An article in the Dec. 16, 1911, edition of The Argus reported the benefits of a new fire engine were immediately apparent in its first response.
Catonsville's new automobile fire engine was given a thorough test at the fire early Monday morning which destroyed a portion of the plant of the Carr-Lowrey Class Company at Westpor, of which Mr. Carl G. Hilgenberg, of Catonsville, is president. The engine made the run of eight miles in 12 minutes and in a short time the firemen had two lines of hose stretched, through which the engine sent 560 gallons of water a minute at 120 pounds pressure for nearly two hours. The damage to the plant was kept down to 30 per cent. The fire for a time seriously threatened the safety of the entire plant. It was only by the splendid work of the auto engine and the persistent efforts and dogged determination of the firemen that the path of the fire was checked.
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Anthony Krieger, proprietor of the Harlem Poultry Yards on Harlem lane, was one of the largest prize winners at the Glen Rock, Pa., Poultry Show last week, where he exhibited some of his prize chickens. Besides winning a silver cup for the best display of buff leghorns, he was awarded a special first prize for the best cockerel exhibited at the show. His other winnings included six first, two second, two fourth and two fifth prizes.
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The residents of Catonsville who are compelled to use the Frederick road are irritated over the delay of the State Roads Commission in taking the steps necessary for the improvement of that highway. The Commission says the work will probably be started next year. In the meantime, the road, which was never ideal, is getting worse and worse, wearing into holes and ruts until travel over it can no longer be made with any comfort and scarcely with safety
75 Years Ago
An article in the Dec. 11, 1936, edition of The Catonsville Herald and Baltimore Countian noted the damage to a young resident's eye from careless use of a gun.
Mr. Albert Norris, Jr., twelve-year-old son of Mr. Albert Norris of 70 Carville Avenue, was painfully injured while at play Sunday before last. He has been a patient at St. Agnes' Hospital since his injury. Dr. Slack, the physician in charge, found it necessary to remove his eye which had been seriously injured by a "BB" shot.
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Both engines of the Catonsville fire company responded to an alarm on Thursday morning from the automobile garage of Jones Auto Sales, No. 5 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville, where blazing gasoline caused employees to turn in a hurry call for the firemen.
The blaze occurred while James Dryden, an employee in the Jones repair shop, was working on a used car. A backfire from the motor caused flames to strike the top of a can from which Dryden was pouring gasoline into the tank on the machine. As the gasoline in the tank ignited, Dryden promptly threw it from him, thus averting what might have been a serious accident. The blazing gasoline spread rapidly about the concrete floor of the repair shop and the firemen were called.
Employees extinguished the flames with fire extinguishers, however, just before the firemen arrived.
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Members of the Catonsville Mothers' Club will meet at ten o'clock next Wednesday morning for sewing and mending of clothes for distribution at Christmas.
Luncheon will be held and the regular meeting will take place at 2:30 P.M. This is an important meeting and all members are urged to attend.
50 Years Ago
An article in the Dec. 14, 1961 edition of the Herald Argus and Baltimore Countian reported on plans for a new Arbutus Library.
At the November Arbutus Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association meeting, Mrs. Beatrice Williams, librarian of the Arbutus-Halethorpe Free Library and Dr. Edna May Merson, principal of the Arbutus Elementary School, gave an informative talk.
Mrs. Williams announced the start of construction on the new library at Sulphur Spring road and Benson avenue. The new library, a much-needed addition to the community, is the culmination of 14 years of planning and work of Mrs. Williams, Mr. Klein and others in the community.
The new library will cover 8,000 square feet and is to be equipped with adult and children's reading rooms. Additionally, there will be a conference room available to civic groups for meetings. There will be ample off the street parking and a separate inclined entrance ramp for invalids and mothers with baby carriages.
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Baltimore county's oldest wheat thresherman, J. Frank Kalb of 2001 North Rolling road, is celebrating his ninety-second birthday today, Thursday, Dec. 14, with a dinner party at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Roes of 1315 North Rolling road. Among the guests are Mr. Kalb's brother, David Kalb of Johnnycake road and his family and a number of friends.
Mr. Kalb was a familiar figure all over the county for fifty years as he moved his wheat threshing machine from farm to farm during harvest time. He retired from this work some ten years ago.
He was a farmer all his life as was his farmer before him. The family was established in this area more than 125 years ago by Mr. Kalb's grandfather who came from Germany.
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Last Sunday, Police Sergeant Richard T. Davis, searching the car of an 18-year-old Woodlawn youth whom he stopped to reprimand for operating his vehicle in a reckless manner at the Baltimore National Pike and Ingleside avenue, discovered a Japanese bayonet, tools and a pocket knife under the seat of the car. The youth posted collateral of $253 on charges of carrying a concealed and deadly weapon and a hearing date was set in Catonsville Court.
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Robert S. Mellendick of 4820 Carmella Drive, Maiden Choice Village, advertising and personnel assistant for a Baltimore savings and loan association, is the winner of the national speech contest held in Chicago last week by the American Savings and Loan Institute. He is the second Marylander to win the national competition in the 32-year history of the event.
Material from archives courtesy of the Catonsville Historical Society.