In the neighborhood columns of the "Ellicott City Times" two people are listed as suffering from typhoid fever:

"Mrs. Herbert Devries is critically ill of typhoid fever."

"Mr. Wm. Brown of Springfield Ave. was taken to the hospital in Baltimore Monday. Mr. Brown is suffering from typhoid fever."

There wasn't much organization in the community section of the paper then, which must have kept readers on their toes! Obituaries were often in the social columns, which also contained information on tea parties, school openings and notes on those stricken by horrible diseases.

Typhoid is still a killer today in various places around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control, typhoid fever affects 21.5 million people a year. A vaccine was developed in 1896, but wasn't in general use until several years after 1908.

At the time some Howard countians were suffering from typhoid, in New York City Mary Mallon, aka Typhoid Mary, a "healthy carrier" of the disease was being isolated from the public, after she infected several people in 1907 while working as a cook.

50 Years Ago - Dems and GOP gearing up

"Demos elect Wehland to state post" is a headline in the "Ellicott City Times" that week. The article begins:

"Granville Wehland, a resident of Howard County's sixth district has been elected to the office of Alternative National Committeeman of the Young Democratic Club of Maryland. Mr. Wehland is a law student at the University of Baltimore and is also associative with an engineering firm in Ellicott City."

Next to that article is one on the local GOP campaign with a large picture above it featuring most of the Howard County Republican Candidates, with some names that still sound familiar today, including David Force's for whom a Howard County park is named.

Charles E. Miller, Sherwood Balderson and Roland H. Mullnix, William K. Riehl, Frances Runke, David W. Force, C. Oliver Goldsmith, Edward J. Turner, John D. Baker, Jacob E. Shillinger, Edgar Jodoin, Philip F. German, and A. Roby Mullnix are also mentioned.

Duck, cover and plow

In that 1958 issue was an article about rural civil defense and an upcoming National Advisory Council on Rural Civil Defense meeting set for Sept. 22-23.

The major aims of the organization were listed:

"1. Realistic assessment of probably threats, including radioactive fallouts and what they can do about it.

2. Continuity of agricultural production under and following an attack

3. Continuity of the ability to deliver produce to points of need

4. Planning fro aid to persons from stricken areas

5. Planning for aid to governments of stricken areas"

While 50 years ago, we were at the height of the Cold War; today we have other preparedness concerns. September happens to be National Preparedness Month and for more info on being ready for natural and man-made disasters the www.ready.gov Web site is a good one.

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