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“Charles Rodgers ‘Top’ Topper, 88, of St. Catherine’s Nursing Center, Emmitsburg, formerly Mount Airy, died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000, at Frederick Memorial Hospital.
“Born March 9, 1912, in Emmitsburg, he was the son of the late Robert Lawrence Topper and Ethel Gertrude Rodgers. He was the husband of Evelyn Louise Stone Topper, who died in 1984.
“He grew up in Emmitsburg, where he served as an altar boy of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. After high school, he worked at the A&P grocery store in Emmitsburg. In 1935, he was sent to manage the A&P store in Mount Airy and took it over in the early 1950’s. When A&P closed the store, he opened the Community Pure Food Store in its place. Known as “Top’s Market” he owned and operated the grocery store until his retirement in 1975.
“He was a member of Saint John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Frederick. He was a member of Mount Airy Lions Club, where he served in numerous offices, including president. He was an avid coin collector, was a member of the Mount Airy Coin Club and the Libertytown Coin Club. He is survived by a daughter, Patricia T. Norwood and husband, Wayne of Mount Airy; two granddaughters, Cynthia Swanson and husband, Kevin, of Columbia; Angela Moore and Daniel Moore, both of Mount Airy; a brother William L. Topper and wife Carmen of Emmitsburg; a sister, Kathleen Shorb of Emmitsburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.
“A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on August 30 at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Frederick, with the Rev. Daniel Nusbaum, Mount Saint Mary Seminary as celebrant. Interment was in Mount Olive Cemetery, Frederick.”
Charles Rodgers “Top” Topper is part of a long line of Topper Family Grocers, which included the following
John Michael Topper had a dry goods store initially in Roxbury, Somerset County. Thereafter, he opened a shop out of New Baltimore. His son, Francis V. “Frank” Topper, was a grocer with a shop in Central City, Somerset County.
Mark Alphonsos Topper was a Manager of a grocery store in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was a Manager of C.F. Smith & Company, after moving to Michigan with his family after living in New Baltimore, Somerset County. The 1930 census notes that his daughter, Myra Topper, also was a grocery store clerk.
Genny Burkee with “Knell,” the delivery horse of the Burkee Grocery
Francis Shorb Burkee was a well-known Grocer with a shop on Main Street in McSherrystown; his daughter Genevieve married Curtis R. Topper. “Genny” is shown in the horse drawn wagon of the Burkee Grocery.
Samuel Ephrem Topper had a Retail Grocery in Pennville, along Frederick Avenue extended, or 610 Frederick, York County all the way up to and including 1930.
Samuel Jerome Hillegass, husband of Alicia Bernadette Topper, opened a grocery store across from the old Fount House and Whiskey Springs Hill (Franklin Street) in Johnstown. As business increased they moved to larger quarters at Frack and Sell Streets. He was one of the founders of Johnstown Groceries Company and a member of its Board of Directors for over 37 years.
Thomas J. Mattingly who was wed to Rosalia Topper conducted a store and meat market on 4th and York Street, in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD until his death in 1914.
Francis Edward Topper, son of John A. and Margaret Elizabeth Wetzel Topper, was a grocer who relocated from Adams County to Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. For over 20 years he was successfully engaged in the grocery business, and he was secretary of the Grocers’ Association, in Steubenville.
Paul W. Topper was the son of Moses Cornelius and Anna Mae Hemler Topper. For 24 years he was the owner of the Topper Grocery Store. He was married to Alice A. Orendorff.