CHAPTER 12

Table of Contents

After the initial delegation of March 9, 1954, requested the town to pass an ordinance creating a recreational program for teenagers, the council acted with lightning speed. At the April 13,1954, meeting Mayor Stanley Virts appointed the first Recreation Commission members: W. Carlos Myers, acting chairman, Mrs. Henry (Sarah) Beard, Harry George, Jr., William U. Weller, Mary Margrabe, Eva Albert, Anthony J. Cincotta, Nelson A. Strathern, S. Millard LaPole, Richard Bowers, Gerald Shewbridge, John H. Moore, Harry L. Hill, Jim Cummings, and William B. Gross. Gerald Shewbridge, whose group had been holding dances at City Park, requested at the May meeting that the pavilion be painted. By the June meeting the pavilion was painted on the inside.

A summer playground program was introduced with four sites used: City Park, Social Club of Brunswick (S.C.O.B.) Park, Wenner's Hill, and West End School. Later the total program was held at City Park, with a school bus transporting the children. Finally, dances for teenagers were held, being moved inside to the American Legion home in cold weather. Hikes and bike rides were enjoyed.

In the early year "Tag Day" sales augmented the town's appropriations. Later, Revenue Sharing (Federal funds) brought much funding to the recreation program.

For ten years, 1967 to 1977,Wayne Carter served as president. He recalls innovative programs of sponsoring a bus for roller skating at Braddock, annual trips to the IceCapades, iceskating at Cabin John Park, and other out-of-town programs.

Some overnight camping trips resulted in two complete bike rides of the 184-mile C&O Canal in short, annual segements of 30 to 50 miles each. Town trucks were used to haul bikes, food, tents, and sleeping gear. Sometimes parents transported the supplies to the various starting points.
And sometimes the B&O, sometimes the bus, transported riders.

Free family swimming evenings proved popular, as did other programs.

The Recreation Commission managed the campground, which was dedicated in 1969, until a permanent resident was placed there. They had the City Park pavilion floor sanded. They bought a Bell and Howell movie projector. Summer playgrounds were continued. Playground equipment was purchased and refurbished.

From 1977 to 1986 Mary Jo Roudabousch Brown also served a very productive term as president. Summer playground programs were continued, scattered throughout town until centralized at City Park. Without a bus for transporting the youngsters, attendance decreasaed. For half a dozen years tennis tournaments were held. Recreation Commission cooperated with the Express Running Club, whose funds provide scholarships for seniors in field sports programs. BRC helped the Lions present their annual Halloween gift to the youngsters. Once-a-month dances for elementary and middle grades were instituted. A bus trip to a Harlem
lobe Trotters game was a highlight among recent trips.

Updating children's playgrounds was an ongoing program with Mary Jo. Upgrading the Kim Weddle Park included improving the basketball court and replacing the deteriorating equipment salvaged from the former East Brunswick School with safer, modern equipment. The commission also improved City Park apparatus as well as that on the Second Avenue/Souder Road blacktop.

The new swimming pool of 1980 and improvements at the 1969 campsite came during Mary Jo's decade at the helm of BRC.

Currently, Charles Beardsley, president; Walter Stull, vice president; Mary Jo Brown, secretary; and Patty Owens, treasurer and leader of the summer playground are now at thc helm of this succcssful 36-year-old program.
 

S - Wayne Carter - Mary Jo Brown

W - M M M

Frank Shaffer, late of Staunton, Virginia, Louise Cannon, and the late "Sonny" Cannon of Brunswick were the three people—the only people—able to trace the history of the movie theatre in Brunswick for this book.

When Mr. Shaffer came to Brunswick in the mid 1920's, the Imperial Theatre had already been built at 226-228 West Potomac Street. It had been constructed before World War I by a contractor named Stecle, and leased by Frank Spitzer. A 1912 lease is recorded at the Frederick Court House. The land was owned by Howard Hovermale, a pharmacist. There was a bowling alley on the basement floor when owned by Frank Spates in 1921 and managed by Guy Dinges, but that had been closed by the time Sam Goldberg bought the building.

Mr. Shaffer worked for Spates and Frey and the Palace Theatre Co., which operated numerous theatres in western Maryland, and leased the Imperial.

A second theatre was the Casino, in part of the J. J. Newberry building, once owned by Mrs. Minnie Barker. This was in the first block of West Potomac Street. It operated on Saturdays and had a balcony with elevated floor in back. Shaffer considered the Casino to be the better of the two buildings, partly because it had a balcony for black people.

Sammy Eddins was projectionist, along with thc Strickler brothers, Floyd and George, for the two movie houses. Marie Harrington was cashier at the Imperial and took care of the banking. Young "Sonny" Cannon worked there full time after a whilc.ln 1926, '27, and '28, all movies were silent. Thc management attempted to put sound to the movies by phonograph. They also had a piano player at the Imperial, managed by Guy Dinges at thc time. Mag Dinges (Mrs. Guy Dinges) was the pianist. There was no pianist at the Casino. (The piano from the Imperial, a Bachr, was purchased by Bill Harrington's parents for $70 when he was ten years old and is still in use.) Wilfred "Spike" Shivers and William Beatty sometimes played the saxophone with Mrs. Dinges' accompaniment.

In order to add sound to the cowboy movies, imitation sounds of hoofbeats and gunshots were produced, and even some smoke was blown into thc theatre to help create the setting.

Shaffer had met "Sonny" Cannon, who was employed at the time at Mace's Furniture Store. "Sonny" had always shown interest in theatres and had worked at the Imperial part time.

All small town theatres showed westerns— with Tom Mix, Buck Jones, and others; they were as important as John Wayne, of a much later time.

When sound came to the movies in 1928, the companies sold the theatres to Sidney LustofWashington, D.C. That terminated Shaffer's tenure locally. Incidentally, the first talking movie shown here was "The Jazz Singer," starring Al Jolson.

When Frank Spitzer stopped managing the Imperial, Jake Goldenberg of Braddock Heights bought it around 1930. He tried a novel system of air conditioning—a fan blowing across a 300pound block of ice on stage. "Sonny" Cannon was then working at the Imperial. After one year Jake Goldenberg sold the building to Sam Goldberg, who owned it for twelve years. Under him, "Sonny" managed the Imperial, opening and closing it, seeing to its cleaning, and handling the films that were ordered.

During the 1930's Bank Night provided a moment of suspense. One man reported buying a new suit with winnings, while a young lady banked hers until time to go to college. Jules Girden owned the Imperial about a year (1948-50), using the basement dressing room as his bedroom. When the Imperial went into receivership after Jules Girden's death, Jake Goldberg of Frederick Iron and Steel purchased the business to be operated by his son, Herb.

In July 1954, Sonny and Louise Cannon bought the Imperial—business, equipment and building —as had all former owners—because the Hovermale family retained the land for ground rents.

The Cannons spent $10,000 in remodeling; they installed stereophonic sound and a wide screen. They removed the orchestra pit and built an elevator-type platform. At Christmastime, a tree was placed on the platform and would be cranked up to be displayed until the movie started. One of the first movies shown with the new equipment was "SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS." "Sonny" brought special guests Ernest Tubbs, Tex Ritter, Grandpa Jones (of Grand Ole Opry) and others. He enjoyed directing vaudeville-type shows and minstrels.

One scene will always remain with this writer. A local choral group was singing "In the Still of the Night." The theatre was in darkness except for a window built at second story level, where Mrs. Mary (MacKinley) Barger sat silhouetted by a table lamp as the group sang.

Films were selected from a list provided by a booking agent, with a definite date selected for delivery A monthly list was provided by various companies.

A good theatre staff to firm up a successful business is a must. Various projectionists at the Imperial have been Roy Cannon, Leroy Deener, Jackie Porter, Jimmy Dixon, Raymond Custer, and Harvey Snoots. Ticket sellers were Madeline Shelton Rice, Louise Grams, Margo Cannon, and Louise Cannon, "Sonny's wife and helpmate. Margo Cannon, Sissy Snoots, and Judy Walker shared managing the candy counter over the years.

The Cannon's operated the business until May 1962, when a handful of viewers saw the last film shown at the Imperial, "BACK STREET" with Warner Baxter.

The Imperial was Brunswick's primary source of family entertainment for about five decades. The regular schedule was two shows per night, six days a week, and usually three or four different movies each week, with a Saturday afternoon matinee for the youngsters which always included a chapter of a thrilling serial.

As drive-in movies and television made inroads on theatre audiences, the Imperial did begin to open on Sundays during the Cannon ownership in the hope of increasing patronage. While this action drew some local criticism, it was the forerunner of what would later become standard practice. As the business declined, show nights were cut to only Friday-Saturday-Sunday, then to SaturdaySunday-Monday. The admission never exceeded 50 cents; in fact, it was 25 cents for an adult for many years.

Other activities there, besides movies, included minstrel and home talent shows, and occasionally some group from out of town would stage a show. The Eagles held Christmas parties there, and in the days of segregation, Santa Claus paid a morning visit to the black children, and an afternoon visit to white children.

After the theatre closed, Graydon Holler took over the building around 1963, hoping to buy it and open a night club for teenagers. However, during renovations the building collapsed. Danny Kehne then bought the lot and sold it to the Fire Company.

S - Frank Shaffer - Sonny & Louise Cannon

W - M M M

A good argument can be made that the Potomac River is Brunswick's most valuable asset. Developments traditionally occur along rivers as they are a source of food and water to sustain life and offer transportation possibilities toencouragecommerce. They have usually carved a path through mountains and wilderness which facilitates travel. Because of its passage through the mountains east and west of Brunswick, the valley of the Potomac offered logical routes for both the canal and the railroad. Naturally, the canal had to follow the river to retain its source of water. The railroad, looking for the easiest mountain crossing, also found the most acceptable route was parallel to the Potomac. The canal was an important part of Berlin-Brunswick life for 90 years; the railroad changed the town completely.

Aside from bringing us these two transportation systems, the river touched our lives in many ways. We fished, swam, and boated in it, camped along it, and enjoy water from it in our municipal system.

Fishing was always a popular sport in town, combining excellent recreation with an opportunity to put some food on the table. Local fishing ran the full gamut from young boys on the riverbank with a homecut pole and fishworms to accomplished anglers casting with artificial lures from a boat or anchoring on a big rock midstream and using minnows for bait.

The widely-used types of fishing were "still fishing" and "casting." "Still fishing" is done from a stationary location on the bank, or rock, or anchored boat, where lines are thrown out to wait for the fish to bite. Almost any variety of fish would be caught this way. Casting involves repeated throws, or casts, of the line, retrieving after each cast. Baits used were minnows and fishworms for "still fishing," and plugs, flies and spinners for casting. The casting reel has evolved from old back-lash prone models of the 1920's and 30's to smooth-operating spinning and spin-casting reels. The "casting" fisherman would usually catch bass.

The river offered a wide assortment of fish— large- and small-mouth bass, catfish, sunperch, suckers, crappie, carp, as well as eels and turtles— and lots of wild ducks for thc winter hunter.

Aside from hook and line, it was legal to putout "bush bobs" in the evening. A length of heavy twine was tied to a pole or overhanging tree limb and a hook at the other end was baited with a variety which included P&G soap and chicken parts. The take from bush bobs was usually catfish.

Another type of fishing was with dip nets. Such nets were nine to ten feet square with a mesh of about 1-1 /4 inches. Four bows, either steel rods or split hickory, held the corners and were fitted into a central '
lock" which was fastened to a long pole on a fulcrum if fishing from a boat, or to a long rope if fishing from the bridge. No bait was used, but it is surprising how many fish, mostly carp and suckers, were caught that way, particularly when the river was high and t,he "fish were running." Use of trot lines, locally called "outlines," was illgal, as was gigging—fishing at night with a light and fish spear —but some of each did go on. There were even reported instances of using dynamite.

It was a common sight from the bridge to see a dozen or more boats on the river at a time, and many more around sunset. Boats were predominantly made of wood, about 16-feet long, flat bottomed, with sides made of 12-inch lumber, and were propelled by a pole from the stern. The main boat landing was located near the present boat ramp and was called "The Willows." On any day, one could find 75 to 100 boats tied there. Starting in the late 1930's, some outboard motors did appear, but the river is so rocky when low that the old-style motors were constantly "shearing pins." Newer motors with automatic clutches are used on bass boats, but one still must be careful using a motor in the river near Brunswick.

The Potomac also gave us a variety of swimming spots. Some, such as "The Sandbar" upstream from the bridge on the Maryland side, could be reached on foot; others required a boat. Some families would have a Sunday outing on one of the big rocks above the "Dutchman" where they would fish, swim, and picnic all day.

Camping along the river was always popular. Groups of two or more would clear a spot of weeds and brush and set up tents all along the banks to combine leisurely fishing with cooking out and roughing it. The location upstream from the bridge on the Virginia side had a fine spring, and was known as the "Sugar Camp."

By and large, Brunswick people respected the river. They knew their limitations and were careful in dangerous areas. They also knew that what was usually a calm easy-flowing steam could become extremely dangerous in flood times.

W-BRH

The great Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival was a tradition for Brunswick's school population, especially the elementary children, from 1924 to 1930.

Elementary teachers and mothers (some fathers too) would spend months planning and making costumes. One student remembers the B&O providing a seemingly endless supply of crepe paper for the occasion. Another participant recalls going to Winchester to parade as a southern belle in her long pink colonial dress and carrying an umbrella covered with pink and white crepe paper flowers. Someone remembers freezing one year and roasting the next, such variation in climate occurred.

Brunswick participated from 1924 to 1930, except for one year, according to county school minutes. Dutch Burns and Mary Orndorff Cummings remember attending the 1924 festival. The School Board minutes provided some scattered data about the events.

On April 8, 1925 Commissioner Gross invited the Board of Education to accompany the students and the school teachers of Brunswick on a free trip over the B&O RR to Winchester during Apple Blossom Time.

In May of 1926 the School Board discussed the "advisability" of Brunswick schools having one day for the Frederick Fair in case the schools of Brunswick continued to participate in the Apple Blossom Festival. No resolution to this was noted in the minutes of May 11, 1926.

In spring of 1929, a letter from the Schools' Superintendent to the Director-General of the Sixth Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival stated that Brunswick would not be able to take part because tests were to be given at that time. A month later, on April 3, the School Board denied permissien for Brunswick schools to be dismissed to participate in the festival. C. W. Galloway, V.P. of the B&O RR, replied by letter; but the Education Board stood by their decision and the students were not dismissed. The Board appointed Mr. Gross and the school superintendent to confer with B&O leaders to work out a solution so no misunderstanding would remain from the Board's move and there would "still exist a friendly feeling between the conflicting parties."

On March 5, 1930, the School Board favored participation of Brunswick Schools in the Seventh Annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival that spring. The School Board office was to arrange with the B&O for biennial attendance. On April 2, the Board authorized Brunswick schools to participate in April 1930.

S - Dutch Burns - Bd. Ed. Minutes

W -MMM

The deed for the Brunswick Park was made May 22, 1895 (JLJ 11/129), by the Real Estate and Improvement Company of Baltimore City, duly incorporated under state laws. The Baltimore corporation owned the land, certain streets, ways, and alleys, as well as a park which was laid out within corporate limits. This deed transferred said streets, etc., and the park to the mayor and council and its successors.

The subdivision referred to had been surveyed July 24, 1890. The city, by accepting this deed agreed to maintain perpetually the water pipes already laid in the park and to replace the pipes as that became necessary. The parcel granted was between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue as laid out on the plat.

It was to be known as "Brunswick Park," for a public park and no other purpose whatsoever. The mayor and council were to have the right at such time as it should determine, to open and extend "A" Street from the west side of First Avenue westerly to the County road, the street to be fifty feet in width. If the park were not used and maintained by the city as a public park, the land would revert to the party of the first part, its successors, and assigns. Brunswick appointed Glen Worthington as attorney. The deed was signed by John T. Martin, mayor. This was attested by G. H. Hogan, clerk.

W-MMM

BRUNSWICK CITY PARK, the subject of the preceding article, has seen just about every type of activity in its lifetime. Located at East Potomac Street and Gum Spring Road, the park's pavilion has been used for dances, picnics, family reunions, and public meetings of every sort. The adjoining grounds have picnic tables, plus swings, slides, rides and climbing bars for the youngsters.

Directly across Potomac Street, adjacent to the railroad, other public facilities include tennis and basketball courts, and a baseball area, all on the site of the "old football field."

MEMORIAL PARK is located in the middle of "A" Street between First and Second Avenues. A World War II tank, dedicated August 31,1946, sits in the center. It replaced a large WW I cannon which had long occupied the same spot before being scrapped in the World War II effort. Several veterans and fraternal organizations participate in memorial activities here.

KIM WEDDLE PARK is located on the west side of North Maple Avenue between "J" Street and West Orndorff Drive. It has a basketball court, a fully-equipped playground for children, and an area with gymnastic exercise equipment.

WENNER PARK is an equipped children's playground situated on the west side of Peach Orchard Lane between "J" Street and West Orndorff Drive.

SECOND AVENUE AND SOUDER ROAD has a paved basketball area, swings, slides, tables and an open field play area for such games as soccer and other activities.

MARVIN YOUNKINS LITTLE LEAGUE PARK and JAMES MAIN SLO-PITCH FIELD, located sideby-side south of Cummings Drive east of Ninth Avenue, offer full playing and support facilities for Little League Baseball, as well as local softball activities.

BRUNSWICK SWIMMING POOL is in the same area. All three of these facilities are on property that once was adjacent to or a part of the former Scheer Stadium, now the site of Brunswick High and Middle Schools and their attendant athletic fields.

RAILROAD VIEW PARK, located on the site of the old YMCA between East Potomac Streetand the railroad, is equipped with tables and benches for "watching the railroad."

BRUNSWICK BOAT RAMP lies between the Towpath and the Potomac River, directly beneath the Route 17 bridge. Facilities are available for fishing, picnics, parking, as well as access to the river.

BRUNSWICK CAMP GROUND is located one mile east of the Canal bridge via the Towpath. Hook-ups are available for camper vehicles, with
159 other facilities including a boat ramp, pavilion, and play area. Tent camping is also available.

SPORTS COMPLEX. Long-planned for the reclaimed area of an old dump east of Thirteenth Avenue, near Radio WTRI, this project is now in the hands of an engineering firm for a feasibility study.

City Park, the swimming pool, and the campground all generate revenue for the City.

S - Councilman Ellwood Wineholt

W - B L C -BRH

Until the outbreak of the Second World War it was traditional for St. Francis Catholic Church (Brunswick) and St. Mary's Catholic Church (Petersville) to have an annual fund-raising picnic at Brunswick City Park.

These picnics were the main summer event and were held two or three days during the Fourth of July week. People came home from as far as Philadelphia for the event.

There was always a bingo table and other types of fun events and contests for children and adults. The food table was the big attraction all day long. It was manned by volunteer women of the parish who did the cooking and preparing of the delicious food; and their fried chicken was the main menu item. The last day of the picnic was climaxed by a dance in the City Park Pavilion, and there was always a great dance band on hand for the evening.

The week after the St. Francis picnic, the black parishoners of both churches held their picnic at City Park. They too had bingo, food tables and other attractions. They attracted as many white people as black. Their dance in the Pavilion brought the white people back, who stood outside and watched the dancers through the big window openings and enjoyed their music and dancing. They always had a terrific dance band; Manuel and Larry Brown, Damon Robinson, Francis Allen, and others from the neighboring communities made music. Later, Jimmy Hall's outfit from Frederick and Gordon Coaston of Pennsylvania, brother of a local teacher, provided music. The park was a sea of people during these picnics.

The Catholic Picnics in Brunswick were the main summertime social events during the 1930's.

Too bad they're only a memory of the past. But we could never recapture the nostalgia of the Catholic Picnics again!

W - B L C

At the turn of the century and in the early 1900's there were many traveling variety shows that came through Brunswick and there were also entertainments that were staged by local performers at the opera house (which was located on the second floor of Kaplon's Store, situated between the tracks across from the westbound station). The Red Men's Hall, the YMCA Chapel, and the Imperial Theatre were also used for shows and entertainment.

During the first three decades of the 1900's Brunswick was blessed with two very talented sisters, Lena and Mattie Sigafoose (Lena Troxell, Mattie Van Osdale). They were excellent performers and they did both comedy and drama; but their comedy skits were absolutely hilarious!

Brunswick had concerts in the Park Pavilion and in the vacant lot where Fast Eddie's Station is presently located. Mr. Wall and Mr. Stull were directors of the city band and the school band, and they directed these concerts. They practiced on the third floor of the Roelke Building.

The original Park Pavilion was an open building that spannedthe "branch" but a new building wasbuiltduringthemid 1930's by theWPA. Catholic Church picnics were held annually in City Park, usually during the Fourth of July week, and the dance on the last evening of the big picnic was Brunswick's big social event of the summer. The following week, the colored parishioners held their annual picnic at city park and their dance was also a popular attraction.

Carnivals were held in the "bottoms"—across from City Park where the tennis courts are now. Brunswick also had a miniature golf course where the Berlin Cafe's parking is now. There were also bowling alleys over the years—one of the earliest was located under the Kaplon Building on Potomac Street; there was also a skating rink in that same location at one time. There were a bowling alley and pool tables under the Imperial Theatre. The old YMCA also had bowling alleys in the basement entered at ground level on the track side. In 1942 a bowling alley was opened in a building at the foot of West "C" Street hill and Petersville Road—just a few hundred feet from Feete's Funeral Home. Brunswick finally got its first municipal swimming pool during the Second World War years. Built under N.Y.O. (National Youth Organization), it was operated by the YMCA and opened in 1942. The pool is still in operation; however, it has been renovated and enlarged in recent years.

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Brunswick, as all small towns and communities, has had its share of children's recreational games for entertainment, such as hidey spy, Hot Butter Beans Come to Supper, kite flying, biking, Kick the Can, Home Sheep Run, sidewalk roller skating, ice skating, sled riding, Easter egg rolls, mumbley peg, marbles, jump rope, and hopscotch.

At children's parties some of the favorite games were Spin the Bottle, Musical Chairs, Flashlight, Blind Man's Bluff, and the all-time favorite—Post Office!

****

Julia Conway and Mary Payne were long-time piano teachers to Brunswick children. Mrs. Conway's students presented an annual recital.

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Betty Lou Darr established the first dance studio in Brunswick in 1952. When she moved to West Virginia in 1960, Tom Waters continued teaching in Brunswick until he moved away in the late 1970's.

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One of early Brunswick's favorite pastimes was the stroll across the old Brunswick Bridge on a Sunday afternoon. (Most strollers returned before passing the toll gate!) Children, teenagers, courting couples, grandparents, and just about everybody who lived in the Community of Brunswick during the years we had the OLD bridge has taken a stroll at some time across that precious structure—it was Brunswick's Fifth Avenue.

W - B L C

The older generation will never let the younger generation forget the Birch Woods; it was too important a place in the life of Brunswick from the late 1800's through the 1930's.

Located behind the city Police Station and the home of the John Gaithers, and running uphill to the Eagles Aerie west of Central Avenue, it had a splattering of birch trees and mint trees, the latter providing a pleasing chew once the top of the bark was scraped off.

On weekends, especially Sundays, in the spring, boy and girl friends walked through the flat area along the creek to pick violets and arbutus. A wide, well-worn path wended its way through the woods. The young were out there picking little bunches of velvet violets. Dutch Burns still recalls the indescribable beauty of the little flowers. And in the summer, he adds, folks picked huge bunches of bluebells and daisies.

The spring with its deliciously refreshing cool water was another attraction. The hollow up from the spring looked like fields of bluebells.

Going into the birch woods in the spring season was, like walking on the bridge, a small town's recreation. All ages went there with their lunches and blankets for family picnics.

A large open area near the spring, with blackberries, black chenies, and peppennint shrubs nearby, was used regularly for picnics, scout meetings, and other activities.

Wendell Stewart remembers a fifth grade yearend picnic there.

The woods served another purpose for the young boys. Charlie Utterback, scoutmaster, had a gun club there. Around 1932, Tony Cramer, Wesley Lee, Earl Leach, Leonard Leach, Preston Wiles, Bill McLaughlin, Eugene Bowers, Doug Moats—about thirty boys, recalls Dutch—had rifle practice there, where they had a safe place to shoot into a dirt bank of the rising hill away from people.

Use of the birch woods faded away as building intruded on the bucolic flavor of the area after World War II.

In later years, the Eagles created the Social Club of Brunswick, or SCOB Park, which the public still uses, although SCOB Park has long sincebeen incorporated into the Eagles Aerie that now makes its home in the north end of the beloved Birch Woods.

S - Dutch Burns W -MMM

The traditional Easter Sunday ritual of many young boys of Brunswick was the opening swim of the year at "Three Rocks." Easter was the day to remove winter underwear as they changed from their church-going outfits to hurry to the swimming hole.

The road to Three Rocks, lined with cherry trees, was entered from the north side of Souder Road opposite the Brunswick Shopping Center. After eating the free tree refreshments, the kids walked another mile to Little Catoctin Creek where they braved the water regardless of temperature. Nearby farmers gave their blessings, apparently, to the trespassers and made no effort to close off the youngsters' recreation.

Farther from town, near the Lions Club pond and park, was another swimming hole, "Four Double Trees," where water was deep enough for diving from surrounding tree roots.

On the way home sassafras roots were collected, dried and used for tea, purportedly for thinning the blood in preparation for the spring season.

Evenings, the moreadventurousgirls took their turn at Three Rocks.

Among the "boys" participating in these rites of spring were Picket Barger, Bill and Wade Hoar, Ward and Jay Hoffman, Jess Orndorff, and many others.

S - Dutch Burns W -MMM

Although there was no swimming pool in early Brunswick, there were two sandbars in the river, the "first sandbar" and the "second sandbar " about a block apart, with the city dump between them. It was hard togetto, butsomeone kept a path cut open from the tow path. Sunday School classes and other groups would picnic there.

The place was full on Sunday; going there was as important to a lot of people as walking on the bridge on Sunday. The water was beautiful. People didn't have bathing suits then. The boys would cut off old pants, and the girls would wear gingham dresses and anchor the hem together at the knees with pins. They didn't really swim; they waded around to cool off, maybe sit down in the water or on the sand.

The guys would pole a boat to near the Virginia side where there a so-called "ten-foot hole." No one knew how deep it was, except—it was over the boys' heads. They would swim and fish there.

There was just clean fun. It was wonderful. What swell memories of the sandbar!

Both bars are gone now. The banks washed away over the years. Maybe there is still sand

farther out in the river. No one goes near that area anymore.

S - Dutch Burns W -MMM

Dutch Burns recalls his young days when the railroad was the greatest employer in Brunswick. As now, there were few employers in town except the railroad. Estimates are that close to 90% of wage earners living here worked for the B&O.

The railroad was a paternalistic employer. For example, they provided transportation (sometimes free) to numerous events and activities.

Dutch remembers the excursion trains to Pen Mar, an amusement park atop the mountain in Washington County, north of Fort Richie, and almost in Pennsylvania, hence its name. The B&O went to Hagerstown where the train then used Western Maryland tracks to Pen Mar.

Granny Smith Island, called Island Park by an earlier generation of young people, was another favorite destination. The train would carry its passengers to Harpers Ferry, where horse and buggies would transport the pleasure seekers to a foot bridge, which they would traverse to the park with their picnic baskets and lighthearted air. Before 1924, canal packet boats also carried visitors to the area; they crossed the bridge by foot.

Winchester, Virginia, still has its annual Apple Blossom Festival. From 1924 to about 1930 the B&O ran an excursion train for school children with colorful costumes made by the local Parent-Teachers Associations and for their chaperones. Brunswick participants were frequent winners.

The annual County Field Day in Frederick was another event for which the railroad furnished transportation on its local line.

A street car—or light rail, as it would be called today—ran from Jefferson to Braddock where a nearby amusement park entertained local people. If Brunswickians could find transportation to Jefferson, they could be sure of a ride up the mountain to a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, a giant sliding board, look-out towers, skating rink, dance hall, miniature railroad, and plenty of food.

The Centenary Exhibition of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1827—1927, was held on 1,000 acres of company land at Halethorpe, along the B&O main line near Baltimore. History, technical demonstrations, a Maryland Pavilion showing something of the state's resources, and a mile-long standard railroad track and a parallel highway with the Pageant of the Iron Horse made up the railroad's celebration of its first 100 years. Two trains to Halethorpe and two back each day carried people from Brunswick to the Fair of the Iron Horse, as this celebration was also called.

S - Dutch Burns W-MMM

A gang of young men would be sitting in the Candy Kitchen (high school kids' hangout) and someone would say, "Let's have a big dance!" This was in the Depressed Thirties. Joseph Knode, Kenneth Barnard, Bill Deener, Ike Flynn, Eddie Miller, Mehrle Ahalt, Charlie Porter, Frank Kelley, Charlie Shewbridge, Alvin Donovan, Bets and Ernie Mills, were some of the organizers.

Money would be collected before an orchestra was hired, and the amount collected determined who played. Some of their bands became famous later: Blue Diamonds, Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, and Red Nickels and His Five Pennies would play. There was generally a full house, but for the most part, only those who paid at the beginning came with their girls. Townspeople would come down to observe and listen to the music.

S - Dutch Burns W - MMM

Youth loafing along the front street, sitting on front steps or porches of the downtown business would take turns reading the license numbers on autombiles passing by. They might have made a bet of 25 cents to a dollar—real or imaginary.

Whichever boy had the higher license number won the stakes—real or imaginary.

What's a guy to do when the Fourth of July rolls around, but he has no money for firecrackers? If you were in Brunswick before 1930, you would swipe some carbide from the brakeman's lanterns and make your own crackers.

First you'd find a molasses can with lid—the

kind you can pry off and replace, then punch a little hole in the bottom of the can. You would put in eight or ten stones of carbide, holding a finger over the hole. Next, you'd add a little water in the can, or you could spit on the carbide. The water on the carbide forms gas, so you would put the lid on the can very quickly and lay the can sideways on the ground, keeping the foot on the can and the finger over the hole.

Allowing time for the gas to generate, you would soon strike a match, then remove your finger from the hole, so the gas could escape, quickly place the flame at the escaping gas, and watch the lid blow off with a big bang. If the carbide caught on fire, you'd have a little fire to put out.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

With a group of any manageable size, one person is "It." He leaves the room while the remaining people hide an item already examined by "It."

He searches for item (thimble, bottle, bottle top, etc.) as remaining players encourage him by saying "Warm;" Warmer," or "Cold," "Hot," whichever clue is honest and appropriate.

When "It" finally locates the hidden object, someone else becomes "It." There will probably be many volunteers for the challenge of being "It."

In this game, someone leans over, hugs the telephone pole; the next one holds on to first person's waist, with head down. Last one would start from up the street a way, begin to run then jump and land on someone's back—hopefully to stay on. Last one down would let go and do same thing until someone fell off. The process would be repeated for as long as the participants cared to continue.

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1. Kite flying: Beyond Stanley Virts' home on North Dayton Ave., the kids flew their kites. This is north of West C Street and was known as Kite Hill.

2. Rolling the Hoop: At the dump or elsewhere, youth would find a baby carriage or other vehicle from which they could salvage a wheel. A stick was easily fashioned into a "T" by having a shorter wooden member nailed across its end. With this, the youngster rolled the wheel.

3. The 100 block of A Street (Memorial Square) became a skating rink where kids tried out their new skates and bicycles. The grass center was wider in the old days, and the roadway was thus narrower than it is today.

4. Plucking eggs was great Easter entertainment. You held your hand supportively around the base of the egg, as did your partner. One "plucked" the other's egg. Whichever owner's egg survived was the winner.

5. Plucking a top was slightly similar to egg-plucking. You used the cord wound around the top to spin it. As you spun your top, your friend would try to throw his top down and try to break your spinning top. These tops were bought at Mr. T. D. Cost's store (he was Grafton's father) and his store was in the wooden storeroom at the west end of Kaplon's brick building, between Kaplon's and the Reformed Church after 1923.

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For three or four years surrounding 1948 the Alumni Association's Glee Club presented Christmas programs, sang in churches, and even scheduled performances as far away as Hagerstown, for several of which they received payment. Mildred Cox directed and rehearsals were in the Methodist Church.

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An attractive yet delicate young lady who directed entertainment for a company in Ohio came to Brunswick in the late 1920's to help present an amateur musical show. Doris roomed with the Grover Stewart family during her brief stay.

She caught the eye of a handsome young local man, who was interested in music, having a band called the Potomac Club Orchestra. He met Doris, and now he was coming up to visit her.

One evening he arrived for a visit just as the Stewart's were leaving. "Do you mind if I stay," he asked the hosts. "Well, I guess it's all right," came the reluctant permission. One couple left; the other couple stayed.

When the Stewarts returned, they found the couple—quietly playing checkers.

S - Gwendolyn Stewart McCallum W - M M M

Henry L. Crummett (b. 1905) recalls accompanying his brother Luke to rent a hack. They went to a livery stable in the west end of town. Destination? Bell's Mill, where a picnic was being held. Henry was about ten years old at the time.

Bell's Mill is located two or three miles from Brunswick High School on Route 464 (the Point of Rocks Road). A barely noticeable private road to the left parallel with Catoctin Creek led to the Ausherman farm; the public used this road to reach an inviting pool of running water suitable for swimming. Families and organizations held picnics here.

S - Henry Crummett W - M M M

 On "Pay Days" for railroaders, twice a month, Mrs. Mary Douglasfor nearly three decades stood in the alcove entrance of the old Bank of Brunswick building wearing the familiar Salvation Army uniform, holding a tambourine in which contributions were placed as the employees left the bank? Mrs. Douglas served as a Salvation Army volunteer for 70 years. At the age of 88 she was recognized as the "oldest newspaper carrier" in the U.S. Walking the hills of Brunswick she delivered the BLADE TIMES.

Declamation Contests ? Mary Foster Cage does; she entered every year from seventh grade on. Her first entry, "Little Orphan Annie," a poem byJames Whitcomb Riley, won an honorable mention. Practice paid or; senior year she won f
rst place with "Delves Defies the King," a very dramatic piece. The readings all had to last from three to five minutes.
 

 
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5/21/07