The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-08-19
Turning Over An
Old Leaf
By Phillip A. Gladheim

If Robert Burns were living today,
and a resident of Oakland, he could
not find material for his "Cotter's
Saturday Night" The subject matter
would have to center around the
habit of townsman and countryman
congregating on the business streets
of the village. 1t is a very quiet and
sober concourse of people bent on
making final purchases, sitting in
restaurants and drug stores indulging
in some refreshment of their pref
erence, or standing on the edge Of the
street exchanging greetings and Cos
sip.
AS | came to town last Saturday
night | met j. C. Davis, President of
The Lions Club and added my per-
sonal commentator to the public
interest that has been stimulated
thru the Clubs sponsoring a summer
recreational program for our young
people. We both felt that this pro-
gram would eventually develop into
something much larger and more
permanent, and that now is the time
for a large objective to possess the
vision Of the community. When | ar
rived at Alder and Second streets
stopped and chatted with my old
friend, John Sweeney He was at his
Saturday night post, and as all of us
know, is faithful public servant of
this community. We began to remi-
niSce of the olden times. We conferred
our recollections on the old custom
of people using the parks within the
vicinity of the town. He mentioned
Kilburn Park, which was located back
of the Cemetery. Besides Kilburn
Park there was the Grove surrounding
The Oakland Hotel-and the famous
path to Washington Spring. Adjacent
to both parks were baseball fields 1t
was in these places that large crowds
of people would be seen strolling,
lounging on the soft, deep grass be-
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sitting at an outdoor table eating
hearty picnic dinner. There were ia
cilities for various games in which
young and old took part, and there
j was a festive and social atmosphere
that was leisurly and very friendly
Today we have here in the County
areas such as Swallow Falls, Herring
ton Manor, Deep Creek Lake, New
Germany, and Cunningham Farms
All these places are used chiefly by
outsiders. The few local residents who
resort to these areas make it purely
private party, and then on very in
frequent occasions. These recreational
areas have been placed here not only
for the benefit of the outsider, but for
the people of the County, and they
should be used more frequently.
| Naturally, due to the transported. on
problem these places are inaccessible
to most people. But even if conditions
were normal these areas will never
serve the community like the small
adjacent parks of olden days.
Oakland has very fine property
which it hopes someday will be de-
veloped into a real community center.
1t is ideal as a park and as place
! where a safe swimming pool can be
!
built. 1t is the Harry Helbig property,
where of recent years the X. of P
has held its Labor Day gatherings.
How we'll | remember this beautiful
grove and spacious house when
Harry's children, Evelyn, Edgar and
Lillian were there and who loved to
entertain their friends.
There could be no greater happiness
come to this community than the re-
Mobilization and identifying of this
lovely old grove, where Oakland resi-
dents and the people of the country
side could mingle in equality together.
Such gatherings would be especially
delightful at the close of warm sum-
mer's day-when the work of field and
street is over, and cool breezes fan
the furrowed brow. Such gatherings
should not be confined alone to Satur-
day night but every night during the
I summer there should be enough things
of interest to make large concourses
of people happy in social intercourse.
The Town Council could erect re-
freshmen booths, and from the rev.
enuc defray all operating expenses.
! Programs of various kinds could be
presented from stage in an outdoor
amphitheatre such as we have at
jackson's Mill, w. Va. And the town
band, which so rarely makes a public
appearance could play every evening
in the grove, while people sit at
tables under the trees where they are
eating and drinking in company with
their friends.
The cause of much bad temper in
our homes is the continuation with
out let-up of the same routine. In such
climate and landscape as we are
privileged to enjoy here we should, by
all means, live out-of doors as much
as possible in the summertime. There
is something very fascinating to sit
| loWn with friends under an ancient
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