Leitersburg

DEC. 23, 1909-FEB. 25, 2011 MAUGANSVILLE — Bertha Naomi Burkholder, 101, a resident of the Mennonite Home, Maugansville, Md., died at 12:35 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at the home. Born Dec. 23, 1909, in Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Henry S. and Mary G. (Horst) Burkholder. She did housekeeping work and was a longtime member of Millers Mennonite Church near Leitersburg. She was  currently a member of Paradise Mennonite Church, Hagerstown.

Leitersburg Pike (Md. 60) near Bluegrass Drive has been closed to traffic while emergency crews remove electrical wires that fell on the roadway at about 1 p.m. today, a Washington County Emergency Services dispatcher said. Further details were not immediately available.

This is the 184th in a series of articles about the historical and architectural treasures of Washington County. The Greencastle-Baltimore Road was built in 1807 to intersect with Nicholson's Gap Road in northeast Hagerstown. This intersection was on Jacob Leiter's property, part of a land tract called "Well Taught. " Jacob's son, Andrew, purchased the land around the crossroads in 1811 from his father. Four years later, he laid out a town of 53 lots at this intersection.

LEITERSBURG - For decades, thousands have traveled to the tiny town of Leitersburg for a taste of nature's candy - the peach. The fuzzy fruits are the stars of the Leitersburg Peach Festival, which starts Saturday, Aug. 14, and continues through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Leitersburg Ruritan Community Park. The free food festival enters its 31st year as a fundraiser for the Leitersburg Ruritan Club. But amid all the peachy bliss - peach cobbler, peach ice cream, peach drinks, peach butter, peach salsa and thousands of locally grown peaches for sale - the peach pie contest has played only a supporting role, organizers said of prior years.

The Peach Festival in Leitersburg will be host a peach pie contest on Saturday, Aug. 14. All pies should be brought to The Courtesy Tent, in front of the pavilion, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Judging will take place at 3 p.m. The contest is open to participants of all ages. People are asked to bake their favorite homemade peach pie recipe. Please do not bring a store-bought pie. Pies need to be in an aluminum pan or a dish that can be given away. The pies will be judged on appearance and taste.

Authorities say a fire caused about $250,000 in damage to a metal barn and its contents early this morning north of Hagerstown. The fire at 20319 Leitersburg Pike was reported at about 2:05 a.m., according to press release from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office. Investigators believe the fire started accidentally when grease and oily rags that were near an electrical service line spontaneously combusted, the release said. The fire marshal said damages were estimated at $50,000 to the structure and $200,000 to the contents, which included a Volvo salvage truck and two John Deere tractors.

LEITERSBURG -- After just two years, a free outdoor festival in Leitersburg might not be drawing record crowds, but the small family event appears to have taken root. "I think it's great," said Donna Leatherman of Leitersburg. Members of St. Paul's Evangelical Free Lutheran Church, Leitersburg Ruritan Club and Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Co. hosted a community family festival Saturday at Leitersburg Ruritan Community Park. Civic leaders created the festival last year with a simple goal, said Lynn Bibbee, secretary of the Ruritan.

LEITERSBURG - Leitersburg Senior Citizens will meet Monday, Dec. 7, at 11:30 a.m. at Leitersburg Fire Hall, Leiter Street. Bring a covered dish and game gift. Entertainment will be provided by the Duffeys. For more information, call Dorothy Smith at 301-733-8107.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Hagerstown Cinema 10 on Leitersburg Pike will close Sunday, General Manager Ed Taylor said. However, plans for another cinema there are in the works. Lifehouse Church East -- which has held services in the theater building north of Hagerstown since January 2008 -- hopes to work with a new company to open a family-friendly cinema, Pastor Patrick Grach said Wednesday. The church has a lease with an option to buy the property, Grach said. He said the purchase is likely to happen next year.