25-50-100 Years Ago -- Oct. 12
Oct. 11—100 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1923
Those who are interested in a study of the traffic problems also will be interested in learning that there will be close to 100,000 more automobiles in the state when the first of January, 1924, rolls around than was the case on January 1, 1923. Already Maryland has passed the 200,000 mark in the number of gasoline-propelled machines that use her highways.
New York, Oct. 11 (By The Associated Press) — Babe Ruth trod with a mighty tread today on the threshold of World Series' glory that has been barred to him for two years. Driving out two thundering home run thrusts in successive innings, a feat unparalleled in championship baseball history, Ruth was the dynamo in the power attacks that enabled the New York yankees to turn the tables on the Giants and capture the second game of the series by a score of 4 to 2.
The first field ball games ever played in the city and county or anywhere else in the state outside Baltimore county were played at Cadet Field this city and at Middletown Thursday afternoon. The contest in the valley town was between teams of girls representing Brunswick and Middletown high schools and the Middletown girls bagged the victory by a 5-to-4 count. The other game was between Frederick and Thurmont high schools and was a practice contest and battled to a 1-1 tie.
50 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1973
Nine city candidates faced the same issue Thursday night and found themselves in agreement. The scene was a special candidates' night sponsored by the Frederick County Sportsmen's Council to discuss the usage of and future prospects for the city watershed. The problem with the watershed in the eyes of the sportsmen generally centered on the use of the property by persons harmful to the ecological balance. Motorcyclists in particular drew heavy criticism, but the sportsmen were not against motorcycles per se, but the harmful use of trail bikes. Col. James E. Bartgis described what he felt to be the major problem at the watershed. "The hippies have practically taken over the mountain," he said. "It's the only place where a hunter or fisherman can go, but those hippies are having pot parties there."
Frederick County's Wayne Tucker will defend his title as 1972 National Jousting Champion at the Sixth Annual Jousting Tournament Oct. 14 on the Washington Monument Grounds in Washington, D.C. Tucker, a resident of Jefferson, will be competing with more than 100 horse-mounted jousters from Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina and Maryland.
20 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1998
A Saturday morning fire destroyed the contents of the Frederick Bridal Center, a shop in the Frederick Shopping Center on West Seventh Street. The fire was caused by a steamer in the alteration room used to take wrinkles out of fabrics. According to the State Fire Marshal's Office, the steamer ignited a nearby rack of garments. Deputy State Fire Marshal Faron Taylor said the fire destroyed $250,000 in bridal clothes and other stock, and did $50,000 in damage to the building. The fire was discovered at about 5:30 a.m. when a passerby saw flames and called 911.
A 10-year-old boy has been charged with setting a Friday afternoon fire that caused $400,000 in damage at the Summit Windsor apartment complex at Greystone Drive, officials said Sunday. The boy has been charged with first-degree arson and is being held in the Waxter Center, a juvenile detention center in Baltimore, according to Faron Taylor, deputy state fire marshal. Deputy Taylor said the child poured a flammable liquid, believed to be gasoline stolen from a neighbor's patio, throughout the three-story building's interior stairwell and then lit it with matches or a cigarette lighter. The child confessed to starting the fire when questioned by two state fire marshals. Deputy Taylor said witnesses saw the boy running from the scene.
Saturday began overcast and wet but that didn't deter 150,000 people who crammed the streets of Thurmont and when the sun came out they were already sampling craft fairs, yard sales, food booths and a German festival at Colorfest. The town issued 1,187 total permits for crafts and yard sales and another 47 for food, which was everything from strawberry smoothies to church cookies to grilled meat.
(Editor's Note: The News-Post does not have access to archives from 20 years ago for April 16 through December 2003. The "20 Years Ago" summary will return Jan. 1, 2024.)
