May 26, 1996
25 Years Ago
Carroll County Commissioners Approve Tentative Budget – Westminster – the County Commissioners of Carroll County approved a tentative general fund budget for county operating
expenses of $12,176,446 for the fiscal year 1971-72. In addition, the County commissioners also adopted a roads department budget of $2, 129,000 and a capital budget of $8,603,904. A final budget will be adopted on May 27th after a public review session is held. The general fund budget reflects an increase of 24% over the current year’s appropriation of $9,798,195. The general fund budget will be balanced by additional revenues and the use of unappropriated surpluses. According to Commissioner G. Herbert Rice, Jr., president of the Board, the new budget package would require the establishment of a new tax rate of $2.52. He noted that the increase in the county’s assessable base, estimated at $25,000,000 for next year, would not provide enough funds at the current rate of $2.30 to balance the budget and to provide for the services the public requires. “The reserves of previous years reflected in unbudgeted, unappropriated surpluses have been pretty well exhausted by expanding service requirements,” he added. Community Reporter, May 27, 1971.
50 Years Ago
PARKING METERS A REALITY – The Mayor and Council, who had under consideration parking meters for Main street, both sides, from Charles Carroll Hotel to Anchor street, was a reality Tuesday morning when a force of men started drilling holes for the erection of the meters. It will require about two weeks or more before the work will be completed. Experts in the line of work are employed to complete the job. The injunction was denied by Judge Clarke, some time last April, and an appeal was under way but later dropped by the opposers. The meters will become the property of the City corporation, after a certain percentage of the receipts from the meters reach the valuation under the signed contract. The City Corporation pay no money to the meter corporation. The debt is paid in revenue received through the meters. The parking meters are in operation for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Saturday, the time is 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays and holidays no restriction as to time. On another page of this issue there will be a diagram with description of how the meters operate. Charles Armacost, popular contractor of Finksburg, has charge of the placing the meters in position. The work is being done very rapidly. Democratic Advocate, May 24, 1946.
75 Years Ago
Gipsy Tours On – June 18 and 19, as has already been announced, are the dates when the entire motorcycle world will go “a gipsying.” Remember your childhood days when a band of gipsies
came to town—how fascinated you were by their seemingly carefree life, and how when they finally pulled up stakes to go on their way, you were almost tempted to go along with them. The real gipsies are now almost a thing of the past, but, in their place has come this modern interpretation of gipsying, the motorcycle gipsy tours. Every motorcycle industry, motorcyclists all over the country lay aside their cares and journey in groups to lake or stream to play, and dance, and sing, and to get acquainted with fellow riders, their friends and families. The fact that in 1919, 22,000 attended the tours and that in 1920 this number was increased by twice as many proves that the gipsy tours are gaining in popularity each year. Union Bridge Pilot, May 27, 1921.
100 Years Ago
Mr. P. H. Babylon, who is connected with the insurance agency of Messrs. Wilson & Goodwin, this city, and resides in New Windsor, made a narrow escape from serious injury or death while driving home on Tuesday last. When about halfway between this city [Westminster] and Spring Mills he observed a pair of horses in full flight, approaching him from the rear, and attempted to avoid them by driving to the side of the road. But the frightened animals plunged into the rear of his buggy, crushing the wheels, throwing him from the vehicle, and frightening his horse, which ran away. Mr. Babylon was entangled in the lines and vehicle in some way and was dragged about a hundred yards, but was fortunately not seriously hurt, though scratched and bruised considerably. The runaway horses were the leaders of Mr. Thomas Gorsuch’s team, which had broken loose from his wagon. American Sentinel, May 23, 1896.