Long ago in Parkville
by Celeste H. Breitenbach
March, 1843 - The original stone chapel of Hiss Methodist Church was completed. It is believed that the Rev. David Steele, known as the weeping prophet, presided at the dedication. At this time, Hiss was one of 18 churches on the Great Falls Circuit extending from Baltimore City to the Pennsylvania Line.
Spring, 1932 - Parkville Homemakers Club was officially chartered with a goal to improve homemaking through good nutrition, home management, sewing, family life, education, art, safety, community activities and leadership.
Spring, 1934 - Parkville’s Albert W. Rubeling went for a tryout at a baseball spring training camp in Beckley, WVA and was spotted by scouts who reported him as promising. He was signed as a first baseman by the Cincinnati Red Socks of the National League and farmed out to the Pennsylvania State Association. In early 1940, the 25-year-old baseball player signed a contract with the Philadelphia Athletics for the then fabulous sum of $35,000.
Easter, 1949 - Hiss Methodist Sunday School had a record-breaking attendance of 596. Part of this number was a new class, The Lamplighters, for young adult married couples with Mrs. Stephen Byan as president.
March, 1960 - Cornerstone was laid for the educational building at Hiss Methodist Church. The Rev. William Wesley Dodge was minister.
March, 1962 - Property at 9215 Old Harford Rd. was purchased for St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church.
March, 1974 - History was made in St. John’s Lutheran Boy Scout Troop 112 when brothers Donald (16) and David (15) Shields achieved Eagle rank together. The Troop celebrated its Golden Anniversary this year.
April 7, 1924 - Boy Scout Troop 112 met for the first time at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Parkville, with eight boys in attendance. Membership increased to 17 Scouts in the first year. Arthur Nickles was first Scoutmaster.
April, 1939 - Troop 122 was the first Intermediate Girl Scout troop registered in Parkville. Original leaders were Captain: Mrs. Donald A. Shannon, Lieutenants: Miss Eunice Grammer and Miss May Tagg (later Mrs. Walter Babikow). Charter members ranged in grade levels from fourth through ninth.
April, 1955 - Woodcroft Civic Assoc. published its first issue of Ranch Round-Up its neighborhood newspaper.
April, 1959 - Carney Auto Repair Shop was torn down. When it opened in 1919 on Harford Rd., it was Parkville’s first gas station.
April 15, 1965 - The College of Arms in London sent the Armoral Bearings of William Chetwynd and John Whitwick to Parkville Senior High School which adapted them as their own. Through research done in 1959 by James D. McNamara and Donald Marani, two members of the Social Studies Dept. at the school, it was learned that Chetwynd and Whitwick were the original patentees of the property on which the school stands.
April 1, 1974 - House Resolution No. 207 introduced in the House of Delegates in Annapolis by Delegates Rush, Heffner, Einschutz and Boozer was read and adopted. It congratulated Parkville’s residents on their community’s 100th anniversary.