On May 28, 1898, a local newspaper, the Democratic Advocate,
printed a letter from Roy Powder in a section for "Bachman's Valley
Items."
Powder, serving with the U.S. Army's 6th Cavalry, was
waiting to be deployed to Cuba when he wrote to his sister, "Mrs. Wm.
Stansbury," from Tampa, Florida:
"Dear Sister. I and our troops are still here. This is
a very warm place, and is full of alligators, lizards, snakes and all kinds of
reptiles. We had a fine time swimming our horses across Tampa Bay … sand is
very deep; up to the knees of the horses in the streets… we are awaiting orders
to move to Cuban soil most any moment..."
On Dec. 17, 2014 President Barack Obama quickly found
himself knee-deep in alligators when he announced a dramatic new approach in
United States foreign policy toward Cuba.
Curiously, Cuba is sprinkled liberally throughout our local
history.
Cuba was probably first known in Carroll County for its
large sugar trade with the United States throughout the 1800s. Sugar was a
household staple — and later a valuable commodity in the early canning industry
that got its start in the mid-1800s.
Cuba policy draws critics, new battles on Capitol Hill
U.S. President Obama announces a shift in U.S.-Cuba policy
U.S. President Barack Obama announces a shift in policy
toward Cuba while delivering an address to the nation from the Cabinet Room of
the White House in Washington, Dec. 17, 2014.
By John Fritze and Ian Duncan
Polls show a majority of Americans support easing
relationship with Cuba.
Living with the ramifications of the deadly Spanish flu of 1918
KEVIN. E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
It was Oct. 11, 1918, and the headline of the Democratic Advocate addressed the local impact of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918. The headline read, "The Grip Epidemic: Disease Spreading, But No Occasion for Panic," according to research for the Historical Society of Carroll County by historian...
Deer Park Cemetery in Carroll County is hallowed ground for Marine Corps
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
On Oct. 4, 1891, the cornerstone was laid for a new chapel for the Deer Park United Methodist Church in Smallwood, just south of Westminster on Route 32. The origins of the church date back to 1846, according to a brief history found on the church's website. According to the website, "the people...
![Cruise on Liberty ship a reminder that freedom is not free [Eagle Archives]](http://www.trbimg.com/img-5600245d/turbine/ph-ce-archives-liberty-ship-0927-20150921/200/200x113 "Cruise on Liberty ship a reminder that freedom is not free [Eagle Archives]")
Cruise on Liberty ship a reminder that freedom is not free [Eagle Archives]
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
Timed just about midway between two dates that have significant meaning for veterans in this country, approximately 20 veterans from Carroll County will board a ship of that has also has significant importance. On Oct. 3, the county residents will commemorate Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Sept. 2,...
Sunday service offered a chance to enjoy memories [Eagle Archives}
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
There was plenty of good food, fellowship, stories and history to be enjoyed at the St. Matthew's United Church of Christ's homecoming event, in Pleasant Valley last Sunday. Friends and family from all over Carroll County, and current and past members of St. Matthews, gathered for church services...
Designating a day to celebrate the nation's military power a source of conflict
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
On Sept. 12, 1924, Westminster, along with communities across the nation, observed National Defense Day. At the time, the event was billed as a nationwide drill to test the readiness of our nation's defenses in the event of an attack. Ninety-one years later, historians are greatly conflicted as...
Finding clues for the first woman in law enforcement
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
On Sept. 6, 1973, the Carroll Record reported that, "The Maryland State Police will shortly have a new look — as a pilot program utilizing a limited number of females trained as Troopers gets underway. These women will have full police powers and will be assigned in specialized areas of law enforcement...
Fire department's move was never cause for alarm
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
A story in the Aug. 31, 1895 edition of the American Sentinel, a Westminster newspaper, explained that the city's fire department had outgrown the building at 31 E. Main Street and was moving to a new location. The building had been used by the department since 1879 and would continue to do so...
![Building rural ramps onto information superhighway in Carroll County [Eagle Archives]](http://www.trbimg.com/img-55df4fd7/turbine/ph-ce-archives-urban-internet-0823-20150827/200/200x113 "Building rural ramps onto information superhighway in Carroll County [Eagle Archives]")
Building rural ramps onto information superhighway in Carroll County [Eagle Archives]
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
In Carroll County, the underpinning of the local economy has always been agriculture and access to supplies and markets. The politics and economics involved with the maintenance of the roads, bringing the railroad to Carroll County and providing access to employment have also played prominent roles...
Life in Carroll County midway through August meant riding shows and tractor pulls
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
On this date in years past, a tractor pull at the county fair, a horse show at the Westminster Riding Club, and the opening of the Carroll County Vocational Technical Center were all in the news. In 1946, the Democratic Advocate observed that a large crowd attended the twelfth annual horse and...
Official: Westminster fires intentionally set
MICHEL ELBEN
Two shed fires that occurred in close proximity and just a few hours apart early Thursday morning in Westminster were intentionally set, likely by the same person, according to a spokesman of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Deputy State Fire Marshal Tim Warner said no suspect was in custody...
Westminster mayors often had short terms in office
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
Though it had happened more than a week earlier, in early August of 1981, the greater Westminster and Carroll County community was still mourning the death of Joseph (Jack) Hamilton Hahn, Jr. Hahn wore many hats in the community and his death at the age of 64 on July 26, 1981, took many by surprise....
Roots of a county fair in Carroll hard to follow before the Civil War
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
All last week, preparations were in full swing for this year's annual Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair that set up at the Agriculture Center, just south of Westminster. This year's fair will continue to Saturday morning, Aug. 8. Throughout history, Carroll county residents have come together to...
Fire damages vacant cabin in New Windsor
TIMES STAFF
A fire that burned late Tuesday night in the 1300 block Western Chapel Road in New Windsor damaged a vacant cabin that was being prepared for demolition according to a State Fire Marshal's office press release. The fire was reported at 10:18 p.m. Tuesday and was declared under control about two...
Sheriff's Office took long road to leading role in Carroll County law enforcement
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
The idea to develop a Carroll County police force began as a whisper campaign in the mid-1960s. It would take a half a century of studies, commissions, elections, and acrimony to finally decide to make the county sheriff's department the lead police agency in the county. That decision was made...
Memories of Henryton State hospital fading with buildings demolished
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
It was 30 years ago that Henryton State Hospital was closed by the state of Maryland. The sprawling facility included 19 buildings with a total footprint of 30 acres in Marriottsville, about seven miles from Sykesville in southern Carroll County. Over the years, researching the history of hospital...
Annual commemoration brings home Carroll County connection to Civil War
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
By July 5, 1863, the horrific results of one of the most cataclysmic events of the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg, were really settling in on that small town in southern Pennsylvania. Just down the road, the small Maryland town of Westminster was also beginning to be impacted by the...
Remembering Carroll's statuesque and statue sculptor
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
Many would be surprised to learn that Blaze Starr, who passed away on June 15, is not the only creative statuesque figure with a Carroll County connection. Another famous Carroll County artist, William Henry Rinehart, now has his works of sculpture on display at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore....
Shrine in New Windsor honors site where Methodism got its start
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
On June 18, 1937, the Strawbridge Shrine Association was formed just outside of New Windsor, where many historians believe the origins of Methodism in America are located. The shrine is named in honor of Robert Strawbridge, "an indispensable figure in the history of Methodism…," according to multiple...
Study of schools in Carroll provides an interesting education
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
The first weeks of June are a time when many young adults in Carroll County look forward to the end of the school year and graduation ceremonies. In researching the history of schools in Carroll County, one comes across many references to early graduations and the "first" beginnings of a system...
Memorial Day and memories of native son killed in Vietnam nearly 50 years ago
KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, KEVINDAYHOFF@GMAIL.COM
On May 25, the 148th Carroll County Memorial Day observances in Westminster were once again organized by Carroll Post 31 of the American Legion. After a parade through town, a memorial service was held just before noon in the historic Westminster Cemetery. The tradition of the parade and ceremony...
