The globe-independent., 1948-09-30
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin


about the model of Jonathan Hag-
er's house which stood on the side
walk before the court house.
He wondered if the model was
supposed to be an exact replica OF
the original house, part of which is
still standing within the city OF Ha-
gerstown.
He pointed out several reasons
for questioning this, one OF which
was the chimney's being located at
the center of the house. He pointed
out that in those days stoves were
not used at all in the frontier section.
The huge stone fireplace, so familiar
in all old houses, was the source OF
heat, and these were of necessity 10
Gated at the ends of the houses.
Another question raised was about
the fact that the baniSters were
made of three horizonal bars, but
since Jonathan Hager was of Ger
man origin, this would not be typl-
cal of the style he would have built,
All old houses of German construc-
ton had banisters made with a top
and bottom rail and vertical pieces,
called balisters, between the rails.
1 am hoping that the Historical
Society will have some information
concerning this, that l can pass
along in my column. The person
who inquired about the Hager House
is also greatly interested In the his
tory of the local churches, and we
would appreciate any information
along this line.
1t was one day last summer that
/ had the privilege of seeing-shall
say "Hagerstown's oldest citl-
zen." l had been looking forward
to this visit with a great deal OF
anticipation. l had not known of
his existance until after l started
writing "Horse and Buggy Days"
Hagerstown's oldest citizen is, OF
course, Little Heiskell."
Our oldest citizen was born in or
about 1869, seven years before the
signing of the Declaration OF lnde-
pendance, and seven years after Ha-
gerstown was founded. He is
known as ''The Patron Saint of
Hagerstown and the little man who
"Knows the Answers" You can
see Little Heiskell, I'd, any day,
high above the beautiful and still
new City Hall in Hagerstown, an
exact replica of his famed predeces-
sor, proudly carrying out the same
duties. But this ''HeiskelI' is a
mere adolescent of thirteen winters,
compared with his elders l66; and
doubtless he lacks the wisdom, and
history, and adventure of the orig
inal Little Heiskell.
But the original Patron Saint" is
not far off. He is to be met high In
the same building, within the walls
of the Historical Society of our
County, preserved there for time,
lest the ravaging elements which beat
upon him for one hundred sixty
six Springs, Summers, Falls, and
Winters, should finally conquer his
iron heart.
1t is interesting to think, as you
look at this little man, that he show
ed the direction of the winds to JON
athan Hager, to the Spriggs, and
Hughes, to visiting presidents, to
MANY Indians, and to every gener-
alton of our ancestors who lived in
this land, And who can say that he
did not speak courage to them, and
patience, and faith.
Little Heisken started his life as
many great Americans, meek and
modest. The need for a public
market and building for City Hall
In early Elizabethtown led to the
building of a small house, raised
above the street and supported by
log pillars, in the center of the
square of the town. The need and
appropriateness of a weather vane
atop such a public building was ac-
cepted without question, but there
was no money to purchase one. So
the leading citizens of the prosper
ing town sought out skilled tin
smith who lived near by, and re-
quested him to make and give to
the town a weather vane. The de-
sign was apparently left up to him,
and he chose figure familiar to
him back in his home land; namely,
Hessian soldier, in Germany, In
officers uniform, with gun and bay
onet in position to charge. Little
did he think as he fashioned the
Welch wrought iron with chisel and
hammer, that he was creating q
Character that would become part
of the peoples of many generations
achieve place in history, and set up
a lasting tradition.
D,,< +L1 Ii+4lo ;-ox, enl1ior f0oL tbc