Showing posts with label History Westminster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History Westminster. Show all posts

Monday, April 28, 2014

Westminster warming up for birthday celebration Eagle Archives Eagle Archives by Kevin E. Dayhoff

Eagle Archives by Kevin E. Dayhoff, Sunday, April 21, 2014

As the city emerges from an unusually hard winter, Westminster officials have begun turning their attention toward celebrating the city's sestercentennial (250 years) birthday this year. 
[…]

But with warmer weather on the horizon, it is time to celebrate not only Westminster's 250 years of history but also the anniversary of two important institutions in town, the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society of Carroll County.


[…]

In the coming months, this space in the Carroll Eagle will revisit several of the articles published in the past 10 years on the history of Westminster, the Chamber of Commerce and its historical society.

Those interested in the area's rich past should not overlook the historical society's monthly box lunch lecture series on Tuesdays at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St. in Westminster.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Westminster Sestercentennial Babylon Oak tree rings of history

Eagle Archives by Kevin E. Dayhoff, Sunday, April 27, 2014




On Monday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. Westminster will continue the year-long commemoration of the community’s 250th anniversary and celebrate Arbor Day on the historic grounds of Westminster City Hall at Emerald Hill on Longwell Avenue.

Several weeks ago, just as spring was beginning to finally appear, several city workers joined city arborist Eric Schlitzer to dig-up a six-foot oak sapling growing under the huge historic white oak tree in front of the Babylon-Shriver House at the corner of North and Willis Street in the front yard of Evelyn Babylon, (my wife’s mother.)

The sapling was then moved down the street to the grounds of Westminster City Hall. On Monday, the city will recognize the sapling as the Westminster Sestercentennial Babylon Oak as part of the Westminster Tree Commission’s annual Arbor Day celebration - as a portion of the city’s ‘tree rings’ of history comes full circle back to City Hall…. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0427-20140428,0,1248236.story


++++++++++++++++++

Vehicle license plates long a topic of interest Eagle Archives By Kevin E. Dayhoff, April 15, 2014 http://tinyurl.com/lky5xqp





On April 12, 1946, Maryland Gov. Herbert O'Conor "announced his decision to provide permanent automobile registration tags for motor vehicles in the State," according to a local newspaper.

The Westminster newspaper, the Democratic Advocate, reported O'Conor to have "declared," that using two license plates on each motor vehicle in the state will "save $60,000 annually."

More research is needed to understand how two license plates would save the state money.

"This is the plan we intended to inaugurate a few years ago, but due to the war, and the shortage of metals, our plan had to be delayed," O'Conor said.


One thing is for sure. A quick search of the Maryland General Assembly website indicates that license plates are a perennial hot topic.

During the 2013 regular session, for example, there were 11 bills proposed, ranging from providing special tags for "United States Armed Forces," to changing the law so that only one "registration plate" would be required per vehicle.

For a number of years, the single plate legislation has been introduced by Del. Donald Elliot, a Republican who represents District 4B that includes parts of Carroll and Frederick counties.

In the session that concluded last week, legislators submitted eight bills for consideration, including Elliott's.

The 2014 legislative initiative failed, after receiving an unfavorable report from the Environmental Matters Committee.


+++++++++++++++++++++

Oriole baseball history includes loss to Westminster in 1885 [Column]
Eagle Archives


By Kevin E. Dayhoff, April 8, 2014 Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://www.baltimoresun.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=Dayhoff&target=adv_article



#Baseball, #Westminster, #Orioles, #History, #Carroll County, #Maryland,

Roses are red, violets are blue. I hate snow ... and you should too.

For those with a bad case of chionophobia — a fear of snow — no worries, spring is near. We know this because last Monday was Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles.

After yet another unexpected Maryland snowstorm, the weather gave way to warmer temperatures and blue skies on March 31.

According to The Baltimore Sun, "a sellout crowd of 46,685 filled the ballpark" to see the Orioles defeat the defending world champion Boston Red Sox, 2-1.

Baseball has a long history in Baltimore. The current Baltimore Orioles franchise began playing baseball in 1954 in the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street, after it was announced on Sept. 28, 1953, that the St. Louis Browns were moving to Baltimore.


Historian Jay Graybeal researched the event for the Historical Society of Carroll County several years ago and wrote, "One of the great stories from the County's sports history is the June 1885 baseball game between the Westminster Base Ball Club and the Baltimore Orioles. …"

Graybeal quoted an old newspaper article which noted, "The Westminster Base Ball Club on Monday last, the 22d, won the most remarkable victory in their history, defeating (the) Baltimore team by a score of 9 to 7."

On that same date in 1962, Boog Powell became the first player to hit a ball over the hedge in center field at Memorial Stadium, according to a book of Orioles history by Ted Patterson.
Go Orioles.


++++++++++++++++++++++++

March 30, 1923: A gang of 25 Baltimore men attempted to rob Carroll County distillery.

The robbers received some buckshot in the hide, but no liquor.

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 30, 2014



On March 30, 1923, in the depths of prohibition, a local newspaper rang the alarm that “About 25 men, all from Baltimore, it is reported, attempted to raid McGinnis Distillery in Carroll County, just east of Westminster.”

It needs to be noted that although prohibition, known as the “Volstead Act,” did not go into effect throughout the nation until January 20, 1920; Carroll countians voted to outlaw the sale of alcohol in the county six-years earlier - in 1914, according to research by historian Jay Graybeal for the Historical Society of Carroll County.

Prohibition remained the law of the land until President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 23, 1933.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Westminster Methodist minister Lowell Ensor helped raise awareness of civil rights in 1940s

Anyone remember the Rev. Dr. Lowell Ensor, the pastor at the Westminster United Methodist from 1940 – 1947 and later became the president of Western Maryland College – now McDaniel, from 1947 – June 30, 1972? http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story

[...]

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 25, 2014

In 1945, institutional racism in Maryland was a hot topic. In part, the discussion was driven by pragmatism in that, according to research by historian Kenneth D. Durr, more than 20 percent of the population in Baltimore was said to be black. But because of housing segregation laws, the city's black population was squeezed into 2 percent of the city's land mass.

Lowell Ensor would later assume the office of president of the college, now McDaniel, on July 1, 1947, according to Lightner's history of the college, "Fearless and Bold." He served until June 30, 1972, and died in 1975.

Lowell Ensor would later assume pres of college now McDaniel 1Jy1947, according to Lightner's, "Fearless and Bold." http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Current tensions in Ukraine bring back memories of Cold War
Eagle Archives

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 19, 2014

Who can remember the school air raid drill in which you were to hide underneath your desk – or in the hallway? Remember, drop to the floor, duck and cover your head, to protect yourself from flying debris and getting burned by the nuclear blast. Some schools distributed dog tags so that the bodies of the dead students could easily be identified.


On March 16, 1972, an article in The Carroll Record explained one of the basic building blocks of the Cold War era, the fallout shelter.

"Today's Paper Has Community Fallout Shelter Plan — The new community fallout shelter plan for Carroll County is included in this newspaper. …"

The article reported, "According to the County commissioners, 'The information developed in the plan could save the lives of thousands of persons in the event of attack. …' "

The recent tensions between Russia and the West over the civil unrest in the Ukraine and Crimean Peninsula have renewed an interest in Cold War nostalgia.

[…]


+++++++++++++++++++++

Streets and history of Westminster intersect at odd angles [Eagle Archives]



Many residents today may not recall the crazy-quilt "dog leg" intersection of John, Bond and Main streets, or the equally mismatched collision of Main and Liberty streets, Railroad Avenue, and the train tracks in Westminster.

Years ago, these intersections did not look anything like they do now. Today, they form a perfect "cross."

But years ago, a motorist traveling south on John Street or Railroad Avenue had to make a 90-degree right turn onto Main Street, then hang a quick left to get on either Liberty or Bond Street and get through the intersection.

It may have worked well enough in the horse and buggy days. But by the 1970s, it was nuts.

Finally, sanity ruled and the two intersections and the bridge over the railroad tracks on East Green Street were rebuilt in the mid-1970s.

Many years ago, the area that we now know as John and Carroll streets in Westminster was known as the "space between."


Related








+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

####

Westminster Patch:
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster Online: http://www.kevindayhoff.org
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Politics: www.kevindayhoff@net

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Westminster Methodist minister Lowell Ensor helped raise awareness of civil rights in 1940s

Anyone remember the Rev. Dr. Lowell Ensor, the pastor at the Westminster United Methodist from 1940 – 1947 and later became the president of Western Maryland College – now McDaniel, from 1947 – June 30, 1972? http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story

[...]

By Kevin Dayhoff, March 25, 2014

In 1945, institutional racism in Maryland was a hot topic. In part, the discussion was driven by pragmatism in that, according to research by historian Kenneth D. Durr, more than 20 percent of the population in Baltimore was said to be black. But because of housing segregation laws, the city's black population was squeezed into 2 percent of the city's land mass.

Lowell Ensor would later assume the office of president of the college, now McDaniel, on July 1, 1947, according to Lightner's history of the college, "Fearless and Bold." He served until June 30, 1972, and died in 1975.


Lowell Ensor would later assume pres of college now McDaniel 1Jy1947, according to Lightner's, "Fearless and Bold." http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0323-20140325,0,3448847.story
_____________________________

By Kevin E. Dayhoff, kevindayhoff@gmail.com
Story | April 21, 2014 | 12:04 PM
... just endured are hard on a city — and expensive. In a recent edition of the city's newsletter, Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz wrote, "The City has spent all $100,000 of our snow budget plus an additional $50,000 in contingency funds purchasing ...

By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 
Story | April 15, 2014 | 5:52 AM
On April 12, 1946, Maryland Gov. Herbert O'Conor "announced his decision to provide permanent automobile registration tags for motor vehicles in the State," according to a local newspaper.

By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 
Story | April 8, 2014 | 5:38 AM
There were actually at least two sports stadiums in Northeast Baltimore at 33rd Street and Ellerslie Avenue in what was once a city park by the name of Venable Park. The first, Baltimore Municipal Stadium, began operations Dec. 2, 1922.

By Kevin Dayhoff, kevindayhoff@gmail.com
Story | March 25, 2014 | 12:16 PM
In 1945, institutional racism in Maryland was a hot topic. In part, the discussion was driven by pragmatism in that, according to research by historian Kenneth D. Durr, more than 20 percent of the population in Baltimore was said to be black.

By Kevin Dayhoff, 
Story | March 19, 2014 | 8:06 AM
"Today's Paper Has Community Fallout Shelter Plan ? The new community fallout shelter plan for Carroll County is included in this newspaper. ?"

By Kevin Dayhoff, 
Story | February 5, 2014 | 4:37 AM
... received an imported breech-loading shotgun. Throughout his career he gave away 5,000 guns representing sales of 5,000,000 cigars!" When he is not admiring the artwork on the old cigar labels,Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .
By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 
Story | February 17, 2014 | 1:57 PM
... City, a vast collection of skyscrapers and a thriving economic center that may be best described as the Hong Kong of Latin and South America. If he is not showing pictures of his trip to Panama to friends, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at

By Kevin Dayhoff Story | February 12, 2014 | 3:15 AM
... College: 621 employees • Carroll County Commissioners: 587 employees • Carroll Community College: 509 employees • Evapco: 440 employees When he is not counting the days until spring, KevinDayhoff may be reached at .

By Kevin Dayhoff, Story | March 4, 2014 | 8:42 AM Many residents today may not recall the crazy-quilt "dog leg" intersection of John, Bond and Main streets, or the equally mismatched collision of Main and Liberty streets, Railroad Avenue, and the train tracks in Westminster. Years ago, these intersections did not look anything like they do now.

Long-standing history of ground-rent on property in Westminster [Column] By Kevin E. Dayhoff, Story | March 11, 2014 | 1:12 PM In the last several weeks, articles in the Baltimore Sun report that a ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals "tossed-out” an ambitious legislative effort" to address what some lawmakers perceived as abusive practices on the part of some ground-rent owners in Maryland.

Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for: Patuxent Publishing Co., The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO








Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/



E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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 is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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/
+++++++++++++++

Celebration of historic oak tree a recognition of Westminster's deep roots

The Westminster Sestercentennial Babylon Oak tree rings of history

Eagle Archives By Kevin E. Dayhoff, Sunday, April 27, 2014




On Monday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. Westminster will continue the year-long commemoration of the community’s 250th anniversary and celebrate Arbor Day on the historic grounds of Westminster City Hall at Emerald Hill on Longwell Avenue.

Several weeks ago, just as spring was beginning to finally appear, several city workers joined city arborist Eric Schlitzer to dig-up a six-foot oak sapling growing under the huge historic white oak tree in front of the Babylon-Shriver House at the corner of North and Willis Street in the front yard of Evelyn Babylon, (my wife’s mother.)

The sapling was then moved down the street to the grounds of Westminster City Hall. On Monday, the city will recognize the sapling as the Westminster Sestercentennial Babylon Oak as part of the Westminster Tree Commission’s annual Arbor Day celebration - as a portion of the city’s ‘tree rings’ of history comes full circle back to City Hall…. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0427-20140428,0,1248236.story


*****

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Eagle Archive: History of government in Carroll County is one of change and debate

Eagle Archive By Kevin E. Dayhoff January 28, 2013 http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0120-20130116,0,2118722.story





Throughout Carroll County's history, many issues have caused deep divisions among voters. Recently we recalled the stark differences of opinion between the German and English speakers in the October 1833 referendum over whether or not to form Carroll County.

As a matter of fact, it was after that election that Manchester fired the town cannon at Westminster to emphasize how they felt about the disagreement.

But divisions of opinion certainly aren't accentuated only in history. The decision last Nov. 6 by Frederick County voters, to go to a charter form of government, has kept local political junkies preoccupied ever since the election results were announced.

The ballot issue last fall was contentious in Frederick County. In Carroll County, even the preliminary discussions over such a change here have already had a polarizing affect.


There's no word yet as to whether or not any cannon fire will figure into the upcoming discussions, but I suppose we can't rule out the possibility of a few character assassinations.

According to numerous media accounts, including that of Ryan Marshall in the Frederick County Gazette on Nov. 7 … http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0120-20130116,0,2118722.story

Related









+++++++++++++++++++++
*****

+++++++++++++++
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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/
+++++++++++++++

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Kevin Dayhoff - Eagle Archive: Community's history comes to rest at Westminster Cemetery




On Jan. 24, 1790, a gentleman in our community by the name of Christian Yingling died. His name and his passing are significant, because Yingling's is believed to be the first burial in the historic Westminster Cemetery on Church Street.

It is accepted that the Westminster community started the Westminster Cemetery by utilizing the 1.5-acre grounds surrounding the Union Meeting House in 1790.

In 1864, "the company purchased twelve-and-a-half surrounding acres from the estate of John Fisher (the first Burgess of the City of Westminster) and the cemetery reached its current dimensions," according "Westminster Cemetery, Carroll County Cemeteries, Vol. V, Part III," by the Carroll County Genealogical Society in 2004. The authoritative reference book lists all the burials in the cemetery and includes a brief history.


By working together, our community will be able to maintain this institution beyond another 300 years. If you would like to make a contribution toward the restoration of the William Winchester grave site or for the general maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery, contact the cemetery company president, former Westminster Councilwoman Suzanne Albert, at suzannealbert@comcast.net, or call her at 410-871-1180. You may also mail a check to: Westminster Cemetery Company, P.O. Box 1251, Westminster, MD 21158-1251… http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0127-20130122,0,6575174.story

Related:






+++++++++++++++
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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/
+++++++++++++++

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Westminster Maryland Online: Terms of office of the Burgesses and Mayors of Wes...

Westminster Maryland Online: Terms of office of the Burgesses and Mayors of Wes...: Terms of office of the Burgesses and Mayors of Westminster May 2001 Updated May 2005 The following is a list of the distinguished citize...

Terms of office of the Burgesses and Mayors of Westminster

Terms of office of the Burgesses and Mayors of Westminster

May 2001 Updated May 2005

The following is a list of the distinguished citizens who have served Westminster as its Mayor.

The dates following each name indicate the period of office.

Incorporated 1818 (Chapter 128, Acts of 1818)

A communication, signed many voters, gave notice that on the 1st Monday of April the following gentlemen would be voted for:-

For Burgess, John Fisher;

For Commissioners, Ludwig Wampler, Jacob Sherman, Jacob Frenger, Isaac Shriver, John C. Cockey and Jacob Yingling.

The Westminster Chronicle and Weekly Advertiser, vol. I No. 17. The paper bears date "Westminster, Frederick County, (MD.) Friday, March 26, 1819.

BURGESSES (Chapter 418, Acts of 1838)

Westminster was incorporated as a town by chapter 418 of the Acts of 1838 under the name of the Burgess and Commissioners of Westminster. That charter was amended by chapter 335 of the Acts of 1856, which characterized the municipality as a city by changing the name to The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster... http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2005/05/terms-of-office-of-burgesses-and-mayors.html

+++++++++++++++
I’m a newspaper reporter. I’m pushy, inconsiderate and I do not respect boundaries.
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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/
+++++++++++++++

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Former Westminster mayor and county commissioner, Ben Brown, dead at 66



Brown was an agent of change in city and county politics in the 1980s and 90s.


Update: My tightened and edited story on Ben Brown has been published in www.explorecarroll.com, here: http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5450/former-westminster-mayor-county-commissioner-ben-brown-dies-66/.  My unedited – long version may be found here: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2011/05/former-westminster-mayor-and-county.html.  All my latest stories in the Carroll Eagle may be found here: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO


Former Westminster mayor and county commissioner W. Benjamin “Ben” Brown, 66, died on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore following a heart attack.

Brown began his political career in Carroll County when he served as a member the Westminster Board of Zoning Appeals from 1983 to 1985 and then chaired the board from 1985 to1989. 

On May 11, 1987, Brown made an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Westminster Common Council in a crowded field that included Edward S. Calwell, Samuel V. Greenholtz, Kenneth John Hornberger, Michael B. Serio, and Mark S. Snyder.  In that contest, Greenholtz, Snyder, and Hornberger prevailed.

Two-years later, in the May 8, 1989 Westminster municipal elections, Brown upset former Mayor LeRoy L. Conaway by 12 votes.  Conaway, who had served as the mayor of Westminster for 16 years, since May 21, 1973, was assumed, at the time, to be able to easily win re-election; however Conaway only received 230 votes to Brown’s 242.

It was considered to be further irony, at the time, that it was Conaway who had appointed Brown to the zoning appeals board and had given Brown his start in local politics.

Brown entered City Hall “loudly,” according to various newspaper articles in 1989.  “Part of the problems were born” during the 1989 mayoral election campaign.  It was widely reported “Brown campaigned hard for the job, criticizing then-mayor (and very the popular) LeRoy Conaway for his performance and lack of leadership.”

During the 1989 election campaign, Brown pledged to run the city “using the same management style he’s used in hospitals and candy stores…”

Shortly after taking office, Brown exhibited bold leadership and showed the public that he meant business when he said that he would do things differently and break from the past. 

One of his first acts was to paint over an historic mural that had covered the walls of the mayor’s office in the historic city hall, built by Colonel John K. Longwell in 1842.

Immediately upon taking office he sent out a letter asking for the resignation of every appointed member of every city board or commission, and it was widely said at the time that he asked all of the city department heads to resign.

A newspaper account at the time reported, “… when it comes to city business, Ben Brown carries a big stick.”

On June 8 1989, Brown garnered national attention for Westminster when he held a press conference and proclaimed “official support for demonstrating Chinese students” at Tiananmen Square.  The press conference was widely covered by television.  It was a first for the city to have TV crews blanketing the grounds of City Hall. 

Brown drew “criticism from the public, particularly war veterans, according to a newspaper account at the time, for the proclamation of support “and lowering the flag (at City Hall) to half staff.”

According to yet another newspaper article that appeared shortly after he took office; “When campaigning door-to-door, Brown said, residents indicated they didn’t think a new person would make a difference.

“‘Now is when I need to be showing I am different,’ he said.”

Two-years later, in the subsequent Westminster council election on May 13, 1991, all three incumbent council members up for re-election were defeated in a particularly rancorous and contentious election which witnessed and unprecedented 1, 224 votes cast in the election.  Incumbents Greenholtz and Snyder, frequent critics of Brown, were denied another term.  Hornberger choose not to run for re-election.

The election campaign, in 1991, which saw Stephen R. Chapin, Jr., Rebecca A. Orenstein, and Kenneth A. Yowan, swept into office, centered upon the Common Council’s relationship with the mayor and the Common Council’s decision to hire a city manager.

In yet another unprecedented political move, Brown had endorsed and actively campaigned for the voters to replace the incumbent councilmembers.  Brown mailed a letter to every city voter recommending the incumbents be replaced by Yowan, Orenstein, - and Frazier, who only lost gaining the third seat by a relatively small number of votes.

Other hot topics in 1991 were lowering property taxes, a 21 percent increase in sewer rates, and a new housing development between Uniontown Road and Furnace Hills, in which it was proposed to build 280 houses on 74 acres.

Also, whether or not the city ought to renovate City Hall or build a new municipal headquarters with the $1.6 million the city had saved for the project was foremost on the minds of the voters.

At the May 13, 1991 meeting of the Common Council and the mayor, Brown threatened to veto the budget, lower the tax rate, not build or refurbish City Hall and fire the existing city manager, Philip Hertz.

Brown easily won re-election to the mayor’s office on May 10, 1993 in an election in which he ran unopposed.

After taking office for a second term as mayor, Brown immediately embarked on a campaign to run for a seat in the Carroll County commissioners’ office.

In his 1994 election campaign literature, when Brown was running for county commissioner, his literature noted, “But in the cumulative sense, Brown has earned a … term in office.  Few politicians have provoked such dramatic changes in such a short period of time.”

In 1994 Brown was elected to the then three-member Carroll County board of commissioners. 

In Brown’s campaign literature for the commissioners’ office, in August 1994, Brown boasted that in 1989, he had beaten “16-year incumbent LeRoy Conaway by the slimmest of margins, (and) encountered a city government indifferent to the public it served, (and) uninterested in strong leadership from the mayor’s office.

“Brown insisted on providing that leadership and promoting more citizen involvement in city government, sparking two years of bitter disputes between his office and the city (Common) council.

“In fact,” the campaign literature continued, “it was just three years ago that the council demanded Brown’s resignation.  His cardinal sin: he had dared to release the proposed city budget to the public before the evening of the only public hearing scheduled to discuss the budget…”

In his campaign, as a Republican, for county commissioner in 1994, titled, “Carroll County… better, not just bigger!,” his campaign literature outlined a “commitment to real growth management, including: full impact fees; zoning that means what it says; and agricultural preservation.

“A commitment to ending the crowding in Carroll’s schools.

“A commitment to providing quick-response policing throughout Carroll County.

“A commitment to offering low cost trash collection and disposal, including yard wastes and recyclables, to every Carroll household.

“A firm commitment to protecting Carroll’s environment.”

He also noted a Hanover Evening Sun editorial, “Ben Brown is a mayor who won’t knuckle under,” from May 14, 1993, which said, in part: “Much has changed (since he took office as mayor.)  Voters placed three new members on the council two years ago, assuring that the mayor’s proposals would be evaluated on their merit rather than their origin.

“The changes are most evident at the bi-weekly council meetings.  Citizens can now voice concerns at the beginning of those meetings rather at the end.  The council explains each action before it votes.  Public hearings are far more frequent.

“A resident visiting a council meeting today would feel that he or she is an integral part of city government.  A resident visiting the same meeting four years ago would feel more like an unwelcome intruder at a private gathering.

And Brown has proven a highly capable leader, whether he is promoting curbside recycling, lobbying the State Highway Administration for road improvements in Westminster or advocating a stronger city police department in the wake of a drug-related slaying last winter.”

After one term in office as a county commissioner, Brown chose to run instead for Maryland State Delegate – and lost.

In September 1998, when he was running for the Maryland House of Delegates, a campaign letter highlighted his commitment to “slowing the Carroll’s rate of growth, and preserving our quality of life.”

The letter included charts about “New Residential Building Permits,” and “Carroll County Agricultural Preservation Easements.  Easements Purchased – Acreage Preserved.”

“The charts show two things,” wrote Brown.  “First, that the building permits issued for new house construction last year were little more than one-half the number issued the year before I took office in 1995…

The second chart is closely related to the first.  It shows the commitment of the current Board of Commissioners has made to preserve Carroll’s farmlands for agricultural use alone.  It shows that development rights to nearly 7,000 acres have been purchased during my term (1995-1998); as opposed to only 1,435 acres preserved by the previous Board of Commissioners.”

Brown, who had “an extensive background in child welfare,” was born July 9, 1944 in Graham, Tennessee.  He was the son of the late Jesse D. and Sina L. England Thornton.

He was a member of the Westminster Optimists and the Westminster Moose.  In addition to serving as the Westminster mayor and county commissioner, Brown was a member of the Carroll County Economic Development Commission beginning in 1989; vice president of the Carroll County chapter of the Maryland Municipal League from 1993 to 1994 and secretary of the chapter from 1991 to 1993.

He was the husband of Margaret Gray Vicinus Brown whom he married November 24, 1973.  He was adopted at the age of 3 by Rosemary Brown (now of Sykesville, MD) and raised in Lakeland, FL, according to information obtained from his obituary.

He earned his B.S in Social Services at Towson State University in 1970 and his Master’s degree in social administration and a certificate in gerontology, at the University of Maryland in 1977.

He spent a number of years as a social worker for the State of Maryland in various positions, including at Springfield State Hospital.  He then pursued other occupations, including owning and operating a candy store in Westminster, according to his obituary.

According to a newspaper account at the time, “After working in social work administration at Spring Grove Hospital, a state psychiatric facility, (Brown) moved to Carroll County in 1980.”  Shortly after arriving in Westminster he is reported to have remarked that he moved to Westminster to change things and “move it out of the dark ages.”

After working at Spring Grove, Brown operated “Elderberry,” a residence for the elderly until 1984 when he then got into the retail chocolate business.  In 1986, Brown changed the candy store business model and went into the wholesale candy business.

According to his obituary, “In 1998, he left public service and retired to pursue his personal interests, including authoring a novel and spending time with his family.”

Surviving in addition to his wife and adopted mother are son Jesse Brown of Albany, NY; daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Brian Abts of Pikesville, MD; brothers Kenneth and David Thornton of Lakeland, FL; sisters Myrtle Thornton of Oxford, FL, Anne Wyman of Fayetteville, NC and Mary Stuart of Palmetto, FL. He was predeceased recently by sister Ruth Anderson of Lakeland, FL.

A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in Westminster Cemetery to be followed by a Memorial Service at 1:00 pm at the Grace United Methodist Church, 55 Albright Dr., Hanover, PA 17331.

If desired, memorial contributions may be to Foresight Vision, 1380 Spahn Ave., York, PA 17403.  Arrangements by Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, 412 Washington Rd., Westminster.


http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2011/05/former-westminster-mayor-and-county.html
*****
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/