The Yellowed Pages: News from 50 years ago in The Guide
by Jacqueline Watts
editor@baltimoreguide.com
March 27, 1958
Miss Guide was elected at last. Irene Jane Charchut overtook Ruby Sheldon at the wire in a duel of Catholic High School students. Irene captured the crown with a bale of votes delivered at the last minute by two “stalwart Lochinvars.”
Nearly 32,000 votes were cast, and Charchut beat Sheldon 6,884 to 6,759. Coming in behind them were Shirley Creamo, Elizabeth Biernadzki and Lillian Horne.
Two men were taken to City Hospitals with severe burns suffered when their clothing caught fire while they were working on a truck at the Anchor Motor Freight yard in the 1900 block S. Quail St. William Mack and Joseph Russo rolled in the snow to extinguish the flames.
A warehouse full of burlap bags collapsed during a fire on South Haven Street. The warehouse, owned by the Premium Bag Co. at Haven and Danville Ave., caught fire and produced a dense plume of smoke that could be seen all over East Baltimore. Firefighters brought the fire under control before it could spread to the Standard Oil Co. and Koppers Co. nearby.
James Wynn Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. James Wynn of the 100 block S. East Ave., was scheduled to play a recital at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Wynn was a graduate of Patterson Park High School, class of 1954, and a student at Peabody.
The American Home Newspapers of America gave an award to The Baltimore Guide for its color advertising inserts for Eastpoint Shopping Center. The AHNA mentioned the inserts for Eastpoint’s back-to-school sale, its first anniversary, and two Christmas promotions. The judges were on the faculty of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
A man was pumping water from his basement in the 700 block N. Duncan St. and electrocuted himself. Gordon Powell, 21, had helped several neighbors pump their basements after a recent storm and was working on his own—but neglected to put on his rubber boots. Neighbors ran into the house after hearing his cries for help, but it was too late.
Powell left behind a wife and three children, and the paper issued a plea for support for the family.
Someone broke into a house in the 400 block S. Highland Ave. and stole 559 Indian-head pennies that were stored in a cabinet in the cellar. William Weinel, the homeowner, told police that the upper floors had been ransacked but nothing was taken. Entry was gained by breaking the glass in the cellar door.
The Candy Kitchen at the corner of Fleet St. and Linwood Ave. offered to fill everyone’s Easter needs. The store had plenty of chocolate rabbits, eggs and baskets on hand, according to their ad. “We have been making Easter candies for 60 years and have the most complete display in the city,” trumpeted the ad. “They are fresher, much better and cheaper too! Every year people from all over the state come here for their Easter goods—and they tell us it’s worth it.”
Baltimore County opened bids for a new elementary school near Sparrows Point. The school would be known as Battle Grove Elementary School, and it was expected to ease overcrowding at the Sparrows Point and Fort Howard schools.
Four more schools—Gray Manor, Berkshire, Inverness and Colgate elementaries—were expected to solve their pupil overload by increasing class size and adding trailers.
James and Catherine Ensor organized square dances at the Fort Holabird Officers’ Club. They served chicken-in-a-basket and decorated the club with chicken wire, cider jugs, hay bales, pitchforks and saddles. Lt. Col. Stanley Hays chaired the committee.
Mrs. P.B. Yeager was eleted president of the Officers’ Wives Club, stepping in for Mrs. F.M. Fliniau, whose husband got orders. Mrs. G.E. Cilley was elected Hospitality Hostess, replacing Mrs. H.W. Crabtree, whose family was also stationed away from Fort Holabird.
Holabird’s Chess Club was preparing for a match against Fort Meade April 4, and members of the club were preparing their entries to the Maryland State Chess Championships in late April and early May.
Eckes Appliance offered a Frigidaire Wash and Wear Pair for only $299. The washer was highly rated, according to the ad, and the “Famous ‘Wrinkles Away’ Dryer” promised to “end messy drip-drying” and “save up to 9 hours weekly on ironing time.”
