August 2, 1998
25 Years Ago
National Assoc. Honors Carroll County—Carroll County was honored in Dallas last week by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its Growth Impact Studies Program. In anticipation of growth pressures, Carroll County started development projects on a six month cycle. This interim time period allows the county to evaluate the impact of the previous development on the economy and the ability of the county to provide services. In addition, so that the County is able to provide the best possible service to its citizens the county completed a study on the cost of servicing a municipal charter area vs. the cost of such services on a county wide basis. The Carroll Record, August 2, 1973.
50 Years Ago
FORMER COMMUNIST TESTIFIES BEFORE COMMITTEE—Whitaker Chambers, living on Bachman’s Valley road, on the Thomas farm, who said he was a Communist from 1924 to 1937, testified Tuesday that the Red “underground” then included Alger Hiss, State Department official, before the House of Un-American Activities Committee, in Washington on Tuesday. Chambers, now an associate editor of Time magazine, said in a prepared statement read to the House committee that he himself “served in the underground, chiefly in Washington.” He said there was an underground organization developed, to the best of his knowledge, by Harold Ware, one of the sons of the Communist leader known as “Mother Bloor.” He went on: “I knew it at its top level, a group of seven or so men, from among whom, in the late years, certain members of Miss (Elizabeth T.) Bentley’s organization were apparently recruited.” “The head of the underground group was Nathan Witt, an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board. Later John Abt became the leader. Democratic Advocate, August 6, 1948.
75 Years Ago
PASTOR BAINES HISSED BY ANGRY CROWD—Feeling is said to be running high in the little village of Hampstead, as a result of the breaking up Wednesday night of the annual carnival held by the Volunteer Fire Company. The carnival ended in the arrest of Thos. Zepp, in charge of the amusement concessions, on a charge of running games of chance. After Zepp was led away a crowd of more than 200 persons followed the Rev. Clarkson Baines, said to be responsible for the arrest, hissing and booing him to the parsonage. The carnival has been held in Hampstead annually for the support of the Fire Company for some years and is considered an event in the town. The Rev. Baines is pastor of the Hampstead Methodist Episcopal Church and is said to oppose paddle-wheel games that make up part of the entertainment. The carnival opened last Tuesday and will continue until Saturday night. The wheel of fortune was in progress with a vengeance last night. Rev. Mr. Baines appeared on the grounds Wednesday night with H. R. Wooden and State’s Attorney Brown. Close on their heels came the Sheriff,
who arrested Zepp, who was brought to jail but was released on $250 bail by friends who came to his rescue. Democratic Advocate, August 3, 1923.
100 Years Ago
Severe Storm in Carroll County—The severest thunder storm of recent years passed over this city and other portions of the county on Sunday evening. The lightning was constant and vivid, and was accompanied by a very heavy rain fall. A sewer on Pennsylvania avenue, this city, was washed open, and a deluge of water flowed in upon the neighboring cellars. Other portions of the streets were badly washed. The power house of the Electric Light Company was struck by lightning, and the engineer, Mr. Sechrist, was knocked down and stunned, but not seriously injured. The dynamo was badly injured, resulting in darkness, as far as electricity was concerned, for that night. The barn of Mr. John T. Diffenbaugh, near this city, was also struck, but slightly injured. The railroad track at Main street was covered with water to a depth of three feet, and the gutters throughout the city were filled to overflowing. A barn owned by Mrs. John W. Nelson, near Bird Hill, was struck, tearing out a gable end and knocking off a part of the rafters and shingles. Water in the Patapsco river rose over the railroad tracks at Gaither’s, near Sykesville, and at other places along the upper stream. The south track at Gaither’s was washed out. Rain fell like a flood along both branches of the Patapsco. Democratic Advocate, August 6, 1898.