REAL WEDDING MILL.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3109, 27 January 1934, Page 6

REAL WEDDING MILL.

FORTY COUPLES A DAY. Americans who want to get married quickly and without publicity now go to Elkton, a tiny town in Maryland, on the borders of Pennsylvania. Although there are only 2000 inhabitants, two ministers are kept busy doing nothing hut marrying the couples who come to the town to be wed. On the main roads huge signs read: “Marriage—Minister: Information.” Approximately 4000 marriages are performed in the town each year. The figures, for 1930, considered to be a “bad year,” were 3646, against 260 at the famous Gretna Green blacksmith s shop for the same period. The Elkton record is held by the Rev. W. R. Moon, a retired Baptist minister, and one of the town’s two “marrying officials.” He once married 40 couples in a day and a night. The other official is the Rev. Edward Minor, also a retired Baptist minister. Both are more than 75 years of age, and both have touts who bring them business. From the marriage business of these two aged ministers the receipts are in the neighbourhood of £15,000 a year. This is their own property. So ludicrous has the position now become to the people of Elkton that the lads of the village start whistling “Here Comes the Bride” whenever a strange couple appear in the town.