Page 30 - October Banner 2017_Neat

Page 30 October 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com

McAfee Falls — Continued from page 1

time they owned over 1,000 acres miles west of town.” Just one year the author, has spent many hours
of mountain land.” prior, on May 8, 1919, the Falls of research on this subject, and it
On July 15, 2017, today’s were referred to as “McAfee Falls” is now an established fact that at
McAfee descendants held a reunion in the same publication. This is no time was the falls owned by a
that concluded with a photo session contradictory to Professor John Cunningham. Records to support
on the Falls that loosely replicated Means’ research. this claim may be found in the land
photos of their ancestors circa 1890. Of course, there is plenty of records of Frederick County. The first
Some may wonder why McAfee speculation about the justification purchase of the land, which included
Falls is now called Cunningham Falls. in re-naming the Falls. The most the falls, consisted of 350 acres and
After extensive research by many sited is that “Cunningham” was a was deeded to Archibald McAfee, Sr.
historians and genealogists, including local photographer; though, this on September 16, 1807. A map in the
hundreds of hours of research by the late is not confirmed nor dated. Other Frederick Library, dated 1858, clearly
Dr. Harry D. Bowman of Hagerstown, theories include the possibility shows that the McAfees lived at the
Maryland, the reason for the name that Cunningham was a little- top of the falls and the property was
Cunningham remains a mystery. If known politician at the time the owned by John McAfee at this time.
you have insight, please e-mail news@ government took ownership. If the The McAfees referred to the falls as
thecatoctinbanner.com to share. Catoctin Clarion was correct in Hunting Creek Falls but all others
Robert McAfee of Foxville 1920, this theory is not plausible. called it McAfee Falls, after the
recently mentioned, “My In his book Gateway to the owners.”
grandmother, Rose Ann, always Mountains, Thurmont’s official Regardless of the name, the
called the Falls Hunting Creek historian, the late George W. seventy-eight-foot waterfall, located
Falls.” In his book, Professor Wireman, wrote, “Many people four miles west of Thurmont on
Means printed, “The Falls were have been under the impression that Route #77, is a destination for
never owned by anyone named Cunningham Falls was named after thousands of visitors who want to
Cunningham and were known as an early owner, but this is not true. see the largest cascading waterfall
McAfee Falls until the 1940s or the Dr. Harry D. Bowman, a friend of in Maryland.
early 1950s.”
In our research, the earliest McAfee family
patriarchs James
reference to the Falls as and Robert
“Cunningham Falls” appears are shown as
in a May 20, 1920, Catoctin youngsters in this
photo. Their Dad
Clarion article, where there is a Robert Hunter
reference to a group having lunch McAfee is in the
at “Cunningham Falls, several white hat.

Young Robert
is sitting on his
grandfather
Reuben’s lap.

James is in the
background in
white.

Their Aunt Sadie
Delauter is also
shown.

James’ and Robert’s
father, Robert Hunter
McAfee (born 3-11-
1911; died 3-10-1968),
is pictured.

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