Democratic Advocate

75 years ago: On Sunday, Oct. 26, at Westminster in the Armory, at 2: 30 o'clock, there will be held a mass meeting for women to be addressed by Mrs. L. M. DeSilva of New York City. It is not a political meeting, but a meeting in the interest of Sabbath Schools and right living. -- Democratic Advocate, Oct. 24, 1924.

25 Years Ago: Key Biography is Again Available -- The story of Francis Scott Key, "Spangled Banner," the first full length biography of the writer of our National Anthem, has been reprinted as a Bicentennial project of the Historical Society of Carroll County. The author of the book is Victor Weybright who grew up near Keysville, Carroll County, on a farm neighboring Key's "Terra Rubra." Community Reporter November 14, 1975 50 Years Ago: Democratic Split Gives State to GOP - James R. Shilling Elected County Commissioner; E. Lee Erb Re-elected Judge of Orphans' Court; Republicans Still Control County; McKeldin Makes History in Election -- The Democrats took their worst licking in history in a state election Tuesday when McKeldin defeated Gov. Lane by a majority of over 90,000.

75 years ago: A dramatic debate will be held June 4 in Centenary M.E. Church. The subject will be on the "Wet and dry question: Can the law be enforced?" Every one is interested in this question and wants to hear the arguments on both sides. -- Democratic Advocate, May 30, 1924.100 years ago: Frank Ryan is the most sought-after man by tax collectors perhaps in the state. His land lies in four counties, though his residence is in Carroll. On his property is Parrs Spring, where the four counties join.

25 Years Ago: The new Main Street bar and lounge of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10076 will open to members and guests near October 1, if everything goes as scheduled. The cozy canteen with a bar at one end, a carpeted platform at the other, has dark paneling and enough tables and chairs to serve a crowd. Outside the building, which is between the Community Reporter office and Western Auto, is sided with green stained shelving from the store which used to occupy the space. The VFW bought the building for about $12,000 and has renovated it with the help of donations in time and material.

25 years ago:Maryland Insurance Commissioner Thomas J. Hatem has announced that effective April 16, 1973, the town of Union Bridge was made eligible for federal flood insurance. The maximum limits are $17,500 for single residence, $30,000 for two-to-four-family residences and $30,000 for small-business concerns. -- Democratic Advocate May 17, 1973.50 years ago:A new exhibition prepared by the editors of Life magazine will be on view at the Westminster Junior-Senior High School library for one week, beginning May 21. "Atomic Energy" was prepared in consultation with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Flashbacks50 years ago: The Board of Education of Carroll County held its regular meeting on March 8. The superintendent reported that the construction of the Robert Moton Colored School was proceeding under the general contractor Allen F. Feeser. -- Democratic Advocate, March 18, 1949.50 years ago: About 25 businessmen of Hampstead met in the showroom of the Hampstead Implement and Supply Company on South Main Street Wednesday night in the interest of the temporarily organized body of merchants, preparatory to a permanent organization.

50 years agoAfter careful consideration, it has been announced from the office of the Board of Education of Carroll County that the public schools will operate on and after April 28 on daylight-savings time. This decision is reached due to the fact that practically all of the county towns are changing to the daylight-savings schedule. -- Democratic Advocate, April 25, 1947.75 years agoOn June 10, the New Athletic Bowl will be formerly dedicated not only to Western Maryland College but to all of Carroll County.

50 years ago: The invitations sent by the Westminster Chamber of Commerce that Millard E. Tydings would make an address in the Westminster High School auditorium on April 8 drew an audience of more than 500. He mentioned that the Marshall Plan and the Atlantic Pact is something that will help prevent war, if anything does. The binding of these nations will make a hostile country think before it strikes. -- Democratic Advocate, April 15, 1949.75 years ago: The annual meeting of the Carroll County Society of Baltimore was held April 10. A collection of valuable historical records, incident to the formation of Carroll County, was presented to the society by Edwin Wilmer Shriver, formerly of Westminster.

25 years ago: Members of a Soviet technical team visiting the United States stopped to tour Union Bridge cement plants and government research facilities. The Soviet visit is part of a program of continuing cooperation between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. -- the Carroll Record, June 14, 1973.50 years ago: "A Salute to Westminster," the first program of its kind, will be presented over station WMAR-TV (Channel 2) on Sunday evening, June 13, beginning at 9: 15, by the Westminster Community Chorus.

50 years ago: Eighty-eight Maryland World War II dead are among the 5,864 American dead who have been returned to the United States from Europe. Among the arrivals are two brothers, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hooper, East Main Street. They are Cpl. Edward L. Hooper and Pfc. Robert L. Hooper. Also, 2nd Lt. Richard S. Brown, Army, son of John L. Brown, Westminster, and Irvin S. Schaeffer, Army, son of George L. Schaeffer, Westminster. -- Democratic Advocate, Aug. 27, 1948.75 years ago: The soil special which was put on by the B&O Railroad in cooperation with the University of Maryland and the American Lime Association was well attended at its stops in Carroll County.

25 Years Ago: Town Board Sets Hundred Dollar Fee for Water Hook-up -- Revenues to be used for Development and Expansion of System. In addition to present $350 Fee, a $100 "Water Benefit Charge" will now be required of Mt. Airy residents seeking new hook-ups to the town water system. The idea behind the charge, according to Mayor Lewis Dixon, is that "those who generate new (water) requirements should pay for it." The revenue will be collected as a "development and expansion fund" to pay for expansion caused by increasing demands on the water supply.

25 Years Ago: Mount Airy's fight to retain its school children here instead of having them transported out of the community to other locations has apparently been resolved with the decision of the county Board of Education to adopt plans recommended by the Governor's administrative assistant for Education, Frederick H. Spigler, Jr., in a letter received recently. The local school officials have interpreted the letter from the Governor's office to imply a directive to the State's Interagency Committee on School Planning to provide funds from its contingency money to permit the County to begin planning for new facilities here.

50 Years Ago: Westminster Scores Over Bel Air Dribblers-Herb Ruby's Westminster High School Owls outclassed the Belair High School dribblers, 47-17, Friday night on the Westminster floor. The Westminster girls won from the Belair girls in the preliminary game. Westminster's varsity cagers took a 15-5 lead in the first period of the feature game and won as they wished. Coach ruby made many substitutions, giving his entire squad an opportunity to gain experience. Bob Settle was high scorer with fourteen points.

25 years ago: Maryland's Educational Accountability Act of 1972 calls for a school by school survey of student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. Last spring, the third, fifth, seventh and ninth-grade Carroll County students were tested. This included pupils in the Special Learning Disabilities programs. The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were used to measure achievement in the 3Rs. Achievement scores were then related to academic aptitude in the form of a norm based on "expectancy At this time, the Board of Education is releasing a summary of the results achieved by students in Carroll County, in the 10 skill areas to be reported by the Maryland State Department or Education.

25 years ago: On June 12 and 13, 1976, the Mt. Airy Community will celebrate the 200th anniversary of he American Revolution.While still 18 months away, these dates chosen over holidays such as July Fourth and Memorial Day are going to be educational, entertaining and memorable if the commission, now well into the planning stages, gets the cooperation of every citizen, business, school, civic and service club. - the Community Reporter, Dec. 20, 1974.50 years ago: The appeal for a War Memorial for this city for many years came to a climax when our hustling mayor and Common Council decided that further delay would cause more talk and announced the purchase of a suitable and appropriate memorial to pay tribute to the honor and sacrifice of the fine men and women of Westminster who saw service in the armed forces of the United States during all wars.

25 years: Despite the coal strike settlement, Allegheny Power System Companies, which includes the Potomac Edison Co., are still appealing for restraint in the use of electricity. The appeal is directed to individual residential users, commercial establishment, industries and municipalities. Coal stockpiles at some APS stations are nearing a dangerously low level since deliveries to power stations were cut off in mid-November as a result of the national strike in the coal industry. -- the Community REporter, Dec. 13, 1974.

25 years agoAn airport development group told the Carroll County commissioners last week that they could build an airport for $150,065. That figure is $445,435 less than an estimate for a similar airport contained in a report to the commissioners from their consulting engineers. "I feel the county needs an airport for the proper economic development of the county," Mr. Meyer said. "Aviation is just like TV. It's here to stay." -- Democratic Advocate, Nov. 29, 1971.50 years ago"Vetville" may become a most interesting suburban addition to Westminster when it is completed about the first of the year.

50 years ago: The annual Christmas lighting program sponsored by the Retail Merchants Association will be held on Dec. 5. F. Kale Mathias is chairman of this committee, assisted by P.G. Coffman. Mayor Joseph L. Mathias will present a short greeting and he will then turn on the lights. -- Democratic Advocate, Dec. 2, 1949.75 years ago: M. Samuels & Co. Inc., Baltimore, closed a contract with the Chamber of Commerce, this city, yesterday, to open a branch of the Newark Shoe Factory here. The factory will be on the land of Eugene Reese on East Green Street near the Washington avenue, whose land was purchased and the site selected some time ago. Men's shoes will be made only and will employ about 250 men and women.

25 years ago: The county commissioners are extending an invitiation to all Carroll County citizens to visit the new county ofice building this Sunday afternoon. -- the Community Reporter, Nov. 22, 1974. 50 years ago: The mayor and council announced this week that plans for the dedication of the City War Memorial on Dec. 11 are being completed. Advertising displays and commercial vehicles will not be permitted in the parade. It is requested that residents and business establishment display the flag during the entire day. Dr. Lowell S. Ensor, president of Western Maryland College, will preside at the dedication ceremonies at the memorial site.