2024 Annual Catoctin Community School Supply Program
Area churches in Emmitsburg, Lewistown, Rocky Ridge, Sabillasville, and Thurmont are working to provide students in need with school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year. This program is for the students attending the Catoctin Feeder Schools. These schools include Emmitsburg Elementary, Lewistown Elementary & Pyramid Program, Sabillasville Environmental School, Thurmont Primary, Thurmont Elementary, Thurmont Middle,…
Rocky Ridge: Vestiges of an Ancient ‘Atlantis’
Richard D. L. Fulton A great many people in North Frederick County are likely unaware as they go about their daily business or endeavors, that beneath their feet rests the vestiges of an ancient continent that, like the legendary Atlantis, was ultimately destroyed and lost to time. This particular Atlantis existed during a period of…
Steeple View Farm Highlighted on French Morning Show
The Keeney Family, who owns Steeple View Farm, was recently featured on a morning show in France for their Miniature Herefords. France Television sent reporters from its Washington, D.C., office to visit the farm in Rocky Ridge. Family members Cora Coblentz and Kynlee Keeney, who are both members of the Ridge View 4H Club, spoke…
Dinosaurs of the Mason Dixon Line
New Find Enhances Record Richard D L. Fulton There was a time when Frederick and Adams counties looked more like an alien world than that which exists today. A primordial lake (dubbed Lake Lockatong) existed from Rocky Ridge, growing in size towards the northeast, as it sprawled through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and into New York…
The Bridge at Loys Station
written by James Rada, Jr. A serial fiction story for your enjoyment 4: You Can’t Go Home Again Thomas Hamilton was in no rush heading back to Rocky Ridge because he had no idea what he would do when he got there. All he knew was that the bridge at Loys Station was the key…
The Bridge at Loys Station
written by James Rada, Jr. A new serial fiction story for your enjoyment 2: Times Past Thomas Hamilton walked across the Loy’s Station Covered Bridge, ignoring the wooden beams around him. He focused his attention on the other side of the bridge, where the sky was clear and the sun shone. It stood in stark…
Veteran Spotlight
Airman First Class Ballenger From Rocky Ridge to Japan …and Beyond by Richard D. L. Fulton Life-long Rocky Ridge resident, Emily Ballenger (pictured right), during a short two-year span during which she lived in Texas, decided to seek out a career move, and subsequently signed on with the United States Air Force. Ballenger is the…
Location, Location, Location
The “REAL” in Real Estate By Sandi Reed Burns, Realtor, Climb Properties Real Estate Happy spring, everyone! Let’s spring right into what’s going on in your area as of March 22, 2022, according to Bright MLS data. Thurmont: 29 total listings—made up of land, leases, commercial, and residential. If we only look at residential sales,…
Rocky Ridge Progressive 4-H Club
Kelsey Troxell, Rocky Ridge Progressive 4-H Club Reporter For April, our 4-H Club was unable to meet and have our regular monthly activities due to COVID-19. This will surely go down as one of the most unusual times in 4-H history. All Frederick County Clubs have had to stop all in-person activities, and all our…
Frederick County Directory — 1878
Joan Bittner Fry This is interesting information published in 1878 as a Frederick County, Maryland, resource. It makes one realize just how much things have changed in more than 100 years. Frederick County ranks with the largest Maryland counties, having an area of 642 square miles, and is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, on…
You Are Here!
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.
Looking Back -1913
by James Rada, Jr. The End of Rocky Ridge Rocky Ridge disappeared in 1913. “So far as railroad matters are concerned, Rocky Ridge does not exist and hereafter that station will be known as Emmitsburg Junction,” the Catoctin Clarion reported. The Western Maryland Railroad (WMRR) station had opened in Rocky Ridge in 1870, with Sheridan…
2018 Annual Catoctin Community School Supply Program
Area churches and organizations in Emmitsburg, Lewistown, Rocky Ridge, Sabillasville and Thurmont are working to provide students in need with school supplies for the 2017-2018 school year. This program is to assist students attending the Catoctin Feeder Schools. These schools include Emmitsburg Elementary, Lewistown Elementary & Pyramid Program, Sabillasville Elementary, Thurmont Primary, Thurmont Elementary, Thurmont…
Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Holds Annual Banquet
Grace Eyler On the evening of January 25, 2018, Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company (RRVFC) opened its doors and warmly welcomed their volunteers and friends “home” for their annual banquet. The room was filled with over 200 familiar faces, ready to celebrate achievements and share stories from the past year. The aroma of a homemade…
New Cookbook: Simple Fare; Recipes from the 1800’s
Priscilla Rall of Rocky Ridge finished her cookbook, and it has been printed. “This has been a labor of love and a long time in the making. It includes a chapter (with my illustrations) on open hearth cooking, its tools, ingredients, methods, etc. Then, there are 178 recipes, including ones for hoe cakes, all kinds…
Thurmont Little League Baseball Registration for Spring 2017 Opens
Thurmont Baseball is actively planning to make 2017 their best year ever. Registration is now open and is in full swing until February 24, 2017. Visit their website at www.TLLbaseball.com to register, and please share the message with your friends. Additionally, they will be offering in-person registration on February 5 at the TLL clubhouse (above…
Thurmont Little League Baseball Registration for Spring 2017 Opens
It’s cold out, but it’s warming up at Thurmont Baseball! Let’s be honest, it’s January and it’s cold; who in their right mind is thinking about baseball? That question could be a loaded one depending on who you ask. In the Thurmont-Emmitsburg region, that passion for baseball runs pretty deep. True, the cold weather has…
Fires on the Mountain
Deb Spalding A fire above Thurmont between Route 550 and Kelbaugh Road consumed seven acres on Sunday, November 21, 2016. The fire started around 2:00 p.m., was contained by 5:00 p.m., and fully extinguished by 8:00 p.m. It was started by downed power lines. Ironically a new fire broke out around 1:00 a.m. the following…
Looking Back: 1872
The Western Maryland Comes to Mechanicstown by James Rada, Jr. Photo Courtesy of Thurmontimages.com Thurmont’s stop on the Western Maryland Railway makes up only a paragraph in the history of the railroad. For Thurmont, however, it was a major event that not only helped shape the town’s future but also gave it its unique name.…
School Supply Drive Brings Smiles to Students
Theresa Dardanell Hundreds of colorful school supplies filled the basement of Graceham Moravian Church on Monday, August 8, 2016. The Catoctin Community School Supply Drive, coordinated by Jen and Laura Harbaugh, collected donations from churches, organizations, and individuals from Emmitsburg, Thurmont, Lewistown, Sabillasville, and Rocky Ridge. Volunteers from Harriet Chapel and Graceham Moravian Church, along…
