Carroll County Times “Carroll’s Yesteryears” Articles
© Historical Society of Carroll County
www.hsccmd.com – (410) 848-6494 –
210 East Main Street, Westminster MD 21157
Page 1
Microfilming Preserves The News
Carroll County Time article for 5 August 1990
by Jay Graybeal
This week the Historical Society continued an important project crucial to the preservation of documents pertaining to Carroll County history. We delivered another segment of our extensive local newspaper collection to the Maryland State Archives to be microfilmed. This installment of microfilming is being funded through a generous grant of $1500 from the Woman’s Club of Westminster. Several years ago the Maryland State Archives microfilmed the Westminster Carrolltonian and Baltimore and Frederick Advertiser (1833-1855) and the Union Bridge Pilot (1899-1922). The current project will microfilm the Westminster Western Maryland Advocate (1863-1865) and the Democratic Advocate
(1865-1928).
Libraries and historical societies choose to microfilm old newspapers for several reasons. Most newspapers issued after 1860 are made of wood pulp paper which rapidly deteriorates when exposed to light and high humidity. These papers become irreversibly yellowed and brittle. Normal use by researchers inevitably causes gradual losses as weakened pages tear and chip. Microfilming provides a high quality photographic copy of each page of the paper. When properly stored, the negative will last for centuries. A work print can be used by our patrons or even loaned to
out-of-state users, something that could never be done with the originals. If the work copy becomes worn, a new print can be easily made from the negatives. Local newspapers such as these contain a wealth of local news about people, places, and institutions.
Recorded on the pages of the Western Maryland Advocate are the partisan sentiments of local democrats at the end of the Civil War. For example, shortly before President Lincoln’s assassination, editor Joseph Shaw provided an editorial stating that it might be better if “Providence” should remove Lincoln from office. Following the assassination local citizens held a mass meeting at the Court House and resolved to inform Shaw that the publication of his paper would no longer be tolerated. Later that night a mob destroyed the press and Shaw was killed. A typical edition of the weekly Democratic Advocate differs greatly from a modern newspaper. The front page contained business advertisements and selections of literature. Regional news, deaths and marriage notices and additional advertisements are found on page two. Local news under the headline of LOCAL AFFAIRS was carried on page three and to provide you with a concept of the content and flavor of these items, a sampling from August l, 1891 is provided below:
“Mr. J. Ed Beaver is still improving his property on Main Street, this city, he is now adding another story to his dwelling.
Mr. John W. Angel of Middleburg, was reappointed a member of the State Central Committee of the Prohibition Party for Carroll.
Carroll County Times “Carroll’s Yesteryears” Articles
© Historical Society of Carroll County
www.hsccmd.com – (410) 848-6494 – 210 East Main Street, Westminster MD 21157
Page 2
Owing to the wet weather potatoes are rotting in the ground. Grapes are decaying on the vines and corn in low ground is about drowned out.
A force of eight painters under the supervision of Mr. Frank Sanford is engaged in painting Western Maryland College. They are making great changes in the appearances of the buildings. A son aged between five and six years of Abraham Leister of this city on Friday of last week fell from a
fence and broke his right arm near the shoulder. Dr John S. Mathias reduced the fracture. Mrs. William Miller, of Sandyville, has a turkey hen that is energetic indeed. She laid 21 eggs and hatched 19 turkeys. Three weeks later she began laying again and has 15 eggs she is about to set again.
Honorable Frank Brown telegraphed to his private secretary on Wednesday from Weisbaden as follows:
‘We leave for Paris today, Frank much better. Will sail with them for America middle of August.’ Col. J. Brook Boyle of this city, one of Carroll’s best known citizens entered his 81st year on July 25th .
Col Boyle is in good health and is apparently in as good physical condition as he was 10 years ago. While his mind is as strong and clear as it ever was. On Friday evening of last week between five and seven o’clock heavy showers pasted over this city and vicinity and mingled with the rain was some hail. Main Street from the Union National Bank to the
railroad was again badly washed on the southside. The fall of water was very heavy. Lightening struck and somewhat damaged the steeple of the Methodist Protestant Church this city.
The following persons of this county will leave Baltimore tomorrow for Detroit Michigan as visitors to or participants in the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic to be held in that city next week. Mrs. John G. Shunk, Messers John E. Stonesifer, Elmer Hoff, J. Hoffman Fuss, John H. Mitten of Westminster and vicinity, W. S. Thrack, George C. Anders, New Windsor, Thomas J. Hunt, Hampstead,
John Paine, Shiloh, George Rippeon, Augustus Zile and Augustus Brown of the vicinity of Winfield.”
The remaining columns on page three contained items submitted by correspondents living in the surrounding communities:
“STONERSVILLE ITEMS. Mr. David Geiman while coming from camp on Sunday had the top of his buggy torn off by the horse scaring and running to one side and upsetting the buggy. Fortunately no other
damage was done. The committee of Krieders Cemetery is talking of putting barbed wire on top of the palings around the cemetery to keep people from jumping over. There were several who trespassed but
it is hoped that this move will put an end to the annoyance.
SHIPLEY ITEMS. Many of our farmers have finished their hay and oat harvest. Some few have hay to make yet. In most instances the hay crop was very fine and the oat crop very bright. Willaim Y. Frizzell & Co. have been through our section with their steam thresher and have threshed out many of the small crops in the neighborhood all of which yielded well for the straw.
Carroll County Times “Carroll’s Yesteryears” Articles
© Historical Society of Carroll County
www.hsccmd.com – (410) 848-6494 – 210 East Main Street, Westminster MD 21157
Page 3
BASEBALL. Westminster has a very good amateur baseball club with more practice it would be able to hold its own against any amateur club. It has good battaries and all handle the ash well. On Tuesday a team of girls traveling through the country played the home team. The girls cannot play even a little bit but the boys did not know that and started it with a dash to play. After the pitcher threw a few lightening balls over the plate he was asked to ease up and did so. The girls went out without leaving the home plate and when the boys went to the bat they slugged the ball hard. Had they chosen to do so they would still be playing their half of the first inning. When the skill of the girls was fully sized up the
boys gave them a chance allowing them to hit the ball and then threw it about wildly to see the girls run the bases. They came to home plate out of breath and warm. The fun was kept up for seven innings.
The girls having nearly as many runs as the boys.”
The back page was devoted to an original piece of poetry, the railroad schedule, advice and additional business advertising. The August 1 issue carried advice pieces headlined, “Success in Merchandising,” “Painted Houses Healthiest,” and “How to Wash the Hair.” Shoppers learned that the B. F. Shriver Co. was offering “thoroughbred Berkshire pigs,” A.C. Strawburger was selling “Welty Whiskey,” Frank Z. Miller had “hot weather bargains in sugar and syrup,” and Theodore Dern & Sons announced his bargain in “wool dress goods.” Each of the abovementioned items is of potential interest to historians, genealogist and other researchers. We wish to thank the Woman’s Club of Westminster for their initiative and contribution to provide that these important documents of Carroll County’s heritage are preserved. Microfilming will insure that future generations will have access to these unique materials.
Photo Caption: A selection of front pages from historical Carroll County newspapers in the J. Leland Jordan collection. Photograph courtesy of the Historical Society of Carroll County
