A National Guard holiday party for disadvantaged children was noted in The Herald Argus and Baltimore Countian published Dec. 25, 1958.

Twenty-five children, aged seven to twelve, from the General German Orphan Home on Bloomsbury avenue, Catonsville, were entertained at a Christmas party this past Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 23, by the men of Battery A, 684th Missile Battalion, Maryland Army National Guard. The party took place in the mess hall of the battery's present post on Gwynndale avenue at Gwynn Oak. The unit formerly was located on North Rolling road, Catonsville.

The battery men transported the children by bus to and from the party.

A Christmas garden, complete with trains and Christmas tree had been set up in the mess hall and Santa Claus presided over the festivities. The youngsters enjoyed playing games and seeing a motion picture show, which included the Christmas story, the legend of St. Nicholas and other features.

Each child received a special gift as well as ice cream, candy, cookies and fruit.

One of the best known political personalities in this area, William DeSales Bloom, a native and lifelong resident of Catonsville, died on Friday, Dec. 19, in a nursing home, where he had been a patient since fracturing a hip several years ago. He was 78.

Mr. Bloom was a retired chief labor law inspector for Baltimore City. He was an active Democratic leader from the days of Harrison Rider until incapacitated by his accident. Thirty-five years ago, his name on an application was necessary before a local resident could get a county position.

Sergeant Samuel Sherman of 333 Second avenue, Lansdowne, arrived in LaGuardia Air Field from Germany early Wednesday morning, Dec. 17, and it is reported he was transported to Walter Reed Hospital for observation. He has served in the Army 18 1/2 years and has over a year more before he will be eligible for retirement.

75 years ago

On Dec. 22, 1933, The Catonsville Herald and Baltimore Countian reported on Catonsville's Christmas celebration.

Catonsville's first community Christmas tree will be ablaze with multi-colored lights this Sunday night, Christmas Eve, on the grounds at the corner of Frederick Road and Melvin Avenue. A giant pine has been secured through the kindness of W. Prince, warden of the Patapsco Reserve, and will be put in place before the week-end.

At ten o'clock the same evening, the Catonsville Community Chorus will gather beneath the tree and sing a number of popular and age-old Christmas carols.

On Wednesday, December 20, Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes of the Baltimore Conference held a joint meeting of the Lansdowne, Relay, Arbutus and Halethorpe M.E. Churches at the Halethorpe Church. He brought the Christmas message of the Conference to the Churches. Special music appropriate for the occasion was rendered by the choir.

Allan E. Weaver, president of the Caton Motor Corporation, is today displaying a beautiful bronze tablet awarded him yesterday by the Studebaker Sales Corporation of America to mark the completion of ten years association. The tablet was bestowed on behalf of the Studebaker Corporation by R.C. Heiner, district representative.

100 years ago

The Argus, printed Dec. 26, 1908, noted a violent incident not in keeping with the holiday spirit.

Carmello Liberto, an Italian fruit merchant, who resides at 632 Frederick avenue, Catonsville, was shot in the left breast in a street duel in Baltimore early Tuesday morning.

Another Italian, Vincent Serio, was also shot and died shortly afterward.

Liberto is at the Maryland University Hospital. The doctors say he will recover.

One of the most interesting and fashionable events of the winter will be the vaudeville performance to be given on January 14 at the Maryland Theatre, Baltimore, for the benefit of the Children's Convalescent Home at Catonsville.

The vaudeville will be unusually attractive and will include many numbers entirely new.

The Marie Bloede Memorial of Eudowood Hospital at Towson, recently dedicated, to which Mr. Victor G. Bloede of Catonsville contributed $25,000, is filled and there are 250 advanced cases of tuberculosis on the waiting list.

The hospital has a capacity of 30 beds.

The patients are equally divided between male and female.

The First National Bank of Catonsville has issued two sets of calendars for the year 1909 -- one a very large business calendar and the other a very pretty picture in colors of the "Matinee Girl."

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