On October 3, 1778, a ferry was authorized to begin operations between Loudoun County, VA, and Berlin (Brunswick), MD. The fare was 8 pence. On October 3, 1789, Alexander Contee Hanson, son of John Hanson, the first "president of The United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of Confederation," was appointed Chancellor of Maryland, succeeding John Rogers. He held the post until January 11, 1806, the day he died. Alexander C. Hanson was born October 22, 1749. He was also a judge of The Frederick County Circuit Court. On October 3, 1822, Father Francis Maleve, who oversaw the construction of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church on Carrollton Manor in 1811, while serving as rector of St. John The Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Frederick, died. He was born December 1, 1770, in Russia. On October 3, 1825, John Alexander Lynch, who would serve 30 years on the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court bench, was born near Jefferson. He died January 31, 1904, at his West Second Street home in Frederick. On October 3, 1894, William Pickney Maulsby, retired judge of the Frederick County Circuit Court, died at his Westminster home. He was born July 10, 1815, in Harford County. On October 3, 1976, the Rev. Paul L. Althouse, pastor of The Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ on West Church Street for 30 years, retired after conducting Sunday services. He died June 25, 2004, in San Diego, CA. On October 3, 1991, Ballenger Creek and Spring Ridge Elementary Schools were closed to allow workmen to make essential repairs as shoddy construction concerns about the two schools continued. Both new schools had opened in September, but concerns about the masonry construction forced school officials to take this action. 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]