25 Years Ago Bennett Named Temporary Chairman As County College Group Begins Work—Walter V. Bennett of Gaither Road, Sykesville, has been named temporary chairman of the county's new Community College Committee. The committee had it first meeting Monday in Westminster and County Commission chairman Rice named Mr. Bennett temporary chairman because; "his three terms as a County Commissioner give him the broadest view of anybody here of the entire county's problems; he knows the inner workings of county government; and he knows how to get things done." Mr. Bennett now retired, told the commissioner he hoped the Almighty would forgive Mr. Rice for making "all those nice remarks" and that the Almighty would forgive Mr. Bennett for enjoying them. Mr. Bennett said he went to a one-room "little red schoolhouse" in the Berrett district which had 40 students enrolled in the fall but saw enrollment swell to 75 when Christmas came. With the first thaw enrollment dropped again as many of the children returned to the fields to plant. Higher education in those days, he said, was to go to high school in Westminster. The Herald, February 14, 1974.

50 Years Ago College Campus To Be Used By Colts- Coach Isbell Expects to Bring 55 Players to Train, Starting in July—Baltimore's football Colts are going to train at Western Maryland College this year. Dr. Lowell S. Ensor, president of the Methodist school, and Walter S. Driskill, Colts general manager, have signed a contract providing for the city's All-America Football Conference squad to use the Westminster College's campus as a pre-season base of operations, it was announced. Coach Cecil Isbell expects to take a Colt squad of some 55 players to Westminster the latter part of July. "We plan to begin practice about five weeks before our opening contest" Driskill said. "A league meeting probably will be held next week in Chicage to arrange the schedule." It has been a custom to open the season the last of August, but Baltimore's first game has been the first week in September. Driskill gave the fact that the Colts plan to arrange several exhibition games in the East as the primary reason for training in this section, but cited a number of advantges in choosing Western Maryland. "The school's facilities are ideal," he explained, "and because Westminster is only 30 miles from Baltimore the fans will have a good chance to get acquainted with us. We plan to hold several 'openhouse' days so the spectators can look over the prospects."Democratic Advocate, February 11, 1949.

75 Years Ago North Branch Hotel No More—A baby's cries early Tuesday awoke H. W. Young, who called his family and led them to safety when flames destroyed Young's Hotel, on the Liberty road, at North Branch. Mrs. Young and the children, clad only in their night clothes, were cared for at the home of neighbors. Residents formed bucket brigades, which worked with the volunteer firemen at North Branch. The flames from the old hostelry could be seen for miles. A large number of people were attracted to the scene. This hotel was operated by Mr. Louis Sachs, formerly of this city, before the Volstead act went into effect, and was well known throughout this county. Democratic Advocate, February 8, 1924.