On October 16, 1859, the day of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry WV, Edward Aughinbaugh, a telegrapher, was sent to locate and repair a break in the telegraph line between Frederick and Hagerstown. He located the break just west of Middletown. On his return trip to his Hagerstown home, he was taken prisoner by some of Brown's men at the South Mountain Inn. On October 16, 1860, the first successful balloon ascension in Frederick was made from the fairgrounds by John A. Light in a Montgolfier balloon. 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]