The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-04-29
Historical Society
Rally Banquet Held
Plans Made For Drive To
Raise Funds For Restoration
Of Jonathan Hager Home.

The Washington County Historical
Society formally launched its
campaign for the restoration and
preservation of the original Jon
athan Hager home, at Rally Ban
quet held in the ballroom of the
Hotel Alexander on Tuesday night,
when Mrs. Frank w. Mish, Jr, pres
ident of the society, and chairman of
the meeting, gave the welcoming adj
dress and outlined the immediate
work for the project at hand.
The drive will get under way of
ficially on Tuesday, May a, and ten
captains, and fifty workers in all
will head the campaign. Mrs. Mish
brought out that Jonathan Hager
came to Hagerstown in 1889 with a
definite purpose of opening the way
to the West and protecting our from
tier, and that down through the ages
this goal has not been lost sight Of
Mrs. Mish, in her opening remarks,
thanked the press, the radio, the adj
visory committee to the society, in
dividuals, the Board of Education,
The Mayor and Council, and the
Board of County Commissioners, for
the splendid work they have done in
aiding the society.
Mrs. Mish then introduced Colonel
James NJ Thompson, retired pub
Usher of the New Orleans Item, New
Orleans, La, who is now president
of the Clarke County Historical So
ciety in West Virginia. Colonel
Thompson spoke of the lack of
knowledge of history among young
people and pointed out valuable in
terest it is possible to promote with
the preservation of homes such as
the Jonathan Hager home, which
give visible evidence of pioneers and
the history of our country, to the
younger generation.
The director of the forthcoming
campaign, Mr.. Simms Jameson,
then spoke regarding the work of
the Board of Directors of the Wash
ington County Historical Society,
and announced that the goal for the
drive is $4,000.
The Honorable Judge Joseph D.
Mish, who is chairman of the Adj
visory Committee to the Society,
then introduced the main speaker,
the Honorable George L. Radcliffe,
who for twelve years represented
Maryland in the U. S. Senate, and
who is now the President of the
Maryland Historical Society, one of
the foremost historical societies in
the United States
After paying tribute to Mrs. Mish
and her untiring efforts, and also to
the historical exhibition which he
witnessed in Washington County
several years ago, Senator Radcliffe
recalled his school days when his
tory was just an intriguing subject
to him, and he admitted that though
he decided to study the philosophy
of history, he did not have much con-
ception of what the words meant
But that he now knows that it is
nothing more than the thoughtful
consideration of it, or, as he quoted,
POLICY without history has no root
History without policy has no fruit"
Senator Radcliffe stated that his
tory is not static, but is current-a
living, practical activity. He cited
incidents to prove that the Historical
Society every day is finding in
creased opportunities for usefulness.
He said that the Maryland Historical
Society, now in its 103rd year, has
increased its membership from 1000
to 5000, and that a year ago the con-
stitution was rewritten, at which
time three committees were add
ed: % a committee on Education;
~ committee on War Records
collecting records for the State);
and (3) a committee on Relations
with other Societies.
Senator Radcliffe visualized the
restored Jonathan Hager home as a
focus-a center for activities in
Washington County-which will be
one of the most historic houses in
the State of Maryland.
Mrs. Mish in her closing remarks
thanked Mr. j. B. Ferguson for Civ
ing her the courage to begin the ac-
tual remodeling of the Jonathan Ha-
ger home, and Senator Radcliffe for
the courage to carry on this work.
The meeting was adjourned with
the announcement of the Benedic-
ton by the Rev. Scott R. Wagner,
pastor of Zion Reformed Church.