Politics & Government

Watch: 'The Carroll County Story', A Glimpse into 1968

This video from 1968 offers unique footage of Carroll County and the people who helped make it what it is today.

Take a stroll back in time to see first-hand what industry looked like in Carroll County in 1968. This video, uploaded recently by , explores economic development and offers a glimpse into the history and community of Carroll County.

Highlights/Interesting Notes from the video:

  • In 1968, agriculture was the largest source of income in Carroll County
  • Random House book distribution center was new in Carroll County
  • The Black and Decker Plant in Hampstead was built in 1951. The manufacturing facility had been enlarged five times by 1968.
  • 4-H programs and modern farming were popular (and remain so today)
  • County's newest attraction: the
  • , the first co-ed college south of the Mason Dixon line
  • Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts held pe-season practices at McDaniel College
  • The Westminster Knit Company, Carroll Manufacturing and Kessler Shoe Company were all large, thriving industral businesses in Carroll County, they are all gone.
  • The Cambridge Rubber Company in Taneytown was touted as the third largest employer of the county's 67 industries. It is no longer in business.
  • Bowling Brook Farm in Middlebook, a premier and nationally known horse training facility, had an indoor training track and produced five Preakness champions. 
  • The had just expanded to 125 beds. Today Carroll Hospital Center is a 189-bed facility with 400 medical professionals on staff.
  • Carroll County stayed up to date on local and world news via WTTR radio, which offered both AM and FM. WTTR continues to educate, inform and entertain Carroll County residents, but now only via AM.

If you were living in Carroll County in the late 1960's, tell us what life was like and how it was different (or the same) than it is today. Tell us in the comments.

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