Page 11 - January Banner 2018_Neat

Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper January 2018 Page 11

What’s in a Name? Eileen Dwyer

Established in the mid-1700s, the village of Thurmont was originally
named Mechanicstown. The settlement offered plentiful sources of timber,
iron ores, and creeks to provide sources of power. The area flourished with
mills, iron forges, tanneries, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and other craftsmen.
The name Mechanicstown seemed appropriate, given the means of trade of
commerce.
The arrival of the railroad in 1871 established Mechanicstown as a
commercial hub of the area. Rapidly, newer industries such as pottery-
makers, coffin works, cigar-makers, and lumber businesses were established.
Goods were shipped from the new freight depot.
With the dawn of these more progressive industries, the commercial and
business leaders felt the village needed a more contemporary name. And the
railroad felt shipping and passenger confusion caused by similarly-named
villages would be greatly alleviated. Subsequently, a vote was taken in the
late1800s for the renaming of the village. The two contenders were Blue
Mountain City and Thurmont.
Although Blue Mountain City
received the popular vote, it was
vetoed by the Post Office and
the village name was changed to
Thurmont.
Thurmont is a derivative of the
German word, tür (door) and the
Latin word, mons (mountains). So,
quite literally, Thurmont translates
into “gateway to the mountains,”
far better than Blue Mountain City
might. What’s in a name?

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