The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society (CFHS) is proud to announce it has won the 2024 Award for Outstanding Stewardship of a Maryland Historical Trust Easement Property. CFHS was selected for its restoration of the Forgeman’s House, a 19th century ironworker’s home. The historic cottage, built in the winter of 1820-21, likely using enslaved labor, was…

Catoctin Furnace Historical Society has won a $7,500 grant from Americana Corner to restore a 19th century bellows. CFHS was one of 171 historic preservation organizations across the country to receive a grant in honor of George Washington’s birthday. The restored bellows will be used in the blacksmithing demonstration program held in Catoctin Furnace’s newly…

The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society won three grants related to historical preservation in November. The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Mini Grant will fund the purchase of a 27 foot historically accurate marquee tent for outdoor events. The second grant is from the Delaplaine Foundation to perform a traffic calming feasibility study, and…

For millions of Americans who are descended from enslaved Africans, genealogical research often hits a dead end at the era of slavery because there were few written records of enslaved people’s lives. That has now changed for thousands of Americans who are descended from 27 enslaved workers who were buried at the Catoctin Furnace iron…

Pictured from left are Russ Thompson, Program Committee; Ray Ediger, Program Committee; Elizabeth Comer, guest speaker; and Harold Staley, Program Committee. Courtesy Photos Elizabeth Comer, an archaeologist who serves as the president of the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. and president of EAC/Archaeology, Inc., was the guest speaker of the March meeting of the Lewistown…

The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices performed at Harriet Chapel as part of the Iron Festival which is presented through the dedication of volunteers from The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Catoctin State Park, Harriet Chapel, The Thurmont Library, and numerous other community organizations. The performance was generously sponsored by PNC Bank and centered around the lives…

Catoctin Voices Evening of Poetry opens its 2018 series with guest poet, Jessica Flynn, on Friday, April 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Collier’s Log House, located at 12607 Catoctin Furnace Road in Thurmont. Flynn, of Gardners, Pennsylvania, has written poetry for sixteen years and performed as a Spoken Word Artist for over four years.…

Deb Spalding As we enter the Holiday shopping season, it’s important to be prepared and, sometimes, cautious. Here at The Catoctin Banner newspaper, we encourage local shopping—with our valued advertisers, of course! Statistics suggest that shopping locally helps support our local economy, since the money stays in our community. Another major plus is that it…