Editor:

You stated in your last addition that the road to term up was open. I took your word and after long months of waiting receded to that town. Sure, the road was open-downwards; and I and my little Ford got so deep in the openness but I had to call for help to get out and go home using some very unprintable words. How long do the people of this neighborhood have to put up with the bungling that has marked road building? Have we no redress?

First. The contractor broke up more road than they could possibly complete in the season. The result was traffic was tied up for months during the winter. Think of Payne’s Hill, Franklinville, and the road in front of the college, all of which were torn up last summer and left in an impassable condition all winter. I see now that they are plowing up the Tollgate Hill. Everyone knows there will be no grading until the bridge is built, so why permit the destruction of the road, as bad as it is, until the bridge is ready or nearly so? This seems to be a case of "traveler be hanged."

March 30

Local Branch of the Red Cross Society

By appointment from the Chairman of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Frederick County branch the National Defense League, Mrs. Andrew Annan, is the chairman of the Emmitsburg Auxiliary Unit. The object of the local branch is the formation of a woman's club to make bandages and other needful accessories for Red Cross work.

German Spies Captured

Two German spies were apprehended in Emmitsburg; one on Tuesday, the other on Wednesday. The arrest was the outcome of the activity of the Secret Service Department of the War College at Harney University. The head of the service, disguised as a bunch of dock weed wading through 3 miles of calimus swamp en banc as the quarry was in the act of adjusting a time bomb with which he intended to blow up the Toms Creek Fleet’s cruiser "Paprika," which was laying in anchor at Whitmore's Wharf. A Limburger cheese, a beer opener, and a complete map of the fortifications of the forts along Turkey Run were found in their possessions. The prisoners were interned in the guardhouse on Bungalow Point where they will wait the action of the Spy Corps.

Death of Charles Hoffman

Charles Hoffman, a Civil War veteran, died at the home of his son, James Hoffman, Liberty Township, Sunday morning. He has spent his entire life in that community. He was a blacksmith and retired about 10 years ago. Mr. Hoffman served during the Civil War, first in the 158 Pennsylvania Infantry and later enlisted in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry. The two enlistments totaled 28 months.

Object to Negro Giving Commencement Speech

There is much contention among the graduates of the Waynesboro High School this year on account of one Gladys Willis, a colored girl, being assigned a prominent part in the graduation exercise. For the first time in the history of the high School a Negro will graduate. On account of her high marks the Negro girl has received, she has been selected to deliver one of the commencement speeches. It is for this reason that several of the graduates are rebelling. Several of the class threatened to refuse to appear on the stage commencement night to receive their diplomas.

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