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Maryland Cracker Barrel Magazine
Celebrating 50+ Years
Reflections:
Remembering 60 Years Ago
By Suanne Woodring
Reminisce with us as we look back on the memories of a few of Washington County's residents. Excerpts featured here are from the current Winter 2024 issue.
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Maryland Cracker Barrel Magazine: Sentinel of Washington County's Heritage
"The Sheetz convenience store, that now occupies the site of the old Sears store, opened in September with long lines at the gas pumps, giveaways and a lot of fanfare. It will take some getting used to not seeing the Sears store but this time next year we will probably have fogotten that Sears occupied that corner of the shopping center...."
"The store opened at Long Meadow in 1958. An ad in Hagerstown’s Daily Mail read, 'COMPLETELY AIR CONDITIONED! ELECTRIC STAIRWAY! Plus FREE STORE-SIDE PARKING! . There’s a great day coming and that day will mark the opening of your completely new Sears Store at the Long Meadow Shopping Center
in Hagerstown. We feel with genuine pride that the new Sears will bring to Hagerstown and its environs one of the most unique stores in the country. A structure of which the Hagerstown shopping area may well be proud. It it
a manifestation of progressive retail thinking and vision, utilizing the most modern convenient shopping methods.' The old slogan, 'Sears has everything' certainly rang true. From clothing, to appliances, furniture, and
draperies, from auto parts, garden tools, and a snack bar – it could be found at Sears. Prior to its opening at Long Meadow, Sears was located on South Potomac Street...."
Pausing to Ponder:
Sears at Long Meadow RememberedRemembered
By Vickie Martin Layton
Remembering Their Sacrifices:
The Mentzer Brothers -
A Journey From Boys to Men
By Richard Moats
"As war was raging in Europe and the Pacifc, Reverend Frank Gossert Mentzer and Mary Alice ”Wagaman” Mentzer of 897 Salem Ave. Hagerstown, Maryland were recovering from the Great Depression. Raising their eleven children, Alice, Francis, Lella, Evelyn, Frank, Daniel, Paul, Jean, Dolores, Shirley and Lester during this trying time was difcult. The three oldest sons, Frank, Daniel and Paul were helping their father with his painting and wallpapering business. Frank also drove a bus for the Blue Ridge Lines and Dan drove a cab. Even this income didn’t seem to help so Frank looked for other ways to help the family. On October 23, 1939, Frank enlisted in Company B, 1st Maryland National Guard Regiment, Hagerstown, Maryland. Frank thought he could assist the local community, be with friends and obtain some additional income for the family. February 3, 1941, found Dan and Paul voluntarily enlisting in Company “B” with Frank. The Mentzer brothers would be one set of nine sets of brothers, in Company “B”. Also on February 3, 1941, the 1st Maryland National Guard Regiment was inducted into federal service as part of the 115th Regiment United States Army. Company B was dispatched to Fort Meade in Maryland...."
