Blast from the Past

December 27, 2006

Week of Dec. 24, 1956

A newspaper man from far-off Iran, who accompanied a group of foreign teachers to Hagerstown earlier this month, and who visited The Herald-Mail newspaper plant, was so impressed with what he saw and heard that he's using this information on newspaper practices in an article he prepared for publication in one of the leading Iran newspapers.

The population of Washington County passed the 85,000 mark for the first time during 1956. The population estimate for 1955 was 84,600. Thus far in 1956, there have been an estimated 2,100 births and 900 deaths. This would bring the population to 85,800, not counting those who have moved in and out of the county.

The stork doubled as Santa Claus for four Washington County couples by delivering babies to the hospital on Christmas morning. Two of the new babies were born to residents of Funkstown, and two to residents of Hagerstown. There were three girls and one boy.

Week of Dec. 24, 1981

Three police agencies got in the act when a thief stole a police car, wrecked it about seven miles away and then vanished, leaving police stumped. "It was probably a little malicious mischief," said Sgt. M.C. Barnes of the Maryland State Police. The car, a marked 1981 Ford Fairmont, was stolen from Potomac Street in Williamsport.

Retailers at Valley Mall and downtown report that holiday sales were up by 10 percent or more over last year, despite the economic recession. At Saum's Jewelers, diamonds were the hottest item. "In times of stress and strain, people are likely to reward themselves," owner Doug Saum said. "What better reward than diamonds?"

When the five musicians collectively known as Kix climb onto the Mountain View Inn stage in Smithsburg tonight, they'll be ringing in what may be the biggest year of their lives. Last New Year's Eve, Kix was a hot local band bargaining hopefully for a recording contract with one of America's largest record companies. Tonight, Kix returns to its birthplace with the frenzied act that turned some heads in a just-completed nationwide tour, with a debut album that has sold more than 30,000 copies.

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