Alisha Yocum Local resident, Chasity Cool, first learned about Japanese Head Spas through a YouTube video. As its name suggests, this treatment originated in Japan and quickly gained traction in China and Korea before reaching the United States. Cool says TikTok videos have driven its popularity over the last few years. After researching the new…

Alisha Yocum The Washington County Board of County Commissioners awarded John Krumpotich and the Ritchie History Museum with the 2024 John Frye Historical Preservation Award on May 16. Krumpotich purchased the old army base in 2021 with the intent to preserve the historic buildings as part of the development process. The museum opened in 2023…

Over 50 participants gathered around Lake Royer in Cascade for the annual Fort Ritchie Community Center’s Bass Fishing Tournament on Saturday, May 18. The event was sponsored by Cobblestone Hotel & Suites and included prizes for the largest bass caught by youth and adults. The winners were: Adult Winners: Steven Pinkley—17 ¼” Steve Christian—16 ½”…

Chocolate Park by Wib Davis   Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry This article appeared in the July 30, 1977 edition of The Record Herald, Waynesboro, PA. Remember Blue Mountain Chocolates? The Cascade area-based candy factory was operated by the B. R. Summers family. The chocolate factory came into existence in 1920 after Summers’ two sons, Harris…

Over 60 participants turned out for the Fort Ritchie Community Center’s Spring Bass Fishing Tournament. The tournament, which is sponsored by Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, is held on Lake Royer located on the former Fort Ritchie property in Cascade. Bobby Swomley of Williamsport won the event with a 15-inch bass. There was a three-way tie…

Deb Abraham Spalding In Lantz, Maryland, in the 1920s, three Bumbaugh daughters married three Buhrman brothers. One of those couples gave birth to Dollie Buhrman. One day, teen-aged Dollie spotted a boy working at Harrison’s Market in Cascade when she went there with her father to get ice cream. Dollie saw the boy and, “thought…

Fort Ritchie in Cascade saw a major makeover in April. Barrick Avenue and Lakeside Hall received new roofs for the first time since before the Army left in 1998. The current plan is for the barracks buildings to host a series of shops, overnight lodging, and homes, once renovations are completed. Lakeside Hall also received…

Empowering Residents to Improve Their Lives Deb Abraham Spalding In the glory days of the former military base called Fort Ritchie in Cascade, its recreation facilities were considered by some to be the “best-kept secret” in the Army! These days, the recreational facilities still exist and operate as the Fort Ritchie Community Center, Inc. (FRCC).…

Achieving the rank of Eagle is a proud moment for a Boy Scout. On Saturday, May 29, 2021, a celebration was held for two young men from Troop 18. Colin Donatto and Benjamin Geoffroy were honored for achieving this milestone. The celebration took place at the Germantown Church of God in Cascade.  Colin Donatto is…

Deb Abraham Spalding Pictured from left are Selena Cisar, Joyce Johnson, John Krumpotich, George Coyle Jr., and Brad Coyle. Photo by Deb Abraham Spalding Since the 1998 closing of the Fort Ritchie military base in Cascade, the property has endured years of unsuccessful progress, as various developers and business entities failed. After a 16-month wait…

Guy Swormley of Williamsport, Maryland, won the annual Fort Ritchie Community Center Bass Fishing Tournament, held on September 19, 2020, at the Fort Ritchie Community Center in Cascade. Guy Swormley reeled in a 16¾-inch bass to take the top honors in the adult division. William Trovinger of Sabilllasville, age six, won the youth division with…

The Catoctin Banner is distributed via direct mail to approximately 8,500 households in Emmitsburg, Thurmont, Sabillasville, Cascade, Lewistown, and Rocky Ridge, Maryland. It is placed for free pick-up in surrounding towns in high-traffic areas. Those towns include Woodsboro, Taneytown, Detour, and Smithsburg in Maryland and Blue Ridge Summit, Waynesboro, and Fairfield in Pennsylvania.

Aaron Shaw of Frederick took the top honors in both the spring and fall 2018 bass tournaments, hosted by Cobblestone Hotel & Suites and held on Lake Royer at the former Fort Ritchie property in Cascade. The events featured adult and youth divisions. Joining Shaw on the podium for the fall tournament, held on Saturday,…

St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ, Cascade by Theresa Dardanell How does a church with a small congregation not only exist — but thrive — for over 125 years? St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ has continued to flourish, because it’s not only a place to worship but also a place where the community comes…

Submitted by Bill Eiker, SAL Historian On October 1, 2016, the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Post 239 in Cascade held their fall Gun and Cash Bash on the old parade grounds at Fort Ritchie. Of the 2,000 tickets sold, there were more than 750 people in attendance. Considering the gloomy weather, it was…

Joan Fry On June 18, 2016, the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Post 239 in Cascade held their spring Gun and Cash Bash on the grounds of Fort Ritchie. Of the 2,500 tickets sold, there were more than 1,050 people in attendance. The weather was perfect and attendees enjoyed visiting with friends, playing the…

M&T Bank contributed $6,000 to the Fort Ritchie Community Center in Cascade. The funds helped sponsor the 2016 Mountaintop Heritage Days event that celebrated the 90th anniversary of Camp Ritchie. “M&T Bank’s investment in the community goes beyond sponsoring Mountaintop Heritage Days,” said Buck Browning, executive director of the Community Center. “All of our programs…