From Mechanicstown to
Thurmont
Anne Cissel
Like most early
villages established on the frontiers of
Maryland in the mid-18th century, the site
of the modern Thurmont reflected the
physical and geographic advantages of the
area. The powerful Hunting Creek which
runs through it would power its mills: the
mountain lands were rich in timber for
building and bark needed for its infant
tanneries. The plentiful iron ores
provided the impetus for the success of
the Catoctin Furnace, whose output was
shipped from the wagon roads intersecting
near the village.
The traditional
date of the founding of Mechanicstown is
given as 1751 in history books, however
more comprehensive, modern research has
shown that pioneering German settlers were
already on parts of the land in the mid
1740's. At least three of the land grants
underlying Thurmont predate the creation
of Frederick County from Prince George's
County. The land around "Weller's Church"
sits on 50 acres of a tract called
"Beauty" patented by John Weller in 1744,
while in 1738 another Jacob Weller "The
Moravian" began to survey lands that would
extend along today's Moser Road, from the
intersection we now call Jimtown
Crossroads.
Most of downtown
Thurmont is located on the Lorenz Krieger
(Lawrence Creager) farm on 866 acres named
"Stoney Corner "surveyed and resurveyed
between 1744-1764. It was not until 1803/4
that his eldest son John Creager would lay
out 50 building lots on his half of the
inherited land. By that time, the
settlement had prospered with its own iron
forges, grist and saw mills and a tanner
The presence of barrel-makers,
wheelwrights, blacksmiths and other
craftsmen prompted the name Mechanicstown
for the newly surveyed community.
The coming of the
railroad in 1871 assured Mechanicstown's
place as a commercial hub. Along with the
old tanneries and mills, newer industries
such as cigar-making, pottery, coffin
works and lumber businesses shipped their
goods from freight depot. The produce of
its bountiful farms and orchards fed the
cities. In return, some of the city
dwellers escaped the heat and smells of
summer to enjoy the clean air and mountain
scenery of our town. The numerous daily
trains brought sportsmen and hikers, but
also summer boarders whose families
returned year after year.
By 1894
Mechanicstown's progressive merchants,
bankers and town leaders determined that
the old name was antiquated and smacked of
a by-gone image. The town voted (all men,
of course) to change the name to 'Blue
Mountain City" --- but this choice was
vetoed by the Post Office Department, so
the second choice "Thurmont" was adopted.
Thurmont's slogan "Gateway to the
Mountains" reminds us that the same scenic
beauty and complimentary atmosphere that
attracted people to young Mechanicstown is
still evident in modern Thurmont.
Have your own memories
of places in
the Thurmont Area?
If so, Please send them to us so we can
included them in our archives.
E-mail us at:
history@mythurmont.net
Read more articles by
Anne Cissel