Book on Quiltmaking provides insight into the history of a great American art form

Book on Quiltmaking provides insight into the history of a great American art form http://tinyurl.com/6464cfh

By Kevin Dayhoff

January 17, 2011 http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-on-quiltmaking-provides-insight.html

LABELS: ART LIBRARY AUTHORS, ART LIBRARY BOOKS, DAYHOFF WRITING ESSAYS,DAYHOFF WRITING ESSAYS ART ARTISTS, DAYHOFF WRITING ESSAYS HISTORY,HISTORY, HISTORY CARROLL CO, QUILTS

A Maryland Album: Quiltmaking Traditions ~1634-1934, published in 1995 by The Maryland Association for Family and Community Education.  Written by Gloria Seaman Allen and Nancy Gibson:

“A Maryland Album Quiltmaking Traditions ~1634-1934” by Gloria Seaman Allen and Nancy Gibson is a definitive resource on the history of quilts, quilt design and quilting in historic Maryland for anyone who has even a passing interest in quilts, a great American art form.

The book is lavishly illustrated to help bring quilts and quilting to life.  As a bonus, a review of the many quilt-design eras gives an historian or anyone interested in art history or the unique American art form of quiltmaking, great insights into American – and Maryland history.

According to information found in the cover flaps, “Some of the oldest and most collectible American quilts are from Maryland and are examined in this book, which is based on the findings of the Maryland Association for Family and Community Education quilt documentation project.”

The book, quilts and quilt making were the topic of a feature presentation, "Pieces of the Past: An Overview of Carroll County Quilts," by the author, Nancy Gibson, at the Historical Society of Carroll County Maryland on Jan. 19, 2010.

Thanks to the efforts of my wife and sister-in-law, Pastor Sarah Dorrance, whose church, Taylorsville United Methodist, (http://www.taylorsvilleumc.org/) is in the heart of the history and tradition of quiltmaking in Carroll County; I now have a copy of Gibson’s book.

Gibson, whose past credentials include 20-years as the textile curator for the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in Washington, helped the 125 attendees at the presentation interpret the language of quilts that evening.

On January 24, 2010, I wrote in a column in the Carroll Eagle (www.explorecarroll.com,) “Carroll County's 173rd birthday celebrates a patchwork quilt of history,” “Some of the oldest, historic, and most collectible American quilts, dating as far back as 1803, examined for the project by Gibson in the 1990s are from right here in Carroll County. 

“Several are in the collection of the Historical Society of Carroll County, which has sponsored the annual county birthday celebration for many years, according to Dave Roush, chair of the society's board of trustees, (and now a member of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners.)”

Further information from the flap reveals, “The oldest quilt examined in the project (– in “A Maryland Album: Quiltmaking Traditions ~1634-1934,” -) was made by the daughter of a Pennsylvania-German immigrant in 1803.  During the 1800s an explosion of creativity occurred in Baltimore that led to the development of the beautiful and highly decorated Baltimore Album quilts.”

This explosion of creativity was also found in Carroll County which has a rich tradition and history of art and artisans in the county, especially practical art forms, be it cabinetmakers, culinary artists, painters, writers, singers – and quilters.

The book flap’s introduction goes on to explain, “Quilts adorned with eagles and pieced chintz quilts have also been identified with Maryland. Throughout the state’s history, Maryland quilts have reflected both the major design trends of American decorative arts as well as the diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds of the makers.”

Any study of art and history in the Maryland and Carroll County would be remiss if it did not include a comprehensive study of the design and history of quilts.

“Examining wills, newspapers, and the quilts themselves, the authors trace the history of Quiltmaking in Maryland during a three-hundred-year period, from the seventeenth century to Maryland’s tercentenary in 1934.

When possible, they spoke with descendents of the quiltmakers in order to gain deeper insight into the artists’ motives and inspirations.  Interwoven with more than seventy-five quilts seen here, the enlightening and accessible text chronicles the rich and diverse history of Maryland.”

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See also my columns on Nancy Gibson and quilting in Carroll County:

Historic 1857 quilt inspired by the politics and faith of its era by Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/4jsaybn Published February 7, 2010 by Carroll Eagle  http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3929/dayhoff/

... Past: An Overview of Carroll County Quilts," at the Historical Society of Carroll ... Jay Graybeal wrote about another lecture on quilts at the historical society, which took ... ;Eagles are popular designs on Maryland quilts in the early 19th century," ... ...

Carroll County's 173rd birthday celebrates a patchwork quilt of history by Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/4akc774 Published January 24, 2010 by Carroll Eagle http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3882/dayhoff/

... help attendees interpret the language of quilts that evening. Her past credentials include ... of our English and German background. Quilts were often the collaborative product of ... is not interpreting the language of quilts ... ...

Gibson is currently a principal with “Gibson Communication,” since 1995.  Find her online store at http://WWW.vandm.com/gabrielgibson, her blog at http://WWW.TheAntiquer.blogspot.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriel-Gibson-Decorative-Arts/67445667311.

Join the Historical Society of Carroll County for its annual celebration of the founding of Carroll County . This year's guest speaker, Helen Jean Burn, examines the life of Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte.  Wednesday, January 19, 2011... http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/01/carroll-countys-174th-birthday.html.  For more info: Historical Society of Carroll County 410-848-6494 http://hscc.carr.org/ or read Caroline Hailey article in the Carroll County Times, “County to celebrate 174th birthday Wednesday”

Book on Quiltmaking provides insight into the history of a great American art form http://tinyurl.com/6464cfh By Kevin Dayhoff 

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[19950000 Gibson A Maryland Album Quiltmaking Traditions]  [19950000 Gibson A MD Album Quiltmaking Trads]

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster clock tower on Main Street

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster clock tower on Main Street

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster...  Explore Carroll By Kevin Dayhoff

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster clock tower on Main Street

Eagle Archives

By Kevin Dayhoff

http://www.explorecarroll.com/opinion/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/

Posted 8/08/10

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(Enlarge) Wayne Reifsnider, assistant superintendent for the City of Westminster Street Department, works to replace the hands of the 1896 Westminster town clock in the early morning hours of Aug. 3. Reifsnider was assisting a crew from Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration company, which performed a bit of delicate surgery four stories above Westminster's Main Street as part of an overall restoration project for the historic clock. (Photo by Kevin E. Dayhoff)

In the early morning hours of Aug. 3, the old clock atop the old Westminster fire hall -- which served Westminster from 1896 to 1998 at 66 E. Main St. -- got a brand new shiny pair of hands. The venerable timepiece has been a fixture in town since it was dedicated at 3:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1896.

City of Westminster workers used a crane from Thomas Bennett and Hunter, a local road-building firm; and Dave Booth of Precision Repair, a timepiece restoration firm, to accomplish the delicate surgery performed four stories in the air.

Clock doctor Booth was assisted by Wayne Reifsnider, assistant city Street Department superintendent. Meanwhile, Superintendent Larry Bloom, along with Jeff Glass, the city public works director; and city workers Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller, served as ground support.

Keeping the old timepiece working has been challenging for the city workers in the last number of years.

Miller said it was good to get it worked on, as he looked briefly up at the old clock. Lockard added, “I’m glad that we’re finally getting it fixed.”

Booth and Reifsnider subsequently jumped into the steel cage and away they were whisked into the air four stories to replace the clock hands on the old historic clock that has been a fixture in the center of town since it was dedicated at 3:30 in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1896...

http://www.explorecarroll.com/opinion/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/

Wayne Reifsnider, assistant superintendent for the City of Westminster Street Department, works to replace the hands of the 1896...

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/

A YouTube of the event may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw

20100803 picture caption information

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Wayne Reifsnider works away at replacing the clock hands of the 1896 Westminster town clock Tuesday morning 

20100803 clocktowerhands (2)

Left to Right: Wayne Reifsnider, David Booth, and Alan Miller examine the new powder coated aluminum clock hands that were later installed on the face the historic Westminster clock Tuesday morning. 20100803 clocktowerhands (2)

  

20100803 clocktowerhands (5)

City workers used a Thomas Bennett and Hunter crane to replace the clock hands on the face of the 1896 timepiece that overlooks Westminster.  20100803 clocktowerhands (5)

 20100803 clocktowerhands (9)

Left to Right: Wayne Reifsnider, Shawn Lockard and Alan Miller prepare a steel cage that was used to hoist workers up four stories to do repairs on the old town clock Tuesday morning. 20100803 clocktowerhands (9)

 20100803 clocktowerhands (22)

City workers had to use a big Thomas Bennett and Hunter crane to perform repairs on the clock tower Tuesday morning.

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Wayne Reifsnider works away at replacing the clock hands of the 1896 Westminster town clock Tuesday morning.

DAYHOFF: Clock docs make house call to fix historic Westminster clock tower on Main Street

August 8, 2010

There are three versions of my story on the Westminster clock tower.

One was published only on the website at: http://www.explorecarroll.com/opinion/4596/clock-docs-make-timely-house-call-citys-historic-timepiece/

There was a short version published in my Sunday history column, “Archives,” that appears in the Baltimore Sunday Sun.  It only appeared in the print version of the newspaper.

Then, there is a much longer version of the piece that was submitted, but edited a good bit for length.  I will eventually put that on my website…

A YouTube of the event may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvICD3mOouw

Westminster MD Clock Tower Fund

Keeping the old timepiece working has been challenging for the city workers in the last number of years.

The project was part of an ongoing restoration of the clock, which at 114 years of age has indeed suffered the ravages of time. To make matters worse, several years ago a few youngsters broke into the clock tower and vandalized the historic icon of the community.

Although Booth is donating his time, other expenses incurred in the clock repair are being covered by private donations collected by a fund spearheaded by Westminster councilwoman Suzanne Albert.

For more information, please see my Explore Carroll article on the clock tower repairs here: http://tinyurl.com/2bnrsrg or here: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/08/dayhoff-clock-docs-make-house-call-to_10.html

If you would like to contribute, send a donation to the Westminster Clock Tower Fund at the Community Foundation of Carroll County, 255 Clifton Boulevard, Westminster, Md. 21158.

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/08/dayhoff-clock-docs-make-house-call-to_10.html

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Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Our nation's first president may not have told a lie, but he was not without his faults

Our nation's first president may not have told a lie, but he was not without his faults

George Washington racks-up $300k in overdue library fines

Posted 5/10/10 by Carroll Eagle By Kevin Dayhoff

British Broadcasting Corp. is reporting that archivists in New York’s oldest library have uncovered a surprising borrower with overdue books.

It has been recently revealed that on Oct. 5, 1789, our nation’s first president, George Washington, borrowed two books from what was then the only library in Manhattan, the New York Society Library.

According to BBC, on Oct. 5, 1789, a time when New York City was serving as our nation’s capital, Washington borrowed the “Law of Nations,” a dissertation on international relations, and Vol. 12 of a collection of transcripts of debate transcripts from Britain's House of Commons.

Now this in itself may not be earth-shattering news. However there is a catch. ...

It appears that the books were due a month later but they were never returned. GASP!

At the moment, the overdue fines for this lapse, by the president who never told a lie, have grown to $300,000 in the ensuing 220 years.

Read the entire story here:  http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4313/our-nations-first-president-may-never-have-told-lie-but-he-was-not-without-his-faults/

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/05/our-nations-first-president-may-not_15.html

Our nation's first president may not have told a lie, but he was not without his faults Posted 5/10/10 by Carroll Eagle – Updated Dec. 14, 2016 - the link to the Carroll Eagle is now dead. For a while, the Baltimore Sun picked-up the stories, but alas, all the links are now dead – the link simply takes you to the Baltimore Sun…. It was updated in response to a colleague’s (CAMK) confession on Facebook that she owes the library late-fees. Too funny. 

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Easter egg hunts, distillery raids signaled spring in Carroll County

Easter egg hunts, distillery raids signaled spring in Carroll County

EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff Posted http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4180/dayhoff/ 4/04/10

Happy Easter.

Easter has always been an opportunity for people to shake off the winter blues and celebrate spring with neighbors, family and friends at community events. Most popular are the community Easter egg hunts throughout Carroll County.

More than 60 years ago, on March 26, 1948, the now-defunct Democratic Advocate carried an article detailing plans for an inaugural celebration hosted by Westminster's Venture Club:

[…]

Speaking of springtime bliss, in other news from about 80 years ago, the community must have been buzzing on this date after reading that, "About 25 men, all from Baltimore ... attempted to raid McGinnis Distillery," in a newspaper account dated March 30, 1923.

[…]

Read the entire column here: http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4180/dayhoff/

20100404 SCE Easter egg hunts distillery raids spring CC sceked

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

“The Great Arctic Outbreak: The Blizzard of 1899"

The Great Arctic Outbreak: The Blizzard of 1899,"

The defunct Democratic Advocate published an article about the storm on Feb. 18, 1899: "Heavy Snow Storm -- Railroads and Public Roads Blockaded -- Westminster Cut Off from Outside Communication -- Deepest Snow for Many Years."

DAYHOFF: In the 1800s, residents endured a real storm of the century http://tinyurl.com/ycw27sr #history #writing

http://www.explorecarroll.com/ EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff Posted http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4006/dayhoff/ 2/28/10

Everyone has a story of driving a car in the middle of a snowstorm, but can you imagine attempting to negotiate the snow in horse and buggy days?

"The first round occurred on Feb. 5 through (Feb.) 8 with over 1 foot of accumulation."

The second wallop happened when "a ferocious four-day storm that began on Saturday, Feb. 11 and continued through Tuesday morning, Feb. 14. ...

"Approximately 25 inches of snow fell on top of the prior foot of snow in the 1899 storm to reach a total accumulation of over 3 feet. The blustery northwest wind pushed the snow into drifts of 8 to 12 feet," according to both local historian Joe Getty and the newspaper account.

To add to the misery, temperatures were in the record-setting sub-zero range; from 12 below zero on Feb. 9; then 20 below zero on Feb. 10, and "from 14 to 27 below" zero on Feb. 11.

The photograph is from the family papers of Caroline Babylon and Kevin Dayhoff ©. Depicted is a scene from the February 14, 1899 blizzard. The view is of Main Street, looking west over the railroad tracks at the intersection of Main Street and Liberty Street. Oral history indicates that the individuals in the photo include family member Frank Thomas Babylon. [18990214 Main St during Blizzardc]

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

A reprint of “Let’s bring back the Westminster Christmas Parade”

From March 16th, 2005 by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/yhysm8f

As I am certain you are aware, it is only 284 days until Christmas. But even more importantly, there are only 262 days until the Westminster Christmas Parade on December 3rd, 2005. Please mark this date on your calendar now, so you do not miss all the fun with your friends and neighbors.

In keeping with the theme; “Westminster An Excellent Experience”, The Greater Westminster Development Corporation (GWDC), along with the City of Westminster and the Main Street Program are reviving an old Westminster Christmas tradition; the Christmas Parade.

“In order for an individual or an organization to remain vibrant, relevant and meaningful, it must constantly reinvent itself.”

Community leaders such as former Councilmember Sam Greenholtz, now Chair of the GWDC Board of Directors; Kathy O’Dell, Chair of the GWDC Downtown Main Street Promotions Committee; Lori Graham, President of the GWDC; Missie Wilcox; Sandy Scott; Lynn Aaron and Ron Schroers have rolled up their sleeves to plan this excellent experience.

It is yet another reminder that Westminster’s greatest resource is our human resource. The creative dreamers and dream keepers who are constantly thinking out of the box, with one eye on our past successes and a focus on the future, providing our community with the leadership to maintain “Westminster As An Experience”.

There are many resources that has made Westminster successful for 240 years, including our beautiful historic downtown, family oriented businesses and friendly shopkeepers, our new parking garages, Carroll Arts Center, and the Westminster Family Center in the old Armory Building.

The glue that puts all this together for a quality of life much greater than the sum of its parts are the dream keepers who roll up their sleeves and say let’s get it done.

Last Christmas, we moved the Community Christmas Tree and Santa to Locust Lane in the heart of the downtown shopping district. This year, the GWDC, and downtown merchants, are planning events, starting with the Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 26th and continuing throughout the week until the parade at 4:00 PM on Saturday the 3rd of December and Starlight Shopping when merchants and restaurants have specials and remain open late for shoppers.

Over fifty years ago, Christmas tradition in Westminster included a parade and shopping downtown with the family. In those days, the downtown-shopping district included East Green Street, West and East Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Some of the many shops and businesses on Pennsylvania Avenue included, Earhart Motors, O’Farrell Brothers Pontiac, The Avenue Barber Shop, Westminster TV and Radio Shop, Carroll Electric Service, Dutty’s Beauty Salon, Everhart’s Barber Shop, Wine’s Sports Shop, and Wilson’s Garage to name just a few.

Moreover, who can forget the huge toy department in Hollander’s Auto Store, Bobby’s Hobby Lobby, Rosenstock’s Ladies’ Shop, Gehr’s Hardware Store, The Treat Shop, and the Bixler and Guild Drug Store on Main Street.

The early parades marched west along Main Street to the “Forks” at Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue where Santa Claus had his “temporary residence”. The jolly old fellow recently moved to Locust Lane, along with the Westminster Community Christmas Tree.

Main Street was decorated with large colored light bulbs that were strung on both sides of the street as well as across the street at various points. These strands were covered with live holly that had been meticulously wrapped around the wiring.

The Democratic Advocate on December 26, 1947 describes the parade with the “city’s two bands”, the American Legion, and the 29th Division Association. Christmas carols, led by Kale Mathias, were sung by the community. Santa often rode on a float, but was also know to come to town on a fire truck.

This year’s parade will be reminiscent of those former parades. Participants will include bands, antique cars, fire trucks and floats.

Businesses are encouraged to provide a float depicting their business and the holiday spirit. The merchants from the TownMall, Westminster Crossing and other areas are invited to participate and call attention to the many fine products that they too offer.

Of course, Santa Claus will be the featured guest as he is welcomed to Westminster while riding in a horse drawn carriage. Store windows will be decorated and musical groups will be strolling the streets to entertain both young and old.

While much of the program revolves around the downtown merchants, you should know that the GWDC represents all of the greater Westminster environs and this event is one of many excellent experiences promoting shopping in all of the Westminster area.

The GWDC was created in 1994 as a private public partnership of business and city leaders to work together cooperatively to maintain and further a positive business environment in Westminster.

Planning for the parade has already begun in earnest and sponsors, at various levels are welcome to help finance the project. More information can be obtained from Sam Greenholtz or calling the Westminster Main Street Program Manger, Stan Ruchlewicz at (410) 848-5294. And keep your hot chocolate at the ready.

Note: This is an earlier longer version of a column originally published in the Westminster Advocate on March 16, 2005

Also a shorter version was published on “Soundtrack” here: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2005/03/20050316-bring-back-westminster.html

[20050316 longver d2 WA pubver Christmas Parade] sdosm 20091128 Annual Christmas, Annual Christmas Parade, Annual Christmas Westminster, Dayhoff writing essays, Dayhoff writing essays history, Westminster File community events, Westminster File community news

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/11/reprint-of-lets-bring-back-westminster.html http://tinyurl.com/yhysm8f

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Revealing President Dwight “Ike” David Eisenhower

Revealing Ike by Kevin E. Dayhoff September 30, 2009

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/k2cji

Of all the presidents of the United States, the one which Frederick and Carroll Counties may have literally the closest connection is President Dwight David Eisenhower, known affectionately as “Ike.”

Just recently my family and I went on a history exploration trip to nearby Gettysburg to visit the new Gettysburg Battlefield visitors’ center and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, which is adjacent to the battlefield.

In years past, it would have been called a “day trip,” however, the term “staycation” has in recent years crept into our lexicon. Even the Merriam-Webster dictionary now recognizes the word to mean “a vacation spent at home or nearby.”

President Eisenhower lived on a farm and raised Black Angus cattle about 10 miles above the Maryland-Pennsylvania border.

Read the rest of the column here: Revealing Ike

http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 http://tinyurl.com/8vjaaq

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/10/revealing-president-dwight-ike-david.html http://tinyurl.com/yb6eb8d

http://tinyurl.com/8vjaaq Revealing President Dwight “Ike” David Eisenhower http://tinyurl.com/yb6eb8d

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

The long version of my Sunday column on the 1899 Manchester Fire Hall dedication

The long version of my Sunday column on the 1899 Manchester Fire Hall dedication has been posted on the http://www.explorecarroll.com/ web site. Lots of good trivia:

http://explorecarroll.com/community/3458/EAGLEARCHIVE/ http://tinyurl.com/yc7qn4n

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/jkrik

DAYHOFF: Dedication of fire hall in 1899 was a hot time in Manchester EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff

Posted on http://www.explorecarroll.com/ 9/27/09

This month is the 110th anniversary of the dedication of The Manchester Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 fire hall. The dedication, Sept, 2, 1899, was the scene of a community celebration. The fire company is part of a storied history of Manchester, whose roots go back as far as the 1730s.

Read the rest of the column here: http://tinyurl.com/yc7qn4n

Carroll Co Dist Manchester, Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, Dayhoff writing essays, Dayhoff writing essays history, Fire CC Depts 04 Manchester, History 1890s, History Carroll Co

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff

http://twitpic.com/jkrik The long ver of my Sun col on 1899 Manchester Fire Hall dedication Lots of good trivia http://tinyurl.com/yc7qn4n

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Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Westminster High School in the 1920s

Westminster High School, Westminster, MD, in the 1920s

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/08/westminster-high-school-in-1920s.html

http://tinyurl.com/kmgez3

Catching with some old friends today, coupled with some recent reader questions, reminded me of a piece I wrote in March 2007 on the Westminster High School building on Longwell Avenue in Westminster.

The image above is from 1908, is the first Westminster High School building, 1898-1936, at Center and Green Street in Westminster, MD. Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/d936f

This image is a 1977 picture of the second Westminster High School building, 1936-1971, at Longwell Avenue in Westminster, MD. Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/d92z2

Westminster High School in the 1920s

March 28th, 2007 by (c) Kevin Dayhoff

East Middle School, located on Longwell Avenues just north of Westminster City Hall, originally opened as a new “Westminster High School” on November 30, 1936. It is one of two buildings in Carroll County built in the Art Deco style. The other is the Carroll Arts Center which opened as the Carroll Theatre on November 25, 1937.

Art Deco was all the rage from 1920 to 1940 but some argue that the style had a significant presence in architecture and art from 1900 to 1950. A highly decorative and elegant style, it was considered ultra-modern in its day.

The 1936 school building was not the “first” Westminster High School. The first was located at the corner of Green and Center Streets in Westminster and was built in 1898. By all accounts it was the first “public” high school built in Carroll County. It is accepted that the first “public” high school in Maryland started in Talbot County in 1871. By 1907 there were still only 35 public high schools in the entire state.

It was not too long after the 1898 structure was built that complaints began about the inadequacy of the physical plant. As with so many infrastructure improvements in Carroll County, getting a new high school built was fraught with a great deal of acrimony and dissent. In 1921, the Westminster High School yearbook, “The Mirror,” editorialized the increase in enrollment since 1898 with alarm. It had increased from “less than fifty” to over 260 students.

In those days the school housed all 11 grades. There were 7 students in the graduating class of May 1900. Compulsory school attendance was not passed into law until 1916; however, Lisa Kronman reported in an account entitled a “History of Public Schools in Westminster,” “the attendance rate was 93.8 percent of school age children.”

The Mirror lamented “we have seen the school out-grow its surroundings. The present building and equipment are entirely inadequate to the needs of the school…” The editorial explained dire consequences would result if the school were not replaced quickly. Of course, “quickly” in Carroll County took another 15 years.

According to historian Jay Graybeal, there were 139 schools in Carroll County in 1920. 107 had only one teacher. There were approximately 7500 students and 208 teachers. 158 of the teachers were female and only 9 were married as marriage was strongly discouraged for the county’s female teachers. As a matter of fact, a resolution, passed by the school board in the 1928 – 1929 school year, barred female teachers from getting married unless a special exception was granted.

Mr. Graybeal explained that high school teachers were paid an average $903.70 and “elementary teachers in white and black schools had average salaries of $537.85 and $431.87 respectively… Teachers who had served twenty-five years, reached the age of sixty, were no longer able to continue their duties in the schoolroom, and had no other means of comfortable support received $200 per annum” from a state financed pension system.

In 1920, the Carroll County public school budget was $204,000 and the school administration was a staff of four; Superintendent Maurice S. H. Unger, Miss L. Jewell Simpson, Supervisor; G. C. Taylor, Attendance Officer and Charles Reed, Clerk. In 1916, the state board of education was run by three individuals.

The Union Bridge Pilot reported on February 18, 1921: “Teachers' pay are being withheld owing in lack of funds and it appears the county has reached the limit of its credit.”

It is in this air, atmosphere, and environment that the county unsuccessfully tried three times, May 15th, 1922, September 26, 1927, and April 3, 1934, to get the voters to approve bond bills for roads and schools – to include a new Westminster High School.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com r visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/
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http://twitpic.com/d92z2 2nd Westminster High Sch bldg 1936-1971 Full story: http://tinyurl.com/kmgez3

http://twitpic.com/d936f 1st Westminster High Sch bldg 1898-1936 Full story: http://tinyurl.com/kmgez3

Carroll Co Schools Westminster H S, Carroll Co Schools Wster HS Class 71, Carroll Co Schools History, Dayhoff writing essays history, History Westminster 1920s, History Westminster,

20070328 WE Westminster High School in the 1920s
20090808 sdsom

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