Thurmont Middle School Brings Fairy Tale Fun to the Stage with Shrek The Musical
By Alisha Yocum Students at Thurmont Middle School recently brought laughter, music, and beloved fairy tale characters to the stage with their production of Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning animated film Shrek. The students performed three shows during the weekend of May 15-17, entertaining crowds of family members, friends, and community supporters. Audience…
Maryland Felines
Past and Present by Richard D. L Fulton The first feline, Proailurus, evolved some 25 million years ago and lived in Europe and Asia. Its Latin name, Proailurus, means “before cats,” but it has since become recognized as the earliest true cat, and was about the size of the modern house cat. But an evolutionary…
From the Mayor
ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird I was in the medical lab one day last week getting my monthly bloodwork. I need to go regularly to make sure the chemotherapy drugs I am taking don’t damage my kidneys. While I was there, I heard a technician ask another patient about their bad sunburn. The patient said that they…
Town Hall Report
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Thurmont Approves FY2027 Budget The Thurmont Mayor and Board of Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The budget includes a $6 million general fund, a $12.2 million electric fund budget, a $2 million sewer fund budget, and a $1.2 million water fund budget. The town’s tax rate will remain…
Maryland on Stamps & Covers
SS Frederick Victory By Richard D. Fulton The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a series of commemorative covers on April 18, 2008, in recognition of the Victory ships launched during World War II, which were employed with the task of transporting supplies and troops to overseas ports during the war. One of the covers…
75 Years Strong
Thurmont Little League Built on Community and Tradition by Alisha Yocum Traditions have stood the test of time at Thurmont Little League (TLL). On April 3, the league celebrated its 75th season, honoring decades of community, teamwork, and tradition. Historical images show that the raising of the flag has long been a part of Opening…
The Rise and Decline of Maryland Coal
by Richard D. L. Fulton The story of Maryland’s vast coal seams began some 400 million years ago when the collision of the African and North American continents had begun to lead to land arising from the tropical seas … seas that had once covered the land that would eventually become Maryland. Around 320 million…
Town Hall Report
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Sidewalk Work Ongoing The Town of Thurmont began a comprehensive sidewalk replacement project on April 14. The project, funded by a Community Development Block Grant and Maryland Highway User Revenues, will remove and replace the sidewalks on Lombard Street, Walnut Street, and Carroll Street. While the work is underway, parking…
From the Mayor
ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird This year, the United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary. I expect that there will be lots of opportunities to celebrate this milestone accomplishment! Interestingly, here in Thurmont, we are also celebrating a special anniversary. This year will be the 275th anniversary of the founding of our community by settlers from Pennsylvania.…
Maryland on Stamps & Covers
Baltimore-Washington HPO Richard D. L. Fulton The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a three-cent stamp on February 28, 1952, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad. The stamp depicted a horse-drawn railcar, the 1829-1930 Tom Thumb, and then-modern diesel. In addition, the legend on the stamps stated, “Baltimore & Ohio…
How Wild Was “Wild Mary”?
Rail fans affectionately called the Western Maryland Railway “Wild Mary.” Although no one is sure of the origin of this nickname, it is believed to have developed from the small railroad’s scrappy spirit as it traversed the mountainous terrain, steep grades, sharp curves, and dramatic scenery of Western Maryland. Unlike most railroads that were built…
40 Years of Family, Food, and Tradition at Carriage House Inn
Alisha Yocum In today’s world, running a restaurant is no easy task, but the Carriage House Inn in Emmitsburg is celebrating 40 years in business this year. While there are many reasons for their success, one thing stands out: They feel like family. The original owners, the late James “Pop” and JoAnn Hance, first opened…
Wings Over Maryland
by Richard D. L. Fulton Maryland has been the scene of numerous “firsts” in the annals of aviation, beginning with the first “manned” hot air balloon in America (see “Balloons Over Maryland,” by Richard D. L. Fulton, in the February 2026 issue of The Catoctin Banner) to the first airplane built in the state and…
Town Hall Report
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Emmitsburg Road Flood Mitigation Project On Hold Unless a significant grant can be found to help pay for the Emmitsburg Road Flood Mitigation Project, it has been tabled. The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners discussed the project during a recent town meeting. The project has been planned, and the needed property…
From the Mayor
ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird After record-breaking cold temperatures, snow that wouldn’t melt, and crazy storms, we are hopefully in store for some nice spring weather. Currently, the Maryland State Highway Administration is working to repave Emmitsburg Road from North Church Street to just past Eyler Road. Be careful when driving in the area, and watch for…
Maryland on Stamps & Covers
Baltimore-Washington HPO Richard D. L. Fulton TThe United States Postal Service (USPS) inaugurated its first Highway Post Office (HPO) on February 10, 1941, and added a Baltimore-Washington route to the HPO system on November 16, 1943. Each time a new route was added to the service routes of the HPO, a commemorative “first-trip cover” was…
Finding Beauty in Every Season
Bob Jester Captures First Place Alisha Yocum When The Catoctin Banner announced its 1st Annual Photography Contest, celebrating local landscapes, the response from the community was overwhelming. We published the top ten finalists in the February issue and left it up to you—our readers—to determine the winner. One image rose above the rest: a stunning…
Maryland Caves and Caverns
by Richard D. L. Fulton “Wherever he saw a hole, he always wanted to know the depth of it. To him this was important.” ~Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth For over a million years, and even in modern times, caves and caverns have often provided humans with places to live, to…
Town Hall Report
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Charter Review Committee Established The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners passed a resolution to establish a charter review committee, which will review the current town charter and make recommendations to the mayor and commissioners of suggested changes by September 1, 2027. The mayor and commissioners also approved the following residents to…
From the Mayor
ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird Thurmont will be celebrating its 275th Anniversary this year, having first been settled in 1751 by families of Pennsylvania-German descent. The settlement grew into a successful community of small businesses dependent on Hunting Creek to power mills and machinery. The town was initially known as Mechanicstown due to the number of manufacturers.…
