At this year’s Appalachian Festival there were symposiums that talked about the different walks of life for the people in the Appalachian region. One symposium was the produced by the students of the Mass Communication department. The presentation given by the Mass Communication department was on the history of Maryland’s Mountain Region. The history was given through different clips of historical moments that help shaped the culture today.
In the first clip the audience was introduced to a Lonaconing; a town that was plague with disaster, from floods to fires. Despite the traumatic disaster Lonaconing had Allegany county first coal mines in 1751. By 1839 the population of Lonaconing had grown. The coal industries ran everything employing many people and putting the mountain region on the map. In the 1950s the first furnace company was built. The furnace company produced pig iron and gave employment to over two-hundred and fifty people. However, a fire caused the furnace plant to close and in 1980 it was turned into a Park. Besides firers there were floods that destroyed the little community, the flood of 1936 and winter of 1996. The flood in 96’ was caused by melting snow and a nearby creek that overflowed.
With in coal mines producing most of the money to the towns there had to be a way to import and export the goods; this formed the Cumberland and Ohio canal. The C&O canal was a transportation system that allowed the citizens of the Appalachian region to import and export goods easier and faster. The canal is a water way that goes through the Western mountain region to southern states. The first idea about a canal was introduced by George Washington in 1754. Washington saw that this would be a way to move goods and make a greater profit. However Washington was never able to get the canal under construction. The construction started in July 1828. The canal stretched one hundred and four miles, through the Chesapeake to the Ohio River. It took over twenty four years to build. The canal had big competition with the construction of the Baltimore- Ohio railroads. Even with the construction of the B&O railroads the canal was still able to succeed and last longer than the railroad.
By giving the audience the past the students also gave a present day look at Western Maryland Mountain Regions. The students went around downtown Cumberland and Frostburg. In downtown Cumberland the students went to historic Curtis Famous Wieners. This establishment was built in 1918 and is still around today. In Frostburg the students went to Palace Theatre, a nonprofit organization owned by the Frostburg people. The Palace Theatre has been around for eighty seven years, the staff that works their work for free. One of the workers explains the payment arrangements as a “labor of love.” The theatre shows foreign, classics, and independent films. Most of the films they receive are from small distributors because small businesses support other small businesses. The Palace Theatre has a film club that cost twenty five dollars to join for twenty four films a year. Anyone can join the film club.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Meet William Watson
William Watson is a twenty-four year old super senior from Deep Creek, Maryland. Watson graduated from Southern High in 2003. Since then Watson has been attending Frostburg State University. Watson still lives in Deep Creek and commutes daily by his 2003 Hyundai Sonata. He was raised in a household with three sisters. Two of his sisters now live in San Diego, while the other lives in Frostburg. Watson is an animal lover who owns four dogs. He enjoys basketball, poker, snowboarding, skiing, and swimming. Watson’s biggest interest is playing the guitar. He’s been playing for six years and is in a band named Halo Blue, but the name could be changed at any time. The lead singer made the name up, but has since left the band. The band has been together for about a year and is now looking for a lead singer. If you are into rock, then you can catch them at the Honi Honi bar this summer, located in Deep Creek. Watson favorite musician is Adam Jones from the group Tool. Watson favorite album is “Fade to Black” from Metallica. With all this musical experience William still says “I hate rap.” Guess it’s an acquired taste that William just doesn’t have the taste for.
While at Frostburg Watson is an English major with a minor in Pre-Law. After graduating from Frostburg William plans to attend graduate school in San Diego next year. While in his down time, Watson loves to watch the cartoon South Park. He calls himself a “South Park freak.” When he’s not playing in his band, in class, or watching South Park, Watson is working at the Uno’s in his hometown. Here Watson is the self proclaimed, “Best server,” He has perfected his craft and has been working there since his high school days. Back home Watson has a friend who made it to the finals of the World Series of Poker. Needless to say he’s proud of him. This summer Watson attended the tour Crew Fest where he saw some of his idols and one day maybe he will be on the stage and will be able to be someone else’s idol.
While at Frostburg Watson is an English major with a minor in Pre-Law. After graduating from Frostburg William plans to attend graduate school in San Diego next year. While in his down time, Watson loves to watch the cartoon South Park. He calls himself a “South Park freak.” When he’s not playing in his band, in class, or watching South Park, Watson is working at the Uno’s in his hometown. Here Watson is the self proclaimed, “Best server,” He has perfected his craft and has been working there since his high school days. Back home Watson has a friend who made it to the finals of the World Series of Poker. Needless to say he’s proud of him. This summer Watson attended the tour Crew Fest where he saw some of his idols and one day maybe he will be on the stage and will be able to be someone else’s idol.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Kurt Geisler:True Writer
True Writer
Meghan Purdy
Kurt Geisler, who turned 20 on September 18, probably didn’t have much trouble with this assignment. Kurt has written for Bottom Line his first two years at Frostburg State; starting as a staff writer and then later a music writer. Kurt is also an English Creative Writing Major along with Journalism minor.
Kurt attended Catonsville High School, graduating in 2007. Growing up Kurt spent most of his times with his grandparents, “They’re my best friends,” Kurt said. In high school Kurt appeared in eight plays with his drama class but didn’t think he was much of an actor. During high school Kurt worked at a Pep Boys. While working there Kurt injured himself once racing a go-kart. His other driving experiences include running another car off the road on his first try driving.
After moving here from Catonsville, Maryland his freshman year Kurt lived in the dorms. Now his resides in an apartment over a chiropractor and seamtress on Main Street in Frostburg, MD. Living there is very convenient since he also works in the Main Street Book Store. Living on his own he tries to eat healthy, when teased about the unhealthy eating habits of young guys he said, “Hey, I resent that.”
Kurt hopes to travel more someday. He traveled to Michigan for a writers’ conference and said, “It’s a really beautiful state; you should definitely visit sometime.” Along with writing Kurt also enjoys listening to music including folk artists such as Laura Marling and Andrew Bird along Sugene Stevens. Kurt really enjoys Stevens fifty states album with Michigan being his favorite of the albums. Kurt also has a cat named Drew, who he adopted from a waitress at the Princess Restaurant; he said he had to take him once he saw the cute kitten. Kurt also enjoys participating in a film club. One his favorite movie genre is horror, such a Repulsion and 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days. Kurt has led a very colorful life that will surely help him with his creative writing.
Meghan Purdy
Kurt Geisler, who turned 20 on September 18, probably didn’t have much trouble with this assignment. Kurt has written for Bottom Line his first two years at Frostburg State; starting as a staff writer and then later a music writer. Kurt is also an English Creative Writing Major along with Journalism minor.
Kurt attended Catonsville High School, graduating in 2007. Growing up Kurt spent most of his times with his grandparents, “They’re my best friends,” Kurt said. In high school Kurt appeared in eight plays with his drama class but didn’t think he was much of an actor. During high school Kurt worked at a Pep Boys. While working there Kurt injured himself once racing a go-kart. His other driving experiences include running another car off the road on his first try driving.
After moving here from Catonsville, Maryland his freshman year Kurt lived in the dorms. Now his resides in an apartment over a chiropractor and seamtress on Main Street in Frostburg, MD. Living there is very convenient since he also works in the Main Street Book Store. Living on his own he tries to eat healthy, when teased about the unhealthy eating habits of young guys he said, “Hey, I resent that.”
Kurt hopes to travel more someday. He traveled to Michigan for a writers’ conference and said, “It’s a really beautiful state; you should definitely visit sometime.” Along with writing Kurt also enjoys listening to music including folk artists such as Laura Marling and Andrew Bird along Sugene Stevens. Kurt really enjoys Stevens fifty states album with Michigan being his favorite of the albums. Kurt also has a cat named Drew, who he adopted from a waitress at the Princess Restaurant; he said he had to take him once he saw the cute kitten. Kurt also enjoys participating in a film club. One his favorite movie genre is horror, such a Repulsion and 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days. Kurt has led a very colorful life that will surely help him with his creative writing.
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