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100 Years Ago This Month

September 1917

September 7

Re-opening Of Women’s Exchange

In response to the gracious and much appreciated demand of many friends and patrons, the woman's Exchange will reopen on Saturday. This demand, the committee said, is very timely; for the library needs funds where written to pay for new books just ordered. People have been good enough to say that, in many instances, they have had to rely upon the Exchange for delicious pastries and for very attractive and useful articles in hand embroidery. This is gratifying to the committee and argues well for a successful season.

Two Boys Leave For France

Two homeboys, Sidney O'Donoghue and Simon Klosky, left New York recently for somewhere in France.

Telephone Lines To Be Moved

In line with the improvement of Frederick Street, the C&P telephone poles on Frederick Street are being removed. The line will be replaced in the alley. A decided improvement to the southwest corner of the square is the concrete walkway being laid on the Fredrick Street side of the post office. Meanwhile, the county has appropriated $150 for the repair of the streets of Emmitsburg.

Wild West Performance

A free open-air Wild West performance was given in Emmitsburg on Monday, the show including one remarkably strong and exceedingly irate heifer, two able-bodied toreadors, and a young tree, 60 feet of fencerow and several hundred spectators. The animal breaking loose from a local butchering emporium and accompanying the afore mentioned properties and the two staunch welders of the Toledo Blade, gave a two-hour exhibition, covering a distance of several miles through alleys, streets and county roads.

Robbery

Sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning the Blue Ribbon Egg Co. was robbed of seventeen cases of eggs. The thieves entered in the same manner as those, who just about a year ago, robbed the company's warehouse; entry was made by prying open the large door at the south alley entrance. The company carried full or early insurance. Another robbery was committed Wednesday night, the thieves made way with a tire, two inner tubes, some tools, and about six gallons of gasoline. The property belonged to Gillelan & Son.

September 14

Emmitsburgian Safe In France

Mr. and Mrs. William Sellers, on Monday, received word from her son, Robert Sellers, a member of the Railway Engineers Expeditionary Forces, telling of his safe arrival, somewhere in France. Mrs. Seller stated that he was well and made lots of friends. It is believed by Mrs. Seller's parents that he is the first Emmitsburgian to reach the other side.

Boozer Tries To Exchange Wife

Samuel Welty, a charter member of the Former Former Boozer’s Association, showed up at the opening of the Women’s Exchange and attempted to exchange his wife Emma for a new wife. The matrons of the Exchange were less than polite in informing Mr. Welty that that was not the purpose of the Exchange. A thoroughly inebriated Welty cursed the organizers for misleading advertising and said that if they "really wanted to raise funds for the library they should allow men to exchange their womenfolk for women who would not interfere with a man’s constitutional rights to drink."

Edgar Rowe Dies

Quincy Edgar Rowe, a lifelong resident of this place, son of Nathaniel Rowe, died Friday evening. Mr. Rowe was born on March 18, 1848, the year of the death of his namesake - Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States. In his early life, he was engaged in the mercantile business and worked in that capacity a number of years for the late George Rowe, a well-known merchant of Emmitsburg. He also served for a time as conductor on the Emmitsburg Railroad. Mr. Rowe then re-entered business life a second time and again conducted a merchant store.

More Robberies

Since last week's issue of the Chronicle, other robberies have been committed in Emmitsburg. On Friday night a side of beef was stolen from the butcher shop of Gillelan & Son. On Saturday, a brand-new tire was stolen from a garage of Rosensteel and Hopp and that same night Dr. Jamison was also relieved of a tire. Detectives are now on the lookout for the offenders.

September 21

Delightful Dance At Fairfield

The hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. George Kebil, of Fairfield, was the scene of a charming dance on Monday evening. The evening’s entertainment was in honor of Mr. Paul Kebil’s birthday. Dancing was indulged in until a late hour and a buffet luncheon was served between the dances.

Company A Boys

Word was received by different parties in Emmitsburg from the local boys of Company A., First Maryland Infantry, now stationed in Alabama. All seems to be going well at the camp and the boys are in the best spirit.

More Boys Ordered To Report To The Colors

Daniel Brown, Clarence Baumgartner, Maurice Moser, Robert Hahn, John McMorris, Joseph Kreitz, Thomas Frailey, George Smith, Joseph Turner, Elmer Bailey, William Schuff, Edward Worthington, Morris Wetzel, Charles Ohler, and Clarence Frailey have been ordered to report to the Army as a result of their draft numbers being called.

Bumper Crops

The corn crop, in this local, is expected to be an extraordinarily large one this year. The corn not only being plentiful but is so extremely large on the stalk. One farmer is exhibiting one stalk that is fifteen feet tall and has three enormous ears. Some corn!

A large number of peach growers find that they have so many peaches that it is a problem to decide what to do with them. The farmers find that they cannot possibly secure enough pickers to harvest the crop. They have a couple hundred or so, but that isn't half enough. One of the largest orchards in the area expects a crop of over 200,000 bushels.

Knight Of The Road

Last Wednesday several residents of St. Anthony's were visited by a poor old "Knight of the Road," trying to induce the sale of some of his corn plasters. The sales did not amount to much. This chap promises to be your friend by selling you something to help heal a cut, but be careful, his plasters bear no manufacturer’s name, and they may be the cause of some severe suffering should you buy any and have an occasion to use them.

Autocars Collide

Sunday evening, two local autos collided in front of St. Anthony's Church. One was a Ford and the other Chevrolet. Those viewing the wreck noticed the little Ford escape the easier while the Chevrolet was badly crippled. The drivers, Lutherans, said they were hurrying by the church lest they get struck by lightning being so near a Catholic Church.

September 28

Hit By A Train

Stepping from the main tracks to avoid the Blue Mountain Express, Y. C. Harbaugh, watchman for the Western Maryland, was struck by a through freight train and killed.

Mr. Harbaugh was born near Blue Ridge Summit, but spent the greater portion of his life in the vicinity of Emmitsburg. Last spring he moved to Hagerstown to be with his children. He was aged 65 years.

Improvements

The cement curbing and gutter work on Frederick Street is about completed and additional cement sidewalks have been laid. Authority has been given for surfacing not only Frederick Street but Gettysburg Street also. The roadway will be concrete and will be done by the contractors who are building the road from Taneytown to Emmitsburg. The C&P Telephone Company has a force of men engaged in changing the company's lines from Frederick Street to the alley adjoining. The work is rapidly nearing completion.

Trojan Horse

A Trojan-like wooden horse, operated by automobile power, was a novelty seen in Emmitsburg Wednesday. The animal, a huge gray Percheron, had a very competent jockey and was followed by a glaring yellow car occupied by an advertising agent for a well-known beverage.

Autoist Arrested

Wednesday morning the deputy sheriff arrested a man from Gettysburg who was operating an auto without having an operator's card. When the auto came into Emmitsburg via Frederick Street there was every evidence that it had received rough usage. The windshield was smashed and on one side of the car grass and dirt were clinging. The charge against the chauffeur was "operating a car while under the influence of liquor." But, on the testimony of two physicians, this charge was dismissed and the operator, who had fares for five soldiers, was fined $10 in cost.

More Robberies

Early Saturday morning a thief, or thieves, stole from the garage of Gillelan & Son, their Ford Touring car. Every effort is being made to locate the car but so far no clue has been found.

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