The Baltimore Sun “Backtracks” Articles
© Historical Society of Carroll County
www.hsccmd.org – (410) 848-6494 – 210 East Main Street, Westminster MD 21157

Page 1

25 Years Ago Holiday Message From Fire Company –

1. Remember all real Christmas trees become dry after they have been cut and are highly flammable. Don’t keep your tree too long.
2. Electric lights and decorations can become a hazard, causing fire and/or electric shock if not properly maintained. Keep a check on yours.
3. Always keep lighted candles away from all flammable material and never leave them unattended.
4. If you plan to burn a yule log, be sure that all furniture and other flammables are away from flame and heat.
5. Dispose of all gift wrappings in a safe, fire proof container immediately. Don’t let them lie where a careless match or hot  cigarette can ignite them.
6. At this time of year there’s plenty of bottled Holiday cheer around, so let us quote an old saying, “If you drive don’t drink; if you have been drinking don’t drive.”
7. Be careful when working on outside electrical decorations, especially when the ground is covered with snow or wet with rain.
8. Don’t spoil any fireman’s holiday by making him put out a fire in your home or by causing him to remove your broken body from a crumpled auto.
9. Remember your policemen this holiday season. He is the one that has to notify the loved ones left behind if you don’t heed the above warnings. Democratic Advocate, January 2, 1970.

50 Years Ago RECOUNTS ALASKAN EXPERIENCE – Coach Stuart Widener, W. M. C. Tells of his Basketball Teams In Alaska – By Randall Cassell in Balto., Evening Sun, Dec. 28. When Stuart A. Widener gathers his Western Maryland College basketball team in the United States Department of Labor school’s spacious, modern gymnasium, there must be times his mind wanders back to the days he taught basketball, and other sports, to the Eskimos of Alaska. He doesn’t compare the caliber of athletes, but wonders how much more could have been accomplished in his work at Shungnak, Alaska, if he had had a building comparable to the Terrors’s plant, instead of the small, low-ceiling schoolroom in which basketball was conducted. “But it was a lot of fun, and I really feel something was accomplished in a constructive way, other than our teaching of reading, writing and arithmetic, in athletics. Democratic Advocate, January 5, 1945.
75 Years Ago Note in Bottle Beginning of Romance – Noticing a bottle floating in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, near Dickerson, Montgomery county, several months ago, Miss Blanche M. Whalen, whose home is near Dickerson, fished the bottle out of the water. It was found to contain a slip of paper on which was written the name and address of Harry C. Johnson, of Columbus, Ohio. The incident resulted in a romance which culminated in the marriage of the couple, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Geo. R. Mays, pastor of Clarksburg Methodist church, at the home of the minister. Upon finding the bottle the young woman addressed a letter to the young man. A reply was received, and regular correspondence between the two ensued. It developed that on the train while on his way from
Washington to his home after being discharged from the army, the young man placed his name and address in the bottle and threw it into the canal near Dickerson, wondering whether he would ever hear

January 1, 1995
The Baltimore Sun “Backtracks” Articles
© Historical Society of Carroll County
www.hsccmd.org – (410) 848-6494 – 210 East Main Street, Westminster MD 21157

Page 2

anything from it. Several weeks ago he visited Miss Whalen. Announcement of their engagement followed promptly. Union Bridge Pilot, January 2, 1920.

100 Years Ago Masqurade Surprise Party – The residence of Mr. Geo. P. B. Englar, adjacent to New Windsor, was taken possession of by a merry crowd of masked friends Thursday evening, 27th ult. The occasion was a surprise party given to Mr. and Mrs. Englar. Early in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Nusbaum, and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bankerd visited Mr. and Mrs. Englar, as the latter supposed to spend
the evening, but later it was found their visit had a different purpose. A ring at the door, and a tap at the window revealed the fact that masqueraders had arrived. Before the host and hostess could  compose themselves about twenty-five masked friends had entered and taken possession of their quiet home.
Immediately Miss Elsie Smelser announced the following program, with assumed names: Recitation, Miss Leah Ensor as Pocahontas; reading, Miss Florence Englar as Topsy; instrumental duet, organ and violin, Mrs. Grant Heltibridle as Flostina, Prof. R. Brown as Dick; reading, Miss Maggie Englar as Bridget; reading, Miss Florence Nusbaum as Sophia; reading, Miss A. C. Engle as Aunt Dinah; vocal solo, Howard Englar as Uncle Bill; duet Flostina and Dick. A larger program had been prepared, but owing to the inclement weather some failed to appear. This was received and enjoyed by all, and after a great amount of guessing, “Who is it?” the visitors laid aside their outer garments and were soon invited to the dining room, where a table laden with refreshments had been hurriedly prepared for
them. American Sentinel, January 5, 1895.