On March 15, 1834, Dr. William Hilleary, one of the early physicians in Frederick County, died. He was born March 25, 1775, at Mt. Pleasant. On March 15, 1836, Roger Brooke Taney, former Frederick lawyer and resident, became the first Roman Catholic Chief Justice of The United States. On March 15, 1864, four iron safes were placed in the Frederick County courthouse, now Frederick's City Hall. On March 15, 1933, Snake Farm, forerunner of Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, was founded by Gordon P. Gaver near Lewistown. He bought the Thurmont site in 1936, and opened Jungleland Snake Farm there in 1937. On March 15, 1966, Richard A. Hahn bought Jungleland Snake Farm at Thurmont, renaming it Jungleland Serpentarium in 1967. On March 15, 1968, The Frederick County Commissioners purchased the farm of Paul W. Boyer, three miles east of Frederick on Reich's Ford Road, for $45,000, for use as a sanitary landfill. When it was closed in 1999, it cost more than $7.5 million to cover and seal the facility. On March 15, 1989, Tracey Kirkpatrick, a 17-year-old senior at Brunswick High School, was found stabbed to death in a Golden Mile (U.S. 40 West) ladies dress shop where she worked. Twenty-four years later the case remains unsolved. If anyone can add information to these History Moments, or would like to suggest an item for another calendar day, please contact me privately. John W. Ashbury [email protected]