The first formal government in Taneytown was established when on May 19, 1884, the citizens voted 65 to 21 to accept the amended charter passed by the Maryland Legislature in Chapter 509 at its Spring Session. On May 4 the following year, Josiah Adelsperger was elected the first Burgess. Of the twelve candidates for Commissioners, Edward Reindollar (Chairman), Thomas Thomson, Nelson Hawk, Tobias Eckenrode, and John Renner were elected. George Birnie served as a clerk for several months when he was succeeded by Levi Reid, whose term of office lasted some twenty-five years. In contrast to the first board, today's construct seems much different with Bradley Wantz (Mayor), Joe Vigliotti (Mayor Pro Tem), Judith "Judy" Fuller (Council), Diane Foster (Council), Daniel Haines (Council), and LeRoy "Lee" Hand (Council).

The Burgess, Commissioners, and now Council members have faced similar problems throughout the last 138 years. The key issues have been maintaining accessible streets and parking, adequate supply of water and sewerage, and enhanced fire protection.

One of the original issues that are still a problem today is the streets. The council continues to face this problem today. A $6,000 bond issue financed the first roads, and the records indicate that this sale netted a profit of $228.60 for the town. Various improvements have been made since that time, but the considerable progress as we see it today was made by the State when they asphalted the main streets from curb to curb in the fall of 1947. In April 1949, parking meters were purchased from Koontz Equipment Corp. of Pittsburgh, Pa., and 129 Miller parking meters were installed and ready for use. Having regulated parking on the town's main streets, the Mayor and City Council decided free parking lots were necessary. The United Brethren Church lot was leased, and the Presbyterian Church lot was purchased as a result.

The first Burgess and Commissioners were concerned about maintaining adequate water, just as they were about street access and traffic flow. None of the present Taneytown citizens are still alive to remember the old public well in the square. As the town grew, there was a proportional increase in the water demand. Surveys were conducted to determine how many individuals would request water from a central system. There was a request for a referendum made to the state Legislature. Citizens voted in favor of this, resulting in E.M. Kenly's hiring as a water engineer and the Chandly Bros. of Beaver Falls, Pa., building the water plant, standpipe, and laying the water mains. The bid by Chandly Bros. was $9,104.50. With the completion of the water system, the public well was closed on August 1, 1889. Since then, there has been a steady growth in the plant, and more water mains have been laid to accommodate the ever-increasing demand for water.

Much like water, sewerage problems have always haunted our elected officials. The first Commissioners had to solve the sanitary issues of their day. The Mehring Brothers were among the first to find that adequate sewer drainage had to be provided for the hotel building located on the corner of York and Baltimore Streets. They solved this by digging a drain down the main street and through the Creamery property. The ever-increasing sewerage problem led to the passing of an ordinance for all persons to put in a cesspool. This did not solve the problem, and a complete sewerage system and treatment plant were considered. Since this never materialized, the situation became increasingly acute until the town finally hired the firm of Whitman, Requardt, and Associates of Baltimore to draw up complete plans and specifications for the sewer system and treatment plant.

To cover the cost of the plans and specifications, a Federal Loan was obtained. The first referendum authorized by the Maryland Legislature for $400,000 was defeated on March 31, 1952, but when the $500,000 referendum was submitted on November 30, 1953, it was passed. Unfortunately, when the bids were received on April 26, 1954, the lowest bidder, Wilson & Co., was approximately $125,000 higher than the bond issue. While the Mayor and City Council have the power through the Health Department to sell the necessary bonds to make up this difference, it was felt that the better thing to do would be to submit the problem to the citizens at the general election on June 7, 1954.

With a central water system installed, better fire protection was considered. Although equipment had been ordered and some already delivered, fate decreed that enhanced fire protection could not be started quickly enough. A fire broke out in the town on November 27, 1897, destroying all the buildings fronting Baltimore Street to the corner of Middle Street. The early records are vague on what equipment the fire department owned at the time of the fire of 1897. However, references are made to two hundred feet of hose reel purchased in 1887 for the sum of $165.00. Over the years, the fire department has evolved and has continually won the competition with other fire departments in the County

According to French author Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." In 1884, when Taneytown was being established, the fundamental issues were "adequate water supply, good streets, adequate lighting, ample fire protection, and proper police protection." In this article, the history of most of those concerns is discussed. Those concerns will remain the same 139 years later.

David Buie is a volunteer at the Historical Society of Carroll County and can be contacted via e-mail at downtowntaneytown@gmail.com.

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