February 2

Flu

As the flu and other forms of sickness have been keeping the people busy, very naturally there is little news other than that related to the sick. And to tell the story in full, nearly every home would have its quota. Fortunately, there are only a few serious cases, but literally hundreds of mild ones keeping the physicians on the jump.

Coal Shortage In County Acute

The coal situation in the County is daily becoming more acute. On Saturday Emmitsburg was reported to be entirely without anthracite coal. It is reported that Ladiesburg is practically without hard coal and that several other towns in the county are in a like predicament.

It was reported by one dealer from Emmitsburg that he had received a letter from the coal dealer, through whom he buys most of his coal, stating that it expects to ship two car loads to Emmitsburg the first part of this week. Emmitsburg residents are now burning corncobs and wood in lieu of hard coal.

The number of Emmitsburg house owners with no coal or a very small quantities on hand, is said to be large, there are approximately from 45 to 46 tons of hard coal in each carload, so that the shipment now in route should give Emmitsburg nearly 100 tons of coal. Coal is everywhere being doled out in small quantities this year, so that this amount should do much to alleviate shortcomings.

As of yet no other Frederick county town has reported an entire lack of coal, but it is known that a number of localities are running short, and is expected more will be in the same class as Emmitsburg unless some immediate steps are taken to alleviate the situation.

Blizzard Snowfall Totals 10 Inches

A total of 10 inches of snow fell during the snowstorm, which hit the County Thursday night. The storm was accompanied by heavy winds, which caused the snow to drift as fast as it fell. The high winds that accompany the storm developed into a blizzard. Every state and county road was blocked due to the drifting of snow.

The Frederick to Thurmont Trolley lines were not clear until noon and the first trolley did not arrive into Thurmont until one on Friday afternoon due to the heavy drifting that had taken place along its tracks. Snowplows did not open up the state Road from Frederick to Emmitsburg until late at night.

Another Piece Gone

Last Thursday Ross Eigenbrode got the index finger of his left hand in the way of a running saw at the plant of the Thurmont Manufacturing Co. and was relieved of a part of the first joint. Some months ago the joiner at the same factory, and on the same hand, amputated the first joint of his little finger. Mr. Eigenbrode says he hopes to become accustom to these operations in time. If he does not become so, he is liable to form the habit and by the time he has finished his span of mortal life, he will have been pretty thoroughly pruned.

Not Murder

Rumors were freely circulated in the vicinity of Foxville early last week that Melvin Burham, found dead in his home Sunday morning, supposedly due to suicide, had instead met with foul play. While no evidence indicating that the young man had been murdered have been brought to light, persons living in the neighborhood of his home declare considerable mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death. The tragedy has been the sole theme of conversations in the mountain town since the body was found.

The State’s Attorney seems inclined to think that the theory of foul play was started by someone in the neighborhood who had no direct information to go on. However, he said, the authorities have not been notified of the circumstances of his death and in the absence of anything of a definitive nature, except the suicide theory, no investigation has been made.

New Bowling Alley For Thurmont

Mr. Rouzer has started work on the foundation of a building in which will be placed a bowling alley. The structure will occupy the entire driveway between the Mackley building and Mr. Rouzer’s property. The building will be one story in height and the front is to contain the shaving parlor of Quinn Florence and the bowling alley in the rear.

School Building Vandalized

Mysterious depredations have been committed at Taneytown’s Washington school property, more or less regularly since last November. The efforts being directed apparently towards setting the building on fire, or at least disabling it so that school cannot be held. Several stoves have been broken, windows smash, and in other ways the property interfered with. Apparently, somebody has a key to the building. This is a very reputable business, and it is hope that the criminal will be found and punished.

Ran Off Road In Fog

Mead Patterson, of Emmitsburg, escaped injury Wednesday evening when the roadster in which he was riding ran off the Emmitsburg Road just south of town and upset at the side of the highway. He was caught under the machine, and was unable to extract himself. Oliver Weybright saw the overturn car and the plight of Patterson. The machine was easily turned over on its side and Mr. Patterson freed, no worse for the experience. The accident occurred when it heavy fog obscured the highway.

February 9

Flu

The general health condition of communities remains much the same as a week ago, there being an abnormal number of cases of flu and allied diseases, keeping positions busy day and night.

Farmers Cut Ice

The coming of the cold spill on Monday and Tuesday brought joy to the heart of many of farmers who happened to have an pond on their place. Ice froze the surface of a number of ponds to a depth of five or six inches and several farmers gather their first ice of the winter. Once before this winter the advent of a cold spell caused the ponds to freeze over, but the farmers waited for it to get better, or some of them did, but a thaw came, breaking things up.

This is not the case this time. As soon as the surface of the ponds became hard, a number of farmers commenced cutting ice and storing it in their ice-houses. Several farmers in the vicinity of Woodsboro and Lewistown were busy cutting ice until the snow drove them in late Tuesday afternoon. The ice crop throughout the county has been the lightest in years, according to some farmers.

County Schools Serve Hot Lunches

Between 15 and 20 one-room schoolhouses in Frederick County are now serving hot lunches to students. It is through the effort of the teachers in these various schools that the children are provided with hot lunches at noon.

Among the schools which have recently adopted hot lunches is New Midway. The efforts of the teacher at that school in serving hot lunches is meeting with considerable success, and parents of students seem well pleased with the results.

It has been determined by experiments that hot lunches are beneficial to students and that splendid results are obtained from the use of some sort of hot food at noon.

This supplements the cold lunch is carried by the children. In some schools hot chocolate is also distributed.

It is said that children are improved both mentally and physically by the use of hot lunches, particularly during the winter months. They seem able to do better work and are kept in better physical conditions by being allowed something hot at noon each day. Many of the students in county schools walk a considerable distance to and from school each day, and, it is said, they really needed some sort of hot lunch at the middle of the day.

The serving of hot lunches to school students develops a spirit of cooperation and community pride that has been found to be quite beneficial. The children all eat their lunches together and each day a lesson is given in table etiquette. It is said that there is a noticeable improvement in the manners of the children in schools were hot lunches are being served.

New Thurmont Furniture Factory

Another meeting of Thurmont citizens was held in the Community Room last Friday evening, when a report was made as to the progress in securing stock subscriptions for the proposed furniture factory. The committee reported that up to that date about $14,000 worth of stock has been subscribed, leaving $11,000 yet to be subscribed to make it possible to go on with the suggested plans.

The committee has not been able to solicit all the citizens and are hoping that by Friday evening of this week, when another meeting of the citizens will be held in the Masonic’s room, this will have been accomplished, and another report will be made. It is earnestly hope that the citizens will respond to this call for subscriptions and make it possible for Thurmont to have an enterprise that gives every promise to not only being a profitable investment to the stockholders, but will mean so much in an industrial way to the community.

Women’s Smokers Suspected

Women smokers are suspected of having caused the heavy increase in losses from fires due to "matches and smoking" in the United States during the last year.

For many men, the news is not unexpected. The increase in fires from women folk infringing upon a man’s domain of smoking, follows on the heals of the increase in auto accidents when women felt themselves equal to men in understanding the complexities of driving an autocar.

We firmly believe that the country would be better off if both the 18th and 19th amendments where repealed and men could once again enjoy the fruits of ‘John Barley Corn’ and women return to their natural role of housekeeping.

Plans To Improve Church Property

Recommendations for extensive improvements to the Zion Lutheran Church in Fairfield were made on Sunday by the Pastor Reverend Ralph Baker to the congregation.

In his address, "A Vision For A Greater Zion Lutheran", Mr. Baker outline plans for building a new parsonage, frescoing the church, installing new floors, cementing walks about the church, and digging a cellar under the church and placing in it a kitchen and social room.

The congregation voted to increase Mr. Baker’s salary from $1,200 to $1,500 a year and a motion was made for the appointment of the committee of 25 to investigate the cost and feasibility of conducting the proposed improvements.

February 16

The Flu Epidemic Still Growing

The influenza epidemic throughout the County has grown to alarming proportions, and is still growing. Along with the flu, there is a great increase in cases of pneumonia, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, and like diseases of lesser importance.

The County Health Board says the disease is mainly in a mild form, yet there may be more cases before the epidemic is over. There are a large number of unreported cases, without doubt, in almost every community, and it is this that makes the exact situation one of great concerns.

The flu epidemic is taking its toll on the youngest. John Krieger, son of John and Olivia Krieger, died on Sunday morning. He was 2 years in three months and two days old. He had been ill with influenza only 48 hours. George Rice, infant son of Milton and Annie Rice, died at the home of his parents in Mountaindale on Wednesday.

Clearing weather is hoped for, to help relieve the situation, especially as February is usually the worst month of the year for pulmonary diseases in this section.

Three In One Family Die

One of life‘s little tragedies, the kind that are seldom known to the outside world, and scenes of which is laid out among the sequestered nooks near Emmitsburg, has been disclosed by Miss Florence Garner, public health nurse.

About three months ago, the father died, leaving besides his widow, two single children and one married child. The life of a little family in the country, moved along sorrowfully, until about a month ago, when the son, Walter, age 19, succumbed to an attack of the flu and pneumonia. No more with heard of the family until Miss Garner received word from concerned neighbors that nursing was an absolute necessity if the lives of the others were to be safed.

She visited the home of the stricken family on Thursday and found the mother and three sons in critical condition. She found Carl, the married son, striving to render the necessary care to his mother and brothers. He almost succumbed to effects of pneumonia himself.

Following their immediate removal to Montevue for treatment the mother soon died, leaving two children, Russell 15 and Ralph 10, alone in the world, with the exception of the one married brother.

While the home of the unfortunate family was described as comfortable, their circumstances could not be called good. Neighbors have been doing all they could to assist.

Urge Road Repairs

The county commissioners, together with a delegation from Thurmont and Walkersville, appeared before the State Road Commission in connection with the request of the residents of those districts to address long overdue road repairs.

Thurmont residents have asked for a new road between Graceham and Rocky Ridge, about four miles in length. It is understood that 2 miles of the road in question were recommended by the commissioners last year but that nothing was done about it at the time, consequently the Thurmont delegation said that an additional two miles should be included in the program outlined by the State Road Commission.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Walkersville, made up of about 20 taxpayers, asked for a hard road from the Walkersville and Briggs Ford Pike to the crossroads near the farm of Solomon Devilbliss, about a mile and three quarters in length. It was pointed out that this improvement was much needed in that locality.

February 23

Influenza Cases Declining

Influenza has had a sharp drop throughout the County this week, and health officials say the disease is on the wane. Cases of pneumonia, typhoid fever and measles, also show a decline. Influenza cases were several hundred a day less then ten days ago.

Great Weather

Monday of this week was a real Spring day. So much so that a poor deluded wasp was fooled into coming from his Winter quarters into the cold light of day. We noticed him as he promenaded on the sunny sidewalk and attempted to lift him out of harm’s way; but he was too much of a contortionist for us and we quickly dropped him, and left him to his fate, which we notice later over took him

Error

Our attention has been called to an item in the Eyler Valley items last week in which it was stated that Miss. Ruth Eyler was suffering from the mumps. This seems not to have been the trouble and we have been asked to correct the statement. Apparently, rumor in those parts is that she is instead in the ‘family way’.

Could Have Been Worse

On Tuesday night a Ford car going east on Main Street in Thurmont was attacked by a sled on which were two boys. The encounter took place in the middle of the Square, but the Ford, being heavier by a few pounds was able to sustain the battering of its slippery antagonist, but failed too land a knockout blow.

The sled, coming down Church St. ran into the front wheel of the Ford, was turned by the car and landed the boys against the running board. The boys, the sled, and the car came out of the ruckus without any damage but – oh boy! Scared? Well I’ll tell the world!

The driver of the car stopped to pick up the mangled bodies and rushed them – well, wherever they were needed most – the hospital or the undertaker – when to his great joy, upon making inquiry, found that they were on their way back to the top of the hill and ready for the next venture. However, shortly after the accident, Mayor Rouzer decided it was a little too dangerous and forbade coasting on the street.

Traveling Road Show Travels On

A traveling show came to Taneytown last week, intending to stay three nights, but failed for two nights to have an audience, then left, in a bad humor. Taneytown has never been a good show town for traveling shows, especially when not well advertised, and some free common shows have not helped the situation any. In this particular case, the flu epidemic, very cold weather, no streetlights, and poor advertising, produce the results.

Free Publicity Is Not Free To Us

This paper likes to accommodate various forms of publicity, in the interest of the general good; but it does seem to us that ready-made promotion articles are rather numerous, and that the County newspaper should not be regarded only for the free use that it many be made of. We can ensure a lot of publicity seekers (free of charge) that it still cost us a lot of money to publish even a little County weekly.

Funeral of Lewis Rhodes

J. Lewis Rhodes, one of the most prominent residents of Emmitsburg, died at his home Saturday evening of heart troubles. Rhodes had been in failing health for sometime and suffered an attack just before Christmas.

Rhodes was born in Adams County, a short distance north of Emmitsburg in 1897. He succeeded his father in the milling businesses in that vicinity, but later removed to Emmitsburg where he has been identified with the Emmitsburg Savings Bank, being elected President.

He was nominated by the Democrats for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1918. Two years ago he was elected one of the three Commissioners of Emmitsburg and held this position up to the time of his death. He was an active member of the Reformed Church and Sunday school of Emmitsburg, being an Elder in the church and the treasurer of his congregation.

Motorcycle Fire Alarms Emmitsburg

The entire town of Emmitsburg was alarm when a motorcycle caught fire in front of the garage of the Emmitsburg Motor Car Co., Sunday morning. The machine was being filled with gas in front of the garage when it’s only caught fire.

The tank on the machine exploded and it was feared that the flames would spread to the large tank in front of the garage. An explosion of this tank would have endangered the entire town.

The Emmitsburg Fire Co. was summoned and the flames distinguish without causing much damage to property in Emmetsburg. The motorcycle, however, was completely demolished.

The clothes of Gerald Shorb, Nightman for the Emmitsburg Motor Car Co., who was filling the tank of the motorcycle, caught fire, but the fire was put out without him sustaining any other injury other then some burns about the hands, which are not considered serious.

Read Prior '100 Years Ago this Month'