Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-09-05
Unique Tax Return Brought
To Light In County's Office
Was Made by Miss Norris, Who
Resided Near ThurmOnt.

| ETeueFlck Luny NeWo VI ooIuhuoy, Tu6-
3lst, and no doubt will be interesting to
many of our readers. The property re-
ferred to is that now owned by the heirs
of the late VIM l.. Firor and referred
to as "Crows Nest:
In transferring the old records of the
County Commissioners Office to the iron
cases recently installed, there has come
to light most interesting assessment
return. This return was made in 1896
by Miss Ann j. Norris, of Thurmont,
who was then regarded as one of the
very "new" of the modern new wom-
an" In that day Miss Norris was an
earnest advocate of woman suffrage, and
her return on the blank sent her by the
assessors sets forth her views on the
subject of taxation without representa-
ton, and she also takes a drive at the
custom of taxing improvements on land
Miss Norris also shows, even in 1896,
long before Roosevelt was ever thought
of for President, that she has adopted
the simplfed form of spelling using
"thru" for through.
Miss Norris came from the West and
settled near Thurmont, buying small
farm at the foot of the mountain. She
was a Unitarian preacher and she had
some very pronounced views on govern
ment and in fact on many of the affairs
of the day. She was of literary turn
of mind, and some of her writings APP
peared at that time in leading periodi-
Gals. She associated freely with the
people of Thurmont, was at one time
president of the Woman's Club of that
town and was popular throughout the
neighborhood. All enjoyed her company
hut she was then considered as having
peculiar ideas, as women at that time
had not demanded the ballot with the
force they are today demanding it. Miss
Norris for time lived with her brother
at Thurmont, and later lived alone. She
at all times carried revolver for self
protection.
After spending several wears at Thur
mont, Miss Norris went West and is now
living in Boise City, Idaho. She married
in the West but her independent views
were such that she refused to adopt her
husbands name and she is today known
as Mrs. Ann j. Norris.
In the assessment return, Miss Norris
disregarded the set spaces for answers
shoot che hnnop
to give what expressed her ideas on the
valuation of her property. She states
for the raising of snakes, whippoorwils,
etc the place might be worth millions.
but to her lone, disfranchised woman,
is worth little or nothing. Her state
ment is given in the best of language
and shows much careful thought in pre-
paration. She attempted to give no
value on her property.
Following her statement is the oath
which Miss Norris took, stating that "all
property has been fully and fairly de-
scribed and its true condition represent
ed in the foregoing schedule The oath
was taken before John Jones, assessor
for the district.
That the unique return did not pass
unnotied when it was inspected by the
Board of Control and Review is evidenced
by the fact that some person. who enjoys
a keen sense of humor, wrote in a bold
hand over the front of the return, ON
spect the inside of this. This notice
drew the attention of hardwood d. Harp,
clerk to the Board of County Commits
sioners to the document, and it was
through this that the schedule came to
light after having reposed in the office
of the Board for l6 years. The assessor
fixed his valuation upon the property,
held by Miss Norris, placing the value
of the land at $500 and the buildings or
improvements at $500 making her total
assessment 81, 400.
The return made by Miss Norriss in
the schedule follows:
Mountain Tract of 100 acres, lying
one-half mile west of Thurmont, in Dis
trict No. Is, including all that parcel of
land sold by Mrs. Mary Simonds to S.
w. Norris.
Improvements: A two-story stone
house and log barn, the kind built in
Colonial times. Value? Well it depends
on the point of view. For the raising of
snakes. spiders, toads, frogs and whip
poorwills, it's value would run into the
millions As an jnsnirer to the prOfitless
writing of poetry, and fiction, romance
and moonshine, it could be rated highly.
To man with capital who wanted a
summer home, it might be worth small
fortune. But to myself, lone woman
who can't grub it, and doesn't want it,
it isn't worth the salt tears spray on it.
81 want about $4,000 for it but my
buyers won't bid 1000 at auction. In
rating it for taxation, kindly remember
one thing: That am just woman-a
member of disfranchised class, rated
along with children, idiots, lunatics and
criminals-and as such should be protect
ed instead of robbed by system of tax
alton, which allows me no choice in my
robbers. Every cent you take from me
is simon-pure, unadulterated, bold-faced
robbery-a violation of our Federal con-
stitution and our original Declaration of
Rights and in view of that fact will you
let your manly sense of shame rate my
property for the lightest tax possible.
up. S. Considering | am woman,