100 Years Ago
An article in the Aug. 5, 1911, edition of The Argus reported on some hardy residents' ambitious plans for a summer vacation adventure in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York .
Messrs. Benjamin Whitely and Harold Phillips of Catonsville, and Mr. Frederick R. Huber, of Baltimore, left last Friday for a month's canoeing in the lakes of Northern New York, and from accounts of their previous experiences the trip will be thrilling enough to fill the demands of the youth who dotes on a hard, rough life in the open, with plenty of excitement and narrow escapes. Messrs. Whiteley and Huber have been making these trips for several years.
This year, the itinerary will be:
Starting at the Fulton chain of lakes, from Fulton lakes to Racquette lake, to Forked lake, to Long lake, to Tupper lake, to Racquette river, through Saranac lake, to St. Regis lakes, across the Saranac river to Plattsburg, through Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga, across the Ticonderoga portage to Lake George.
According to officials of the Baltimore County Water and Electric Company, there is no need for fear of a water famine in the county. The supply for Catonsville and vicinity is plentiful and clear. The officials of the company have asked the residents of Canton and Highlandtown not to use the water for sprinkling purposes, as any waste at present may cause serious trouble.
The Catonsville scouts show ability as mountain climbers. They have accomplished some great feats climbing the steep, rocky cliffs between here and Ellicott City.
Who is the biggest scout? So far those who have been around and had a look at all the troops give the palm to Charles Brink, the Catonsville scoutmaster. All the boys of his troop are hoping that they will some day reach his impressive stature and weight.
These are great swimming days for the Boy Scouts and many of the lads who wish to enter the higher ranks of scoutdom have in the past week completed their distance requirements. Every scout must swim. To get the degree of first-class scout every lad must go 50 yards.
75 Years Ago
An article in the July 31, 1936, edition of The Catonsville Herald and Baltimore Countian reported on a dispute about the placement of sidewalks.
The majority of residents of the 900 and 1,000 blocks of Leeds Avenue, on the west side, are protesting to the Baltimore County Commissioners the laying of sidewalks on the east side of Leeds Avenue, claiming that if the residents are to use the sidewalks, they will have to cross Leeds Avenue twice. Because of the heavy traffic on the street, this would create a hazardous condition, it is claimed.
By placing sidewalks on the west side of the street, the residents point out, crossing of the street would be eliminated. There are approximately thirty residents on the west side and only seven on the east side of the street in the blocks affected.
Grace Parker, of Catonsville, former champion of the women's municipal tennis tournament, lost her crown to Ann Harrison, 16-year-old L'Hirondelle entrant, in the semi-final match held at Clifton Park on July 25th.
Stroking the ball in approved style from both forehand and backhand, Miss Harrison kept Miss Parker, title winner last year, in the back court, where the sliced drives of the L'Hirondelle girl sooner or later forced her rival into error. Miss Parker, a court tactician, sensed the cause of her losing game, and at times tried to reach the net, where her fine volleying could become effective for point winners. But on most of these sorties, Miss Harrison whistled the ball past her with well-placed passing shots. The fifth game of the final set, on Miss Harrison's service, went to deuce many times as Miss Parker made her final stand with all her resourcefulness.
Miss Rose Heacock of Woodlawn, who is seventy years of age, went into her dairy and saw a three-foot black snake on the wall. The snake fell into a tub of water and Miss Heacock quickly seized a piece of board and held the snake's head under water until it drowned.
Miss Heacock is being congratulated on her display of nerve and presence of mind.
A very beautiful and enjoyable birthday party was given Sunday, July 26, to Miss Reta Kines, daughter of John G. Kines, of Leeds Avenue, Ridgewood.
Miss Kines received many beautiful gifts, including a diamond ring from her father.
50 Years Ago
An article in the Aug. 3, 1961, edition of the Herald Argus and Baltimore Countian reported on precautions being set in place in the event of a disaster.
A 200-bed Civil Defense hospital unit, the fourth of its kind for use in Baltimore county in the event of disaster, was recently pre-positioned on the grounds of St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Bradshaw road. Assistance was rendered by employees of the Martin company in unloading 364 crates and packages that comprise the $30,000 emergency medical unit.
The hospital was moved from a Federal warehouse in Somerville, N.J., to the Bradshaw site where it will be used to convert St. Stephen's School into an emergency hospital.
Riding west, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Barth, of Catonsville, will spend a month touring states between here and California on their way to visit Mrs. Barth's father, Edward Jessen, formerly of Oella. The Barths have been motorcycle riding for four years without an accident but their longest trip so far was a three-day ride to Ohio. Mr. Barth's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Barth, live on Old Frederick Road.
William M. Phelps, 21, of Delrey avenue, was hurt in an accident in the 6100 block of Edmondson avenue on Wednesday, July 26 after he apparently fell asleep at the wheel of his car, according to police. His car jumped the curb, knocked down a metal sign and came to a stop after striking a utility pole. He was treated at St. Agnes hospital where he was removed in the local ambulance.
The widening of North Rolling road from Frederick road to Liberty road is in various stages of planning by the Baltimore County Highways Bureau of Engineering but it might take anywhere up to six years for the project to become a reality. There is no money in the budget for this purpose now. When it does appear, the county will budget only part of the costs. Owners and developers along Rolling road will pay the rest.
Actually, the unofficial county view is that the Beltway, which is rapidly being pushed northward from the Baltimore National Pike, will take most of the traffic load off the Rolling road, at least for a while.