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The Sixes Bridge Dam and Lake initiative really began in earnest in the late 1960s. The Army Corps of Engineers proposed a huge dam and lake project that would have made most of the Monocacy River between Carroll and Frederick counties a huge V-shaped lake that would have extended well into Pennsylvania on one leg and into Emmitsburg on the other. → Read More
Not much is known about the life and times of Mathius de Sousa and what is known is fodder for debate and discussion among historians, but it can be easily argued that de Sousa was the first American of African descent to be an elected official in Maryland, if not the first African American elected official in our nation’s history. It can also be put forth that he was the first African American… → Read More
The city did not do much in the way of snow removal until the late 1940s-early 1950s. The city did not have the equipment or enough employees to do snow removal – or the money. Snow removal is staff and equipment intensive – and expensive. Today things are quite different. According to a recent email interview with Zac Amoss, the assistant street superintendent for the city, and Steve… → Read More
‘Tis the season for friends, family, fun and well, um, ah - fruitcake. Yes, fruitcake. This year National Fruitcake Day takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 27. → Read More
The cooler temperatures have given us a break from running the air conditioner. We have been delighted to have the opportunity to open the windows and let some fresh into the house. Arguably, there is no prettier time of the year in Carroll County than autumn. → Read More
On July 3, 1925, the American Sentinel newspaper reported the Fourth of July was celebrated that year with baseball, the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 carnival, a parade, a dance, and a community dinner. → Read More
Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, as the day when freedom was granted to over 250,000 slaves in Texas. → Read More
Elwood Kauffman served as a full-time engineer for the Westminster Fire Department in the late 1950s. He then worked for the Westminster and Howard County police departments. → Read More
Between the open dump fires, the mud, dust, smoke, flies, mosquitoes, horse and mule droppings, roaming cattle, hogs and dogs, perhaps the good ole’ days weren’t so great. → Read More
Westminster was not legally a “city” until the 1838 charter — incorporation was amended by Chapter 335 of the Acts of the Maryland General Assembly of 1856, which re-characterized the municipality as a “city” and changed the titles of the elected officials from Burgess and Commissioner to Mayor and Common Council of Westminster. → Read More
Up until the 1930s, Westminster did not have a sewer system. On May 23, 1934, Westminster passed an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $228,000 worth of 4% bearer bonds, “for the purpose of … constructing a complete sewer system … and a sewage disposal plant…” The first Westminster plumbing code (79 pages) was passed by way of Ordinance 249 on Jan. 14, 1935. → Read More
Two adults and one child safely escaped from a house fire in Westminster on Saturday night. → Read More
When Campbell took office in 1962 he was paid $3,000 a year with a $2,100 stipend a year to operate a county car. The sheriff was on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Then, as now, one of the duties of the sheriff was to run the jail. → Read More
It was not until later in life that I learned that not only was Fringer an amazing teacher, but she was also a true American hero, who quietly endured great sacrifices for our country. → Read More
In 1964, Westminster celebrated its bicentennial. The city consisted of 477 acres and had a population of 6,123. Today the city is composed of approximately 6.38 square miles and has a population of approximately 18,500. → Read More
The first historic reference to public safety in Westminster is found in Article Five of Westminster’s first Acts of Incorporation, which passed Feb. 5, 1819. The first recorded “Constable” was William Grumbine, appointed on June 20, 1839. Constables were paid 33 ½ cents for every person apprehended. → Read More
The first mention of an actual Carroll County "fair" seems to have been in 1869. However, Dr. Joshua Hering describes, in a history of Westminster, "Recollections," that in the days immediately following the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-4, 1863, "A temporary camp was made in a field on the 'Fairground Hill,' immediately to the left of the turnpike." → Read More
Historians consider the Westminster involvement in the Gettysburg Campaign as lasting from around June 28, 1863 to after July 11, 1863. → Read More
This is not the first time folks in Carroll County have discussed changing our form of government. On Jan. 19, 1837 our county was formed to facilitate local citizens having local control over our destiny and quality of life. → Read More
Westminster's Christmas festivities took place at “The Forks” at West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue well into the 1950s; which at the time was considered to be the center of the downtown business district. → Read More