Evening star., 1939-07-16

span the tide on the highway that
leads to war, but the continuation
of peace for the America we love-"
The theme song of the bridge
called after James 'Rumsey-is peace
and prosperity; for it is a bridge
that connects not only two towns,
Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown but
an avenue that gives a direct traffic
route from Washington and from
the South to the North. In that
light it is looked on as a great bearer
of traffic and commerce between
the States.
Towns Join Celebration.
Most Of the towns along the high
way joined by the bridge staged
"Old Home Week" celebrations
Everywhere man could drive, from
Shepherdstown to Washington, the
flags and bunting were out-for
"Old Home Week" These welcome
signs appeared in Antietam, Keedys-
vile, Boonsvilleboro and Middle
town.
While the Governor of West Vir-
ginia was in evidence, the Governor
of Maryland was forced to be absent
because of his visit to the West
Coast. In his place came Secretary
of State Francis Petrott. He hailed
the bridge as monument to the
public spirited citizens OF Maryland
and West Virginia, and to the i'm
mortal glorification of James
Rumsey.
Master of ceremonies for the event
was DR.. w. H. S. White, president
of Shepherd State Teachers College,
who was introduced by A. D. Kena-
mond, secretary of the Rumseyan
Society, of which Benjamin Franklin
was member.
With bands from about five sur
rounding towns, and the fire depart
ments all turned out in full regalia,
and Boy Scouts helping the traffic
officers from both towns, the main
event moved with a smoothness and
precision somewhat reminiscent of
an inaugural day in Washington. 1t
was just about the same effect, only
on smaller scale. Every celebrity
from miles around was introduced
over the loudspeaker system.
When the fireworks and the foren-
sic oratory were over pageant was
staged on the river-to reincarnate
the historic trip James Rumsey and
his admirers had taken in the old
boat that made history in the realm
of navigation.
Descendants Take Part.
On that boat-a 16-foot affair
propelled by an outboard motor, hid
den-Were the following actors, all
lineal descendants of those who took
the first ride:
Harry Brining as James Rumsey,
Miss Elise Billmyr as Mrs. James
Rumsey, Miss Augusta Johnson as
Mrs. John Mark, Miss Mary Lane
Rhinehart as little Ann Mark, Henry
Shepherd, Jr., as Abram Shepherd;
Henry Morrow as Charles Morrow,
Miss Elizabeth Morrow as Mrs.
Charles Morrow, Henry Shepherd,
sr., as Carl j. Swearingen; Henry
Goldsborough as Maj. Henry Boet-
finger, Mrs. Henry Goldsborough as
Mrs. Henry Boettinger and Walter
Stehl as Capt. Haines, the French
man who helped James Rumsey work
on his engine. The two boys who
were known to have followed the ex-
pertinent along the banks of the
Potomac were impersonated by
Tommy Shepherd and Henry Potts
and the narratorS, who told the
story, were Miss Dorothy 10y and
Thomas Clark.
Alrplanes that gave a demonstra-
ton over the festivities were in COM
mand of Gen. Milton A. Record.
Others who took part in the cere-
monies were John Baker White of
the State Board of Control of West
Virginia, F. c. Homer, assistant to
the chief of General Motors Corp.
N. Y; M. j. Grove, builder of the
bridge; Lewis D. Nichols, Mayor of
Harpers Ferry, w. Va, and many
others, including Mayor Scully of
Pittsburgh, Pa, who has a summer
home here
Invocation was pronounced by DR..
Henry T. Mcdonald of the Rum
seyan Society and benediction by the
Rev. Ruthvan w. Morrow, jr, after
which came a water carnival.