This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and we at The Eagle hope you have a great turkey-day with lots of food, friends and family.

Perhaps because of our long agricultural history, Thanksgiving has always been to be a special holiday in Carroll County. Me, I'm a fan of any holiday in which food is involved, especially turkey.

A lot happened in Carroll County history during the Thanksgiving holidays.

On this date in 1897, the old American Sentinel reported that "Thanksgiving day was observed in this city by the general cessation of business and by religious services in most of the churches. The union service at the Methodist Protestant Church was attended by a large congregation. The sermon ... was delivered by the Rev. C. S. Slagle, pastor of St. Paul's Reformed Church."

Not all the festivities were in churches and kitchens, however. The now-defunct Democratic Advocate reported on Nov. 24, 1922:

"On Friday evening an alarm of fire was sent in for a leaf fire at Western Maryland College. On the arrival of the fire company they were notified not to throw any water on the fire as they were initiating a student, it is said.

"Chief Shaeffer ordered the firemen to put the fire out at once, as it was close to a building. As the nozzlemen were throwing water on the blaze some students started throwing stones, one striking Fireman Harry Cootes in the head causing the blood to flow freely from his injury.

"This angered the members of the fire company and the students were chased with the stream of water. ...

"Two of the students were handled a little rough, but no serious harm was done to either."

And apparently the spirit was "in the air" during past holidays. According to the Baltimore Evening Sun, on Nov. 18, 1932, "an unlicensed radio station was shut down in Westminster by the Federal Radio Commission. ...

"The station broadcast music on Sunday afternoons. The signal was picked up in Pennsylvania. ...

"Investigators traced the signal to a farmhouse in Westminster. Homemade equipment was found at the home. Investigators made no arrest but reminded the unidentified youthful equipment owner that unlicensed broadcasts carried a penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine."

Pilgrims progress?

From illegal radios we go to last week's Sunday Carroll Eagle history trivia question about the history of women's suffrage.

We looked back 160 years to the 1848 Seneca Falls convention, and asked, "Who is credited with writing the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, which demanded voting rights, property rights, educational opportunities and economic equity for women?"

Michael Sears, R. Wall, Richard Siehler, Don Huber, Jamie Wehler, Sara K. Daniel and Ruth Anderson all knew the answer was Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Mr. Sears is the winner of the famed Sunday Carroll Eagle mug.

Now for this week's question.

Much of American tradition cites that Thanksgiving began in 1621, when the New England pilgrims celebrated a feast of give thanks to God after a successful harvest.

However, other historians note that the holiday was first observed in Virginia, at an earlier point in American history.

On what date -- and where -- does history recount an earlier observance of Thanksgiving. And for extra credit, how does it involve a later president of the United States?

Think you know? Drop me an e-mail at kdayhoff@carr.org with Sunday Carroll Eagle in the subject line.

Meanwhile, for this Thanksgiving, let's join together in support of our fellow citizens who are less fortunate. Let us reach out with care to those in need of food, shelter and words of hope. May we also remember our men and women in uniform who are in harm's way, defending our freedom.

And finally, please remember to place a lemon slice in the dog's water bowl. Happy halidaze!

When he's not tracking down the wishbone, Kevin Dayhoff can be reached at kdayhoff@carr.org.

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