The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-02-08


Horse and Buggy
Typewriter that
caused the operator to touch the key
8 instead of 8 on his linotype ma
chine, or cobwebS in the Old Lamp
lighters brain. Also, proofreaders
are not invaluable, but we are not
bringing them into the controversy
There's enough of that at Washing
ton. And then sometimes writers
are plain dumb, too.
Since the purchase of the old.
almshouse property at 239 North
Locust street by ]. R. Markley,
wholesale produce dealer, on April
/, 1914, some interesting historical
facts have come to light.
At one time it was the home of the
poor and INDECENT of the city and
county and when it was first erected,
over a hundred years ago, there
were few houses in the locality. II
you want to see how houses were
built back in those times, take a
look at the old house. In it's con-
struction heavy timbers were used
and the dovetailing and wooden pin
methods employed. Some of the old
lumber in the building is black wal
nut and oak. The plastering lathes
are of oak also. The brick walls
are most substantial and well pre-
served today. In fact, with some re-
pairs which Mr.. Markley has made,
it looks as if it might be good for
many years more.
In the year 1879 the present coun-
ty home, Bellevue" was erected
and the institution was transferred
there from the old North Locust
street building In 1885 it was pur-
chased by Laura Kennedy, and sub
sequent owners, prio to Mr.. Markley
acquiring the property, were: John
Leggett, Robert B. and Roger B.
Rooms, Ida Leggett and Raleigh S.
Williams, Shepherdstown, w. Va.
Extending northward from the
old almshouse building, to the vicin-
ity of what is now North avenue, old
residents tell us, there was once To-
Gated a graveyard in which num-
Der of people who died during the
smallpox epidemic were buried.
This old landmark in the city was
some years ago visited by calamity
in which two women lost their lives
when coal oil stove exploded. We
saw the victims and will never for
get the site,
In closing this story, we would like
to mention that "Uncle" Jacob
Sales, now SO years of age, with
James Miller, made the brick for the
new almshouSe. The contractor was
Ezra Summers.
When such a nationally known
publication like the Christian Herald
comments in its News Digest De-
partment" on something which has a
local touch, then we feel like making
mention of it in this column. The
article referred to in the February
issue, bears the heading, Sold
Here it is: "a little piece of real
estate was sold from the courthouse
steps in Frederick, Maryland, the
other day, for scant $1,000
house visited Tin better touring
times) by $4,000 people every year,
Known as the Barbara Fritchie
House. from which famous lady
once waved flag in the face of
Stonewall Jackson, it really isn't
that at all. The original house, COM
plete with original window, was
ruined by flood in 1868 and torn
down for safety's sake. The pres
ent brick cottage was built, as an
exact replica, in 1926, on the old
stone foundations.
1--WE wonder why the government,
or some patriotic association, didn't
buy this place? Americans are
rather careless of historical monu-
ments and houses-as witness the
rediculously low sale price of the
home of she who cried, "Shoot if
you must -. But there are even
some, down South, who say she new
er said that at all, never even waved
flag from any window. An old man
who saw Stonewall's troops come in,
and who watched them march past
the Fritchie house, says no such
thing ever happened, and he ought to
know, if anybody"
The article in The Christian
Herald closes with this paragraph.
"Oh well, it is good poem, any
way. 1t is such lively thing that il
makes learning poetry in grade
school little easier-and that is
cnroofb;y,oD