March 5

Marsh Creek Ice Gorge Dynamited

An ice gorge on Marsh Creek along the Fairfield Road near the bridge at the old Black Horse Tavern was dynamited by the State Highway Department on Thursday. Traffic on that thoroughfare came to a virtual halt on account of the ice being gorged around the bridge, making it impossible for travelers to cross. The blast hurled fragments of ice into the air, cutting telephone lines near the bridge, putting both the Cumberland Valley and Bell phones out of service.

Sleeping Sickness in Fairfield

Miss Margaret Cool, 17 years old, of Liberty Township, has been in a stupor for four days. Several weeks ago Miss Cool was stricken with influenza from which it was thought she was recovering. Without warning however, she recently became drowsy and drifted into a stupor from which it requires some effort to rouse her when it is necessary to give her food and medicine. The so-called sleeping sickness was first notice in this country in 1918 following the serious outbreak of the Spanish influenza. The death rate runs from 30 to 40% and the sickness often last from 3 to 4 months.

Emmitsburg Drafts Bill for New High School

The state has agreed to a proposal for a $200,000 bond issue for school improvement work in Frederick County, which includes $75,000 for a new high school building in Emmitsburg. However the School Board has indicated that the building currently serving as a high school in Emmitsburg could be improved and taken care of for a lower figure. Knowing the stand of the School Board, residents of Emmitsburg jumped into action and had a bill introduced in the State Senate whereby they would be guaranteed the $75,000 for the new school.

March 12

Blizzard Hits

A big blizzard struck the area last Friday. On Thursday the weather was threatening and rain began falling during the night, continuing steadily until Friday noon, at which time a sudden drop in temperature turned rain into snow and hail, this being accompanied by a heavy wind. About 4 o’clock Friday, the full force of the blizzard was being felt, and it was with difficulty that persons were able to keep to their feet on the streets or see any distance because of the heavy snow. The heavy fall of rain together with the melting of the snow and ice on previous days caused all streams in this area to rise rapidly and in some places stop traffic on the public roads. The snow stopped falling soon after dark, but the wind raged all night until noon on Saturday.

The Jitney Bus between Thurmont and Emmitsburg got stuck in a snowdrift Friday afternoon. After getting out of a snowdrift, the driver turned around and headed for Emmitsburg leaving four passengers at the home of Mr. Charles Eyler near Franklinville for the night. The wind and snow about equaled that of March 1, 1914 at which time many barns were wrecked in this vicinity.

Tribulations at Thurmont High School

During the past several weeks numerous things have occurred at the Thurmont High School, which has caused troubles. To begin with, a new lot of coal was received which was entirely different from that which they have been using. Formally three furnaces kept the building warm, but then five failed to produce the required heat. Trouble in keeping the rooms warm has since been frequent, the latest being Monday of this week when most of the pupils were sent home. During the past week Mr. Crawford contracted a severe cold, which so affected his throat that he lost his voice and was unable to be at school for several days. Miss Linnie McGuigan, teacher of the primary school, contracted a severe cold, and has been off duty since March 4. Many children have severe colds, and are at home, all of which tends to disturb the regular routine work demanded from teachers and pupils.

March 19

Boozers Fail to Blow Up Ice Gorge

Ceasing upon the success of last week’s destruction of the Marsh Creek ice gorge. Members of the Former-Former Boozers Association answered the call to bring their most potent ‘hooch’ to the covered wooden bridge over Tom’s Creek on the South side of Emmitsburg. The intent was to place it in barrels on the accumulate ice and lightening it. Given the potency on the hooch, many gathered for what was hoped would be a spectacular firework display. But efforts quickly got waylaid the committee in charge of selecting the hooch to be used, decided to select the hooch by sampling all submitted entries.

The cries of ‘foul’ from prohibitionist were brushed away by town officials, who declared that the testing of the hooch was for emergency purposes and did not violate the prohibition law. Upon hearing this, Boozers quickly complained that the committee was too small, and soon all the Boozers were being allowed to sample entries. By sunset, four hours after the intended ‘explosion, ’ all booze had been consumed and none remained for the explosion. The assembled abundance dispersed in disappointment, with the exception of course, for the Boozers.

Run Down By Autocar

On Friday evening of last week as Claggett Dorsey was going from Emmitsburg to his home near that place, he heard an autocar coming behind him and stop to see how near him the car was, and who was driving it. The machine was hitting up a good speed, and ran directly into the 70-year old man, knocking him down and to the side of the road. The driver of the car did not stop to give him any assistance. After lying on the ground for sometime, his cries for help were heard by Mr. Bishop who went to see what the trouble could be. He found Dorsey in a helpless condition, one leg being broken and his body considerably bruised. Dr. Stone was summoned and Dorsey was taken to the home of Harry Munshour. The accident happened on the Taneytown Road at the outskirts of Emmitsburg. Thus far the name of the driver of the car has not been learned.

Bridge Collapses

The iron Bridge over Double Pipe Creek, at Detour, collapsed last Friday morning, the structure dropping into the water. The stone abutment in the middle of the stream had been damaged by ice sometime previous. The high water completed the destruction of the pier. As the bridge is on the dividing line between Carroll and Frederick Counties it will be rebuilt by the two counties. The Detour Bridge is in an important point and much travel. It is said that the bridge has not been considered safe for heavy traffic for some years.

Plans for repairing the iron bridge over the Monocracy River at Shoemaker’s Ford, about 4 miles from Taneytown, which was also damaged by high water, will also be undertaken by the two counties. The Shoemaker Bridge was built two years ago at a cost of around $20,000. The central post, in the middle of the channel of the stream, had its pier eroded away by the current of the swift water and heavy pieces of floating ice. The plan is to repair the pier as soon as the high water recedes.

March 26

Moving Van Hits Buggy

A large moving van, on the state road from Catoctin Furnace to Thurmont, struck a buggy in which Messrs. Penrose Schildt and Walter Dorsey, cattle dealers, were riding in on Tuesday of this week. The accident occurred in the vicinity of the Catoctin Ore Mines about 11 o’clock. Both vehicles we’re going to Thurmont.

According to Mr. Schildt, he was driving to the side of the road, his inside wheel barely touching the good roadbed. The bumper of the moving van struck his rear wheel. He says he tried to get off the road entirely but seeing the truck was going to hit him he unloaded and let the horse go. Mr. Dorsey also rolled out of the buggy and was scarcely a foot from the machine when it finally stopped in the mud. A calf the men were hauling escaped from injury. Mr. Dorsey was bruised and cut and the buggy demolished. The horse came to town in quick time, the men and calf following in an automobile. The van evidently had trouble getting on the road again, as they did not pass through town until after 1 p.m.

Death of Dr. Trout

Dr. Nicholas Trout, a prominent physician of Fairfield, died at his home on Tuesday evening in his 54th year. Several years ago he was told that his diabetes had developed to such an extent that his days were numbered. This knowledge simply stiffened his courage, working on, un-complaining; doing all the good he could; attending to patients over a wide circle of territory, going through several epidemics, including the recent one, of the influenza. His life as a physician had been an arduous one, going day and night, driving all over the mountain roads to the relief of the sick and the suffering. His people were devoted to him. His work continued until within a week of the end.

Fire at Creager’s Garage

On Saturday, at 7 p.m. I am going to have a large fire in the rear of my garage for the purpose of demonstrating the anti-Pyro’s fire extinguisher. Be sure to see the test of the worlds greatest fire killer and you will be convinced that it will pay you to protect your home, store, automobile or garage against your worst enemy - fire, with this absolute fire protection. You have locks on your doors and windows to protect your possessions against robbery. Have you protection against fire? Remember there are more than three fires to every one burglary and fires take more than 2,000 lives yearly.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'