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James Rada, Jr. While the United States celebrated its 250th anniversary this year, Thurmont is celebrating its 275th anniversary. Mechanicstown, as Thurmont was originally known, considers 1751 its founding year. This is when the first permanent group of Pennsylvania German settlers, who established a community along Hunting Creek, set down roots. The first families—the Kriegers…

Submitted by Joab Bittner Fry The following report of the shooting of Edward O. Smith is taken from the Waynesboro Herald, August 9, 1906. Man Shot through the Heart Bloody murder has spread its lurid mantle over the little, quiet region between the ranges of South Mountain, known as Harbaugh’s Valley. There in the mountain,…

by Richard D. L Fulton The appearance of the ancestor of all canines, or canids, may not have occurred had it not been for an immense meteor which struck the earth some 66 million years ago, triggering a “nuclear winter,” lasting for more than 25 years, during a time frame known as being the Cretaceous…

ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird This year, the Town of Thurmont celebrates its 275th anniversary; and, yes, we are 25 years older than the United States of America. Way back in 1751, our forefathers decided to settle here because of the running streams, ample wildlife, and rich soils. After several years, the community adopted the name Mechanicstown…

by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg . Town Moving Toward Property Purchase The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners recently approved a resolution to make an application of the Strategic Demolition Fund to get funds to purchase 304 East Main Street. The property has been considered an eyesore on East Main Street for years, detracting from the town’s…

by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Municipal Parking Lot to be Improved The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners approved a bid of $170,995 to make improvements to the municipal parking lot. Huntzberry Brothers of Smithsburg will remove and replace the current asphalt; make street improvements to the surrounding streets and alleys; and add landscaping, benches, and trash…

Woodsboro Burgess Heath Barnes Summer is quickly passing by, and I hope everyone has enjoyed it so far. With the end of summer approaching, it means schools in Frederick County will be back in session by the middle of this month. I encourage you to take caution on the streets and roads as the children…

By Joan Bittner Fry “The eyes are the lamp for the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eyes are no good, your body will be in darkness. So if the light of you is in darkness, how terribly dark it will be!”  – Matthew…

by Richard D. L. Fulton 50th Anniversary Lindbergh Flight “Our messenger of peace and goodwill has broken down another barrier of time and space.”  ~President Calvin Coolidge, regarding Charles A. Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight in 1927 A full-scale operative replica of Charles Lindbergh’s The Spirit of St. Louis landed at College Park on October 24,…