by James Rada, Jr. 1915 — David Firor’s Missing Days On March 2, 1915, David Firor kissed his wife goodbye and told her that he would be back on the evening train from Baltimore. Then he headed into the city to buy Easter items for his store on East Main Street in Thurmont. That evening, […]
“A Well Manored Family” by “My Father’s Son” Most are familiar with the historic site of Rose Hill Manor alongside Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick. This classically southern home— built over eight years, beginning in 1790, for Thomas Johnson’s daughter, Ann, after she and her husband received the land as a gift from […]
The History of Orchards in Thurmont with Elmer “Lee” Black — Part II — Deb Spalding The sale of wholesale fruit was big business for the Black families’ orchards in the 1960s and 1970s. They were the first ones in the area to have Cortland Apples. “When we first started to sell Cortland apples, we […]
by Carie Stafford My name is Rex. I am a common goldfish, and I live with two comet goldfish. We are all four years old, and we were won at the goldfish game at the Guardian Hose Carnival. Now, as far as carnival fish go, I guess we are not expected to live very long. […]
Deb Spalding Throughout its fifty year history, teachers at Sabillasville Elementary School (SES) have shared sound knowledge with its children to give them a solid foundation; administrators have shown its children, by example, how to be honorable citizens and friends; community members have cared for the children by offering support and showing up when they’ve […]
Deb Spalding The History of Orchards in Thurmont with Elmer “Lee” Black Interview date September 14, 2015: Lee and his wife, Frances, came up to Thurmont from North Carolina to make his funeral arrangements. He had purchased grave sites at Eyler’s Valley Chapel years before. He seemed excited that this would be a beautiful place […]
Deb Spalding Catoctin Girls’ Cross Country team set several new Catoctin High School (CHS) records and personal records during the Maryland State 2A Cross Country Meet at Hereford High School on Saturday, November 14, 2015. As a team, Catoctin came in third place, scoring 141 team points, among the 2A schools. This marked the best finish […]
Vanessa (Maccabee) Niemann, professionally known as “Gal Holiday,” came to live in the Catoctin Mountains with her family when she was eleven, and made many friends throughout the county at church and at school. As fate would have it, she left here as soon as she could and began a long journey musically that finally […]
In the light and fragrance of a trimmed beeswax candle, award-winning artist Rebecca Pearl recently completed a historic portrait of the Graceham Moravian Church entitled, Morning Star Graceham Moravian Church, 1892. The Graceham Moravian Church was organized in 1758, and the current building was erected in 1797, a combination parsonage, church, and school; the current […]
From the Mayor Emmitsburg by Mayor Briggs The holiday season is aquí! Many events are planned for the holiday season; jump in. Continuing Emmitsburg’s holiday traditions, Mother Seton School third graders will trim the tree on the square on December 1, and the Emmitsburg Elementary School will trim the tree in front of the Community […]
The Re-Opening of Towne and Country Liquors Deb Spalding Thurmont’s Towne and Country Liquors has re-opened for business. Members of the Manea family are the current owners of the store. Located at 34 Water Street, it has been a long-standing business in Thurmont, but was burned in a fire in December 2014. After nearly a […]
Hamrick and Buehrer Win in Unopposed Election James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Commissioners Wes Hamrick and Bill Buehrer retained their seats on the Thurmont Board of Commissioners after the town election on October 27, 2015. A total of 209 residents voted in the town election, and although both men were running unopposed, neither candidate garnered the […]
This year marked the 10th Annual Scotty’s Ride, held September 26, 2015. Riders departed at 10:00 a.m. from Emmitsburg’s Jubilee parking lot, with approximately two hundred motorcycles roaring west on Route 16 to visit their first stop: Blue Ridge Summit Sportsman’s Club. The ride then continued on to the Mountain House, located in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. […]
Words For Thirds The National Grange, founded in 1867, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan fraternal organization that advocates for rural America and agriculture. With strong history in grassroots activism, family values, and community service, the Grange is part of more than 2,100 hometowns across the United States. The Thurmont Grange serves our Catoctin region. One of […]
Connor Smoak Among Top Performers at the Ryan Kerrigan Football Camp Catoctin High School sophomore Linebacker, Connor Smoak (pictured right), earned high honors this summer when he placed among the top performers at Sports International’s Ryan Kerrigan Football Camp, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Connor was able to outplay close to two […]
by Avie Hopcraft Catoctin High School (CHS) has been bustling with energy. Fall sports are ending and the signups for winter sports are piling up. So far, varsity soccer, volleyball, football, cross country, basketball, and field hockey have had their last home games and playoffs are wrapping up the season. To top off the season, […]
Buck Reed, The Supermarket Gourmet Gift giving, decorated trees, flying reindeer, white stuff on the ground, a jolly fat man in a red suit, wreaths on doors, and the holiday songs that started the day after Halloween, all being navigated around a sea of political correctness. Let’s just put it out there, it is Christmas. […]
Jeanne Angleberger, Shaklee Associate for a Healthier Life Before we greet 2016, let’s recap some healthy memories of 2015. Here is a recap of the healthy tips shared with The Catoctin Banner readers this year. Take an evaluation of your health. Get a complete physical. Decide what changes are necessary to improve your health. Make […]
by Chris O’Connor Wild Turkeys, Our Native American Birds The wild turkey, a large game bird native to North America, suffered severely depleted numbers due to habitat loss and unfettered hunting in America over a span of hundreds of years. Thanks to decades of efforts by wildlife conservation groups, natural resources folks, and creative solutions […]
by Jim Houck, Jr. Francis X. Elder Gets a New Head Stone Roger Melton, president of the Board of Directors Francis X. Elder American Legion Post 121 Emmitsburg, said that while he was at the 2014 Veterans Day volley by our American Legion and VFW combined Color Guard, over the grave of Francis X. Elder, […]
Christine Schoenemann (Maccabee) Some things never change, and my love affair with turtles is one of them. This essay is about how a young girl looking for turtles in the woods grew into an eighteen-year-old carrying water turtles in a bucket on the Greyhound bus between home and college, to the me that I am […]
by James Rada, Jr. 1965 — Training the Unemployed from the Catoctin Mountaintop Catoctin Mountain can boast a lot of interesting history from Camp David to the Blue Blazes Still raid. From an Office of Strategic Services training camp during World War II to Camp Misty Mount for children. “Also on the Government side is […]
by Carie Stafford My name is Tigger, and I am a four-year-old crested gecko. My scientific name comes from the fringed crest that runs over my eyes and down my neck and back. I am also known as the “eyelash” gecko, because the hair-like projections above my eyes look like eyelashes. I don’t actually have […]
St. Johns Lutheran Church Join St. Johns Lutheran Church in Creagerstown for a Celebration of the Birth of Christ Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols, followed by a dinner, at 5:00 p.m. Their Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. in their 1908 worship space. View the advertisement on page 25 […]
Nicholas DiGregory Bells have long been a cherished part of the firefighting tradition. Long before the invention of the radio or even the telephone, bell systems were used to signal firefighters throughout the day. The bell of the firehouse was rung to signify the beginning of a new shift, or to call members of a […]