(6/11) Members of the Thurmont Lions Club presented the Town of Thurmont at the council's June 9 meeting with two checks amounting to more than $16,000 to put towards maintaining the Trolley Trail, murals, and other projects, as needed.

Lions Club member Susan Favorite presented the town with a check to be used to maintain the Trolley Trail, stating, "I have a presentation of about $7,200 which we are turning over to the town for the trolley trail, to be used, however, you need to be using them on the trolley trail."

Favorite noted that the Lions became involved with furthering the development of the trail upon the organization's 75th anniversary. The donation presented to the town on June 9 was done so, also to mark the club's 90th anniversary.

The Lions Club member stated, "We've always tried to be very conscious of our presence in Thurmont and wanted to do everything we could for the town."

Lions Club member Joann Miller then presented the town with a check for more than $9,200 to be used however as the town sees fit. The money was raised through the sale of books, ornaments, glasses, and other keepsakes.

Favorite further said the club had also contributed to the creation of the murals in town, which were themed to the history of the old trolley service, during the organization's 80th anniversary.

Mayor Kinnaird, in accepting the checks, said, "We are certainly very fortunate to have the Thurmont Lions Club as an organization in our town. You guys do more public work and private things that people are not aware of going-on … ninety years (since the founding) speaks highly of your organization."

The Thurmont Trolley Trail, so-named for the Hagerstown and Frederick Railway, consists of a .716-mile trail installed over the former trolley-tracks that serviced Thurmont in the 1900s, according to the town website. The last trolley ran on the line in 1954, and the tracks were subsequently removed.

The effort to establish a walking-trail utilizing the old trolley roadway commenced in the late-1990s when a group was formed to create it. The project stalled when confronted with the necessity of constructing a bridge to span Big Hunting Creek, according to emmitsburg.net.

The Lions Club decided to pursue the trail effort in 2006 when the bridge was completed, and the trail extended to Moser Road. The H&F Trolley Trail Association was subsequently formed with the intent to extend the trail to Frederick.

The Lions Club also began raising funds for a trolley-themed mural in 2013, which was completed that same year. The mural is located on the trolley sub-station located on a tract of land at East Main Street and Alley 5, which also serves as home to restored H&F trolley car Number 5.