25 Years Ago Town To Rezone Land Here For Shopping Area - Action Will Pave Way For Additional Commercial Buildings At Mt. Airy Shopping Center—At the July meeting of the Mt. Airy Town Council, it was decided to rezone the land adjacent to the Mt. Airy Shopping Center to pave the way for additional commercial buildings. The Center is operating at present with a Safeway Store, Drug Fair and two Banks. David C. Smith, the builder of the shopping center, plans to expand the shopping area. Plans are underway at present for a Dairy Queen, a liquor store, gift shop, beauty shop, and other businesses. In addition, Mr. Smith's plans call for an addition of approximately 50,000 square feet to make room for a two-story department store, retail stores, and a professional area for offices for a doctor and dentist. Mr. Smith indicated building the additional shopping area would take at least a year. Permits have to be approved, loans obtained and plans drawn before the work can be started. When the Mt. Airy Center is complete, it will cover approximately 175,000 square feet, including parking space. The Community Reporter, July 12, 1974.

50 Years Ago Won't Sell Farm, Says Chambers—Whittaker Chambers, ex-Communist accuser of Alger Hiss, now on trial for perjury in New York, denied reports he is planning to sell his Westminster farm. Chambers reached at the farm by telephone, said: "You can make it very emphatic: "I am not selling my farm now, and I have no intention of doing so. I expect to live here the rest of my life." Chambers at first expressed mild surprise when asked if he planned to sell his farm, and said: "No, why?" Told there was a report he did plan to sell, he added: "I've been asked about it several times, but I haven't any plans to sell it now." He then asked: "What is this all about?" Informed the report had been heard several times in Baltimore, he made his emphatic denial. Democratic Advocate, July 8, 1949.

75 Years Ago July 4TH At Stem's Corner—Mr. A. J. Stem, our enterprising merchant and general farm produce dealer, gave his annual 4th of July open-air concert July 3rd, and to say it was appreciated, and enjoyed by the public, is best estimated by the crowd, which must have numbered well up into the thousands, rather than hundreds. The general public also showed its appreciation by the good behavior observed from casual observance. Everything went off in the best possible way, and for one person alone to be the donor of such a fine entertainment shows his appreciation of the dealings he has with the people. The grounds were lighted magnificently with Delco Lights, as well as Japanese lanterns. Refreshments of every conceivable kind was served. Seats and accommodations were placed at advantageous points while two great bands supplied the music. The Union Bridge Brass band, noted as the best of its kind, and the Fresno's Jazz from Baltimore, which is to be recommended for its fine and continuous playing. While the fire works were not as elaborate as other years, still there were just enough to make it interesting, while the youngsters had the times of their life with the smaller kinds, which made the older people hold their ears, nerves and tempers. Democratic Advocate, July 11, 1924.