Catoctin clarion., 1919-05-29
Two Hail Storms.
Much Damage Done in
Parts of County.

Rather unusual weather conditions
prevailed much of the past month, rain
failing almost every day in various guam
titles.
Two sections of the county were visit
ed by hail, the first fall occurring Thurs
day afternoon, May 22nd, at O'Clock
during the passing of thunder storm
over the northern section of the county.
From hat we can learn Thurmont was
almost in the center of the hail area.
There were three district showers, the
second being most severe. The hail
stones varied in size up to half an inch
in diameter and at one time the street
was practically covered.
Many young branches were cut from
trees, by the hail, but not much damage
done to vegetables and growing crops.
The second hail storm occurred Friday
following. this passing over section to
the south of Thurmont, and in the Mid
dletown, Jefferson and Frederick section.
OF this storm the Frederick News says:
Seriously damaginggrowing crops and
stripping fruit trees that stood in its
the hail storm that swept over the city
and portions of the county Friday after
noon was perhaps the most severe ever
witnessed here in the month of May or
any other spring or summer month. Hail
storms of midwinter were never as vio-
lent because the hail never fell in such
quantity nor driven by such wind.
"Swooping down on the city from the
northwest the storm brought hail stones
of all sizes that pattered and hammered
on the roofs of the city dwellings. 1t
was not long before the ground was COW
cred with white, resembling a. winter
scene in the late spring season. Rain
fell with the hail and in a short time the
stones congested sewer openings in the
streets.
"The storm struck the county from
the northwest and swept across Middle
town valley about to Jefferson where 1t
divided, one part going towards Bruins
wick ard the other through Feagaville,
over Frederick and down the Baltimore
Il
yond Pearl, where it apparently exhaust
ed itself.
''The storm was particularly severe
at Jefferson, where gardens were cut up
and trees stripped of their fruit. On
the west side of the Brunswick High
School all the window panes were crack
ed.
SIN Frederick the hail fell for fully
ten minutes. Many people shoveled it
into buckets.
-. w. King, living on the Harpers
Ferry pike near Jefferson, had his en-
tire garden ruined and ali the fruit knock
ed off the trees. On the farm of Lee
Ranneberger between Jefferson and
Feagavile it cut the garden to pieces,
knocked all the cherries, peaches and
apples from the trees. The gardens in
and around Feagaville showed the effect
of the fierce bombardment. Potato vines
were cut off short. pea vines were beat
en- up, fruit trees were stripped of their
burden.
"a good many window panes were
broken on the farm of R. Rush Lewis,
south of Frederick. His wheat was
badly damaged, his gardens cut up.
The gardens were also cut up more or
less around Frederick Junction.
'Another storm passed across the
Middletown Valley between Middletown
and Myersville, crossing Catoctin Noun
tain between Braddock and High Knob.
Hail stones falling in this section were
no larger than cherries and did little
damage.
''There was some severe lightning
during the storm. A chimney on the
residence of Charles w. Quynn, was
struck by lightning and partly knocked
down.