Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-13

| W aCCuLlulatc WILL ~ NOW cluolS tnS C"l'ltai
contributed.
The object of the promoters of the institu
iion, was to make it as strong financially as
any other bank in Frederick county, which
object has been attained
The bank building is owned by the firm,
and is provided with a modern vault and
safe, and offers as good protection against
fire and theft us any bank III the county.
! The building was erected nf,er plans by
DempwolH, of York, Pa, and in regard to
architectural beauty is one cf which citizens
should be proud.
CANNING FACTORY.
This factory was put in operation eight
years ago by John Root & Sons and has be
come the principal industry Of the town and
vicinity. They employ from sixty to eighty
hands and pack corn and tomatoes, prinC-
pally, and also fruits and vegetables. In
1894 the establishment packed half a million
cans. They ship to Savannah, Ga, and
Kansas City, Mo-, and to less remote mar
kets. Only one death has occurred among
the employees in eight years.
ELECTRIC WORKS.
The casual observer of the Electric Works
building of Richard O'Toole Il Sons could
not possibly conceive of the interesting char
actcr of the interior, unless he would visit
the same and have an explanation of the
work it is doing.
Mr.. O'Toole is the inventor and manu-.
iacturcr of the American Signal Bell for rail
roads, patented in 1880, Track Instrument in
1892, Circuit Controller in 1894, and So be-
low zero battery in 1894, also the American
Snap Switch Railroads now using the Sig
nal Bell. On Western Maryland, 25; Long
Island; Buffalo, Rochester e. Pittsburg; Buff
fpo, New York e. w. Pennsylvania; Union
Central; Chicago Grand Trunk; Detroit,
Lansing & Norlhcrn; Northern Ccn'ral;
BALTIC. Il Potomac; Phila, Wilmington and
Baito Cumo. Valley; Southern Pacific;
Monuugo River r. r. Richmond, Fredcr-
icksburg d Potomac, Erie.
Vincent O'Toolc has charge of the Electric
Door Bell department as inventor and con-
tractor, and for superiority, they supercede
all others He is also inventor Of an Elcc
trio Alarm Clock.
john O'Toole has invented scientific top
which runs forty,two minutes, has other in
tcrcsllng features, and is not yet completed.
He has also invented Il dynamo.
The history of Richard O'Toole as an in
ventor, dates back to his residence at Mt. St.
Mary's College, where he had recourse to
books on electricity. After nine months
work lie produced the American Signal Bell.
lIe has seven sons, all Of whom have nher-
tied his mechanical genius.
A mountain land enterprise is conducted
by J. Wesley Crcager. He owns $500 acres
of mountain wood land and employs four to
five teams to haul to railroads and markets
He also manufactures telegraph poles, cross
ties, posts, rails shingles, pulp.wood and
cord wood lie also operates Il steam saw
mill and water power mil, saws all kind Of
hardwood and furnishes heavy frame lum'
Der. Coal and wood yard at Thurmont.
NATURAL ATTRACTIONS.
\ number Of picturesque spots are 10 be
seen in the vicinity Of Thurmont among
them the falls of Hunting creek which rises
in the Catoclin mountains. On the same
mountain some distance from the falls is II
rock resembling & chimney in shape and
known as the Chimney Rock. 1t forms n
| fine observatory from which to view the
magnificent landscape ou,strctched below
Table and Wolf rocks lie north of Chimney
rock.
SANDY HOLE.
| This most popular resort OF Ihurmrntltes
and soiourners in Thurmont, and the place
of all others which is he hi in sacred esteem
bv teachers, mothers and children; on &C
count of its wild beauty and as having been
the rendezvous of delightful lunch parties of
families and neighbors in the past, has been
mnrrcd of late years by the inroads of wood
cutters who have removed many OF the trees
which formerly lined both 81 les of the road
! way from Gravel Forks to Bear Branch
This was once an ideal retreat for lovers.
| Moses ana lchens covered logs and stumps,
gray rocks, cunps of various species of
! ferns and overhanging branches made pct
ure which still lives in the hearts of many.
The dense shade resisted the suns rays and
il was known as "Thc Shades"-a name FAR
more poctical than the present one. Gum
| Spring is in close proximity and is cha.m
ing spot.
COLD SPRING.
This fine spring is situated about mile
north of Thurmont, and is noted not only
for having caused the first settlement in this
region, but also for its exceptionally fine
water and romantic surroundings, 1t is sur
rounded on one side by a wall of massive
rocks, and the other by Owings creek. 1t is
located in u spot which was once an 'nInter'
rupted forest, but in late years many OF the
trees have been demolished,
The superior springs of mountain water in
the vicinity, and the supply OF High Kun
than which there is no better water in the
county, ought to give this town prestige
The reservoir is in the mountain and there,
fore is not subject to impurities. Bad water
was never known in the history of Mechan-
icstown.
OBSERVATORY.
Mr.. Chas Shipley, of Baltimore, who re-