Exhibit 5

                        Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP
                          Two Hopkins Plaza, Suite 1800
                         Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2978


                      February 4, 2000


Monarch Services, Inc.
4517 Harford Road
Baltimore, Maryland  21214

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We   have   acted  as  counsel  for  Monarch  Services,  Inc.   (the
"Corporation") in connection with a registration statement on Form  S-8  of  the
Corporation  to  be  filed  with  the Securities and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Registration Statement"), pertaining to the registration of 300,000  shares  of
common  stock  (par value $.25 per share) of the Corporation (the "Shares")  for
issuance and sale pursuant to the Corporation's Omnibus Stock Plan (the "Plan").

           As counsel for the Corporation, we are familiar with its Certificate
of  Incorporation and Bylaws.  We have examined the prospectus included in  its
Registration  Statement substantially in the form in  which  it  is  to  become
effective and the Plan.  We have further examined and relied upon a certificate
of  the  Secretary  of State of the State of Delaware to the  effect  that  the
Corporation  is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the  State  of
Delaware  and is in good standing and duly authorized to transact  business  in
the State of Delaware.

          We have also examined and relied upon such corporate records of the
Corporation and other documents and certificates with respect to factual matters
as we have deemed necessary to render the opinion expressed herein.  With
respect to the documents we have reviewed, we have assumed, without independent
verification, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity with originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies.  As to any facts material to this opinion
that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon
statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the
Corporation and others.
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          In rendering this opinion, we have assumed, with your consent, that
the Corporation was duly organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

           Based  upon  the  foregoing, we are of the opinion that  when  sold,
issued  and  paid  for  as contemplated in the Plan, the Shares  will  be  duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

           This  letter  expresses  our opinion with respect  to  the  Delaware
General  Corporation  Law governing matters such as due  organization  and  the
authorization  and issuance of stock.  It does not extend to the securities  or
"blue sky" laws of Delaware or Maryland, to federal securities laws or to other
laws.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the
Commission thereunder.

                    Very truly yours,

                    /s/ VENABLE, BAETJER AND HOWARD, LLP
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