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.…
Maryland on Stamps & Covers
Friendship Airport Dedication Richard D. L. Fulton A special cover was issued, commemorating the dedication in recognition of the opening of the Friendship International Airport, which had been located nine miles south of Baltimore in Anne Arundel County, on June 24, 1950. Celebratory covers, such as the Friendship International Airport cover, were not printed by…
Balloons Over Maryland
Richard D. L. Fulton Together We Will Touch the Sky– Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation Etruscan artifacts from around 630 B.C. have been recovered, which depict the legend of man’s first attempt to become airborne, the Greek story of Daedalus and Icarus (the son of Daedalus). According to the legend, Daedalus had designed a…
The Catoctin Banner’s 1st Annual Photo Contest!
Thank you to all our readers who submitted entries to our very first Catoctin Banner Photography Contest! This year’s theme, Local Landscapes, invited photographers to capture the beauty of our region in a vertical format. We received many submissions from across the tri-state area, showcasing the incredible scenery right in our own backyard. Narrowing the…
Maryland on Stamps & Covers
Richard D. L. Fulton Frederick Douglass “A man’s rights rest in three boxes. The ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.” ~Frederick Douglass The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a 25-cent stamp on February 14, 1967, and a 32-cent stamp on June 29, 1995, commemorating Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, better known as…
Town Hall Reports
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Rezoning Hearing Held The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners recently held a public hearing about a rezoning request from property owners of 13 properties in town, and some that town staff identified that needed to be compatible with their zoning. Town Planner Kelly Duty reviewed the properties with the Thurmont Mayor…
