Page 19 - november 2015 web issue
P. 19
Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper November 2015 Page 19
The Spires of Mechanicstown
Denny Black
As all boys did in small towns Thurmont Church of the Brethren
during the 50’s and 60’s, I explored (1892). (Years are dedication dates.)
Award-winning local artist
every street and alley in Thurmont. Rebecca Pearl will be at the It is no surprise that religion
Nestled at the foothills of the beautiful Thurmont Main Street Center has played such an important part
Catoctin Mountains in Northern during the Thurmont Gallery in the history of Thurmont since
Frederick County, Thurmont offered Stroll on Friday, November it is believed that the first church
a kaleidoscope of images, whether 13, 2015, where the original structure (a log cabin) to exist
of her painting “The Spires
you were walking high on the Western Courtesy Photo of Mechanicstown” will be in Frederick County was erected
Maryland Railway tracks along unveiled. The Thurmont Main around 1732-1734, just a short
Altamont and Woodside Avenues, Street Center happens to be distance away at or near the village
located in the old Thurmont
racing down Canning Factory Hill on Moravian Church, one of the of Monocacy (now Creagerstown).
your bike, walking the path along Big churches included in her I have seen numerous postcards
Hunting Creek to the old town office, painting. and paintings depicting the
or venturing through the backyards Clustered Spires of Frederick,
and alleys along Main Street. And at and have long wondered why no
nearly every spot along the way, you As a direct descendant of one continues to be an integral part artist ever captured the images
would most likely see at least one of of Thurmont’s founding German in the lives of many of our town’s of the beautiful, historic church
the church spires in town. families (the Wilhides), who settled citizens. By 1894, Mechanicstown spires of Mechanicstown. By using
Back then, Thurmont was an in and around the town, I developed changed its name to Thurmont, and the photographic images of the
idyllic place in which to live—no fast an interest over the years in the following eight denominations Mechanicstown churches preserved
foods, no shopping centers, no drive- Thurmont’s early history, especially had built splendid houses of in my postcard collection, I could
in banks, and no large developments. prior to 1894, when Thurmont was worship clustered together within guide an artist on a trip back in
My boyhood world was bounded called Mechanicstown. Becoming an a few blocks in this small town: (1) time to an imaginary point in
within just a few blocks surrounding avid collector of old photo postcards Weller’s United Brethren Church Mechanicstown where all of its
our town square—all open to later in life, I have been able to use (1831); (2) Thurmont Methodist houses of worship would be visible
exploration to a boy and his bike. It those visual images to time-travel Church (1851); (3) St. John’s in one scene.
was a place where local businesses in my imagination back to what Lutheran Church (1858); (4) Our In July, I turned to award-
delivered dairy and bakery products Mechanicstown must have been like Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church winning local artist Rebecca Pearl
to your door, and families functioned for a young boy out exploring its (1859); (5) Thurmont Moravian about my concept. Rebecca is
quite well with just one car, one streets and alleys. Church (1874); (6) Trinity Reformed recognized for her paintings of
telephone, and one black and white Since 1751, when Mechanicstown Church (1880); (7) St. Stephen’s many Frederick County scenes,
television. was first settled, religious practice Episcopal Church (1892); and (8) and has taken a special interest
in capturing historic Thurmont
images in her artwork. During
the past several months, with the
use of photographic images, she
and I have time-traveled back
together to walk the streets of
Mechanicstown as it existed over
120 years ago. It would be a
challenge for any artist to convey
my concept through their own
artistic expression, while also trying
to balance the historical accuracy
of the imagery. I am confident that
Rebecca’s creation, entitled “The
Spires of Mechanicstown,” will
soon become a recognized work of
art, successfully capturing a special
history of our unique town, located
at the Gateway to the Mountains.
The Spires of Mechanicstown
Denny Black
As all boys did in small towns Thurmont Church of the Brethren
during the 50’s and 60’s, I explored (1892). (Years are dedication dates.)
Award-winning local artist
every street and alley in Thurmont. Rebecca Pearl will be at the It is no surprise that religion
Nestled at the foothills of the beautiful Thurmont Main Street Center has played such an important part
Catoctin Mountains in Northern during the Thurmont Gallery in the history of Thurmont since
Frederick County, Thurmont offered Stroll on Friday, November it is believed that the first church
a kaleidoscope of images, whether 13, 2015, where the original structure (a log cabin) to exist
of her painting “The Spires
you were walking high on the Western Courtesy Photo of Mechanicstown” will be in Frederick County was erected
Maryland Railway tracks along unveiled. The Thurmont Main around 1732-1734, just a short
Altamont and Woodside Avenues, Street Center happens to be distance away at or near the village
located in the old Thurmont
racing down Canning Factory Hill on Moravian Church, one of the of Monocacy (now Creagerstown).
your bike, walking the path along Big churches included in her I have seen numerous postcards
Hunting Creek to the old town office, painting. and paintings depicting the
or venturing through the backyards Clustered Spires of Frederick,
and alleys along Main Street. And at and have long wondered why no
nearly every spot along the way, you As a direct descendant of one continues to be an integral part artist ever captured the images
would most likely see at least one of of Thurmont’s founding German in the lives of many of our town’s of the beautiful, historic church
the church spires in town. families (the Wilhides), who settled citizens. By 1894, Mechanicstown spires of Mechanicstown. By using
Back then, Thurmont was an in and around the town, I developed changed its name to Thurmont, and the photographic images of the
idyllic place in which to live—no fast an interest over the years in the following eight denominations Mechanicstown churches preserved
foods, no shopping centers, no drive- Thurmont’s early history, especially had built splendid houses of in my postcard collection, I could
in banks, and no large developments. prior to 1894, when Thurmont was worship clustered together within guide an artist on a trip back in
My boyhood world was bounded called Mechanicstown. Becoming an a few blocks in this small town: (1) time to an imaginary point in
within just a few blocks surrounding avid collector of old photo postcards Weller’s United Brethren Church Mechanicstown where all of its
our town square—all open to later in life, I have been able to use (1831); (2) Thurmont Methodist houses of worship would be visible
exploration to a boy and his bike. It those visual images to time-travel Church (1851); (3) St. John’s in one scene.
was a place where local businesses in my imagination back to what Lutheran Church (1858); (4) Our In July, I turned to award-
delivered dairy and bakery products Mechanicstown must have been like Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church winning local artist Rebecca Pearl
to your door, and families functioned for a young boy out exploring its (1859); (5) Thurmont Moravian about my concept. Rebecca is
quite well with just one car, one streets and alleys. Church (1874); (6) Trinity Reformed recognized for her paintings of
telephone, and one black and white Since 1751, when Mechanicstown Church (1880); (7) St. Stephen’s many Frederick County scenes,
television. was first settled, religious practice Episcopal Church (1892); and (8) and has taken a special interest
in capturing historic Thurmont
images in her artwork. During
the past several months, with the
use of photographic images, she
and I have time-traveled back
together to walk the streets of
Mechanicstown as it existed over
120 years ago. It would be a
challenge for any artist to convey
my concept through their own
artistic expression, while also trying
to balance the historical accuracy
of the imagery. I am confident that
Rebecca’s creation, entitled “The
Spires of Mechanicstown,” will
soon become a recognized work of
art, successfully capturing a special
history of our unique town, located
at the Gateway to the Mountains.
