The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1948-09-23
GROUND IS ONLY
FACTOR HOLDING
UP new ARMORY
Guard Headquarters Repre-
sentative Declared Last Night
''We're Ready To Go Ahead
When We Have the Site"

"Were ready and anxious to go
ahead, just as soon as we have the
ground" So spoke General William
C. Purnell, from the National Guard
headquarters of the goth division in
Baltimore, before a group of Oakland
citizens last night at dinner at Pick
wick Inn, in regard to the construc-
ton of a National Guard armory
here.
The obtaining of the ground was
the problem at hand and from re-
marks made by the members of the
General Assembly and other inter
ested persons, the possibility of OBJ
tanning the site was favorable.
One proposition revealed was one
by Messrs Paul w. Hoye and Schell
Hoye, which had been made public at
a meeting last Thursday in the City
Hall. The offer was made to con-
tribute four or five acres free of
charge from their former property
at the north edge of town, which was
sold year or two ago to the Board
of Education for the site of the new
high school, if it was re-sold to them.
According to agreements at the
time of purchase it was said to be
understood that if the property was
not to be used for high school thai
the former owners would have the
privilege of re-purchasing. The site
subsequently has been declared unde-
sirable for the new high school build
ing, but it is still in the hands of
the Board of Education. There has
been no Board meeting to determine
whether or not the re-purchase would
be accomplished, but those present
last night were optomistic of the OUT
come. Other suggested sites are I'M
der consideration.
Cites Responsibilities
General Purnell, following the dim
ner meeting, briefly outlined the re-
sponsibilities of the National Guard
and stressed the Importance of
thorough training which at the mini
mum included the two-hour drill
period each week and two weeks
encampment. He asked for the full
backing of the citizens of this area
to the engineer company that was
formed here less than year ago.
Col Fred Hewitt, who accompanied
General Purnell to Oakland, spoke of
the intensive training necessary to
complete the knowledge of an engI-
neering unit and praised the person
mel of the local company.
Senator L. NJ. Fraley and Mayor
Joseph Hinebaugh pledged their full
cooperation and backing and eX-
pressed the opinion that the citizens
of Oakland were in accord on the pro-
gram.
The possibility of an air strip in
this area was also discussed to some
extent, to provide closer coordination
between national guard headquarters
and the local unit, and also provide
this community with limited air SER
vice.
Accompanying the officers from the
Goth division headquarters were Cap.
William Miller, pilot, and Sgt. John
Tuerk. All had flown to Cumberland
earlier in the evening and had come
to Oakland by automobile. They re-
turned to Cumberland last night and
were scheduled to continue their
journey by air to Baltimore.
Local individuals attending the
meeting also included Ralph Pritts,
Rev. Austin Schildwachter, Howard
Riggs, Lieut.. Stanley Calhoun, COM
manding officer of the local unit; Will
bur Close, Ronald McIntire, George
Coddington, George Hanst, and r.
Bowen Hardesty.