Jay Graybeal News Today

On May 10, 1900, Westminster was saddened by the untimely death of James Hope, the African American singing barber of the Main Court Inn.

To look back in Carroll County history, any given month of the year provides a historian with a cornucopia of thrilling stories to explore, but April has always been especially fascinating.

As Carroll County celebrated its 186th birthday this week, many important names naturally came to mind. One of them, Joe Getty, may best be remembered in 2023 as the former chief judge of Maryland’s Court of Appeals. For those who enjoy Carroll County history, however, Joe’s name might ring a different bell, that of important local historian.

It was standing room only in Carroll County Circuit Courtroom 10 as more than 100 folks gathered Tuesday to witness the swearing-in ceremony for Haven Shoemaker, the 23rd state’s attorney for Carroll County.

One of the earliest references to a community Christmas tree lighting is found in a history of the Westminster Women’s Club. It was Dec. 20, 1928. In past years, the annual tree lighting was also the occasion of a parade.

The Westminster Municipal Band will play its time-honored, end-of-summer concert in the park in Belle Grove Square, at the corner of Green and Bond streets, at 6 p.m. Sunday.

This isn’t the first, nor is it the last time Carroll County will experience the stifling heat of the dog days of summer. Some years, however, have been hotter and more eventful than others.

One hundred and twenty years ago, on April 29, 1891, Dr. Jacob J. Weaver Jr., of Uniontown, began an unusual project at his house – he started the construction of his “bathroom building.”According to research by historian Jay Graybeal, “The idea of an indoor bathroom was almost unknown until the early twentieth century.”