Finding clues from the past that give us a glimpse into the places and lives of Marylanders who came before us
In December 1887, a 17-year-old girl attempting to visit her sister in Baltimore had an experience that she surely remembered for the rest of her life. Gertie Cleary, a 17-year-old farmer’s daughter from Smithsburg (Washington County), had spent Christmas visiting her uncle in Mount Airy (Carroll County). From there, she traveled by train to Baltimore... Continue Reading →
In January 1900, a years-long reign of terror by a menacing creature finally came to an end, thanks to a man named, fittingly, Slaughter. Farmers and dogs alike who lived near the mouth of the Tuckahoe Creek on the Eastern Shore were terrorized by “a large and fierce wild hog, with gleaming and dangerous-looking tusks three... Continue Reading →
On December 15, 1903, an opossum found himself in a pigeon coop in Frederick County. He had quite a feast, eating all of the pigeons who resided there, including one that was 14 years old. But the coop's owners had the last laugh. According to an article in The News, "The opossum remained in the... Continue Reading →
On Christmas Eve in 1900, The News (Frederick) printed children’s letters to Santa Claus: Arthur Pue Gorman Ridgely, 3, requested that Santa bring him “a little dog and a story book and some candy, oranges and nuts.” In his letter, he reassured Santa that he would appreciate his gifts: “I will be glad and thankful,”... Continue Reading →
In November 1932, the Denton Journal (Caroline County) ran a powerful Thanksgiving editorial to inspire and boost readers’ spirits in the midst of the Great Depression. The piece made a case for being thankful, even in difficult times. It encouraged people to be thankful if they had their health and if they were working. It... Continue Reading →
Out of Washington County comes this tragic tale of a man coming to an untimely demise due to injuries he received from the family horse. In October 1921, 35-year-old John Weisner was unharnessing the horse when it lashed out at its owner, causing injuries that would ultimately lead to the well-known storekeeper and farmer’s death.... Continue Reading →
Those who knew Edward McKenna in life were shocked at the surprise he left in death. The Cumberland man, described as an “octogenarian gardener and expert fruit grower” by The Washington Post, died in February 1905 and was laid to rest on February 10 in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. The Post article described Edward as “…generally... Continue Reading →
Like the other businessmen and merchants of their time, dentists advertised their services in newspapers to gain new business. Dentist T.J. Smithers informed his patients and the general public that he was back in his South Washington Street office in Easton in the pages of September 30, 1890 issue of The Star-Democrat. Smithers offered a... Continue Reading →
Searching for companionship, in 1924 Emmanuel C. Fink of Lewisdale (Frederick County) put a notice in The News (Frederick) seeking a wife. Fink, a 60-year-old childless widower, was looking for a “matrimonially inclined” woman with whom he could spend the rest of his life. In his notice, Fink explained he was financially stable, made good... Continue Reading →
Bygone Maryland 