A May 29, 1925 Westminster newspaper described in great detail a huge parade and a daylong celebration to mark the occasion of the opening of the Newark Shoe Factory plant on East Green Street, “an enterprise that is running in full blast and employees over 200 men, women and boys…”
Attracting jobs and economic development in 1925 was considered critical to the future of Westminster and Carroll County. Commuting out of the county for meaningful employment was not a viable option.
Carol Lee observed in her book on the history of agriculture in Carroll County, “Legacy of the Land:” “During World War 1, Carroll County had only 69 miles of paved roads, by 1935 it had 240 miles…”
After the First World War ended, agriculture commodity prices plummeted in the county and Lee reports that “Throughout the 1920s, agriculture got into an increasingly perilous condition.”
The economic decline of the business of agriculture had a far-reaching impact on all businesses in the county. Younger citizens simply moved-out of the county to find work. Not only was the local economy in bad shape, but now the exodus of the younger generation caused social and cultural turmoil to add insult to injury.
It was with this context that one may understand that the opening of a shoe factory in Westminster was greeted with celebration. The now out-of-print Democratic Advocate newspaper described that the “crowd resembled a gathering for a circus that came to witness the parade and visit the Shoe factory…
“The celebration closed with a meeting in the Firemen's hall at 8 p.m., when addresses were made by Congressman Millard E. Tydings, Mayor Howard E. Koontz, Senator Daniel J. Hesson, Guy W. Steele and Dwight M. Burroughs, president of the Better Business Bureau of Baltimore and publicity manager of the United Railways of Baltimore...”
Jamie Wehler recently wrote to me that as a result of her research into the opening of the shoe factory, she was proud to see that the Westminster (Municipal) Band took part in the parade.
The newspaper article also noted that other participants in the parade included: “R. O. T. C. Western Maryland College, Mayor Koontz, Common Council, Officials of Chamber Of Commerce, School Children, Boy Scouts, Union Bridge Fire Company, Taneytown Fire Company, Westminster Fire Company…”
Meanwhile at the other end of Westminster, last week’s Carroll Eagle history trivia question was: “What was the name of the shoe factory at the far end of Pennsylvania Avenue near Vetville? Or, who can tell me the name of the car dealership and garage at 56 Pennsylvania Avenue?”
To my surprise many folks knew the answers. Among the readers that responded was this week’s winner of the Carroll Eagle mug, Gertrude Robertson, who wrote that she once worked in the office at the Kessler Shoe Factory.
Wayne Wrightson wrote from WTTR that “My fiancée’s father Bill Kuhn, a Westminster native of 84+ years seems to remember the shoe factory by Vetville was Kessler's Shoes… This man has an amazing memory for any age.
After a break from the Westminster world of the 1920s, we will go over the many other reader responses about the shoe factories and Wilson’s Garage, the “Willys-Overland” dealership on Pennsylvania Avenue – in a future column.
We will resume the history trivia quiz next Sunday. Meanwhile, please remember that today is Flag Day. It is always heartwarming to see so many flags proudly displayed throughout the county.
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For other recent columns in
Explore Carroll by
Kevin Dayhoff:
Bringing Corbit's Charge, and Douglass, back to WestminsterPublished July 5, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
http://tinyurl.com/mxbkjphttp://explorecarroll.com/community/3099/bringing-corbits-charge-douglass-back-westminster/DAYHOFF: Margaret Mitchell wrote what she knew; the rest is gone with the windPublished July 2, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... And that is all I know for right now. Hope you and your family have a great Fourth of July weekend. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. …visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
Westminster was all abuzz for the great fly roundup of 1914Published June 28, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... reminds me that it was Groucho Marx who once said, "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." When he is not swatting flies, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
DAYHOFF: Hoffa Field and the Sheathing of the SwordPublished June 23, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... . Lightner and the June 1922 American Sentinel newspaper article have left us with an extensive and fascinating account of the “The Sheathing of the Sword.” … visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
'Year without summer' killed crops ... and created a monsterPublished June 21, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... village folk that it's not a bad idea to keep a torch handy on these cool summer nights. When he is not playing with laboratory-harnessed lightning, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...
Historic Blue Ridge College bell dedicated In Union BridgePublished June 20, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
UNION BRIDGE — Several hundred folks braved threatening weather June 20 to witness the unveiling and dedication of the historic 1900 Blue Ridge College bell in Lehigh Square, the original site of the college which had thrived in Union Bridge from 1898 to ... ...
When city got 'sole' in the 1920s, it was cause for a celebrationPublished June 14, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... be the guest speaker. There will be a retirement ceremony for worn flags. Guests may bring old flags for retirement. When he is not waving the flag, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at… or visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
Remember when you could walk to work in Westminster?Published June 7, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... . When he's not on a "walk-about" in Westminster, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached …
Company H: from the Frizellburg greenhouses to the sands of Omaha BeachPublished June 3, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
… (have) come a long way from the old parade field in Frizellburg.” Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.
Dayhoff: New councilmember tackles alleged hit and run driverPublished June 1, 2009 by Westminster Eagle, Carroll Eagle
... Westminster city police arrived and took control of the situation The accident is under investigation. All in a day’s work. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.
20090705 sdosm Recent columns in
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