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Page 12 August 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Community news
Thurmont the Focus of Morning-
Long Television Event McAfee Falls Myster y
James Rada, Jr. …or solved? Becomes A Bit Clearer
Photo Courtesy of Kinnairdimages.com
The reason for the name Falls State Park. The official name
“Cunningham” being chosen as the is now McAfee Falls, honoring
name of the Catoctin Area’s local an old Frederick County family
waterfalls, located west of Thurmont which settled in the area in 1790.
on Route 77, has become slightly As a logical follow-up the Forests
clearer recently when following a and Parks Commission is now
reference from a May 2018 issue considering renaming the park
of The Frederick News-Post to an Hunting Creek State Park.”
article from 1968. There are several theories about
Historically, the falls had been how the name Cunningham came
called Herman’s Falls (or Harmon’s to be the modern name of the
Falls) and McAfee Falls after various Falls, but none are backed by a
land owners, and even Hunting substantial amount of fact. Today,
Creek Falls after the stream that on the internet, it is stated that the
supplies water through the Falls. falls “was apparently named after
Many locals still refer to the a photographer from Pen Mar Park
waterfalls as McAfee Falls, honoring who frequently photographed the
the family who owned the falls at falls.” Research shows that there is
the time the federal government took no evidence of a photographer of Pen
ownership of the land in 1935 as part Mar Park or Cunningham Falls by
Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird poses with FOX 5 Good Day DC’s Annie Yu and Maureen Umeh at the of Former President Franklin Delano the name of Cunningham.
filming in Thurmont on the morning of July 13, 2018. Roosevelt’s New Deal, which sought In a previous edition of The
to use the land for recreational use Catoctin Banner, a grandson of the
Thurmont got its day before the Hosts Tucker Barnes, Maureen and provide much-needed jobs in Falls’ owner at the time of federal
camera as Good Day DC on FOX Umeh, and Annie Yu set up their response to the Great Depression. acquisition, Reuben McAfee, Rob
5 in Washington, D.C., spent the central location at the open field next The McAfees were early settlers McAfee of Foxville informed us that
morning of July 13, 2018, filming to PNC Bank on East Main Street. from Bute, Scotland, in the mid- a local woman believed there was a
in town. The hosts and crew of the Some of the other locations 1770s. The name had been changed Cunningham family who lived near
television show traveled to Thurmont and people featured were: to Cunningham Falls after the the falls.
and broadcasted from various Mechanicstown Park; Gateway transition of ownership of the land Most recently, the Frederick
locations around the town from Brass Ensemble, directed by Morris from the federal government to the News-Post’s “50 Years Ago”
6:00-11:00 a.m. Blake; Linda Elower, ESP dance State of Maryland. There is no clarity reference led us to that May 23,
“Our whole purpose in director; Timeless Trends; Eyler as to how the name Cunningham 1968, article in the News-Post titled,
participating was to expose Family Stables; Cunningham Falls stuck since there have been obvious “Cunningham Park Falls Renamed
Thurmont and north county to State Park; Thurmont Police Chief efforts and intent on record to keep ‘McAfee Falls.’” In this article,
millions of viewers,” said Vickie Greg Eyler; Mayor John Kinnaird; the name McAfee Falls. written by Jim Gilford, the name
Grinder, economic development Josh Bollinger, Bollinger’s Family A May 23, 2018, Frederick Cunningham is referenced to, “honor
manager for Thurmont. Restaurant; Tony Testa, Rocky’s News-Post’s “Yesterday” post from a Department of Interior employee.”
To be considered for one of the Pizza; Cindy Grimes, J&B Real “50 Years Ago” references that, Researchers still have yet to
“zip trips,” Grinder had to submit Estate; Thurmont Little League “A mistake of more than 30 years uncover the truth behind the mystery,
a portfolio of information about coaches and players; and Sam Feng, standing (as of May 23, 1968) was but regardless, thousands of visitors
Thurmont to FOX 5 last year. It owner of Simply Asia. righted recently when Maryland’s enjoy the falls every year, which is the
included a list of events, history of Kinnaird was quizzed on Commission on Forests and Parks state of Maryland’s largest cascading
the town, places to visit, and much Thurmont trivia, although he was renamed the falls in Cunningham waterfall, standing at 78 feet.
more. given the questions and answers
“It was a lot, but as a town, we ahead of time.
had all these great things to show “I think I would have scored 100
them,” explained Grinder. percent even without the answers,”
The announcement of the 15 trips stated Kinnaird.
was made in May. One location The eventual hope of Grinder
is visited each Friday during the and Kinnaird is that people will see
summer. Grinder said that to the the segments about Thurmont and
best of her knowledge, Thurmont is decide to visit. The afternoon of
the smallest town that the crew has the broadcast, Grinder heard that
visited. “Thurmont shined just as someone had seen the show and
much, if not more than those larger visited Eyler Family Stables Flea
places.” Market, which was included in a list
Zip Trips showcase local of the five stops that visitors need to
restaurants, schools, and businesses. make while in Thurmont. Grinder
They interview members of the also said that during the weekend
community who come out to watch after the broadcast she received five
the broadcast and host lots of emails requesting more information
activities. about the town.