Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-13
7HURMNT, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday February 49, 1885,

the citizens of Mpchanicst own and the hands
at Catoctin Furnace. On Saturday, Angus,
9Th of that year, the furnace employees
marched into Mechanicstown and COM
mcnced an attack on the citizens, with blud
geons, stones, dirks, and other weapons. A
bloody conflict cnsued, which continued
throughout the day. Finally the attacking
party retrca,cd, number of them having
been badly hurt.
Prior to the second incorporation the
municipal laws in regard to animals must
bave been very lax, for they roamed accord
ing to their several inst nets. Swine wal
lowed in mud puddlcs on the streets, and
COWS stood on the thoroughfarcs and chewed
the cud of con'cntmcnt by day, and tres
passed on flower plats and gardens by night
The most commodious and substantial
residences in Thurmont to-day, were built
by early settlers.
THE ACADEMY.
The fathers of 4S years ago were men of
intelligence, and they early realized the
necessity OF school advantages for their off,
spring, other than was afforded in the free
schools of that period,
The academy was built with departments
for male and female, and to this institution
most of the men and women in the meridian
OF life, in Thurmont, owe their education
| Many youths with no educational advantages
save those furnished by this school have gone
into other states and become leading and
influential citizens.
This town has furnished more than its
quota of men Of exceptional capacity in
various walks of life, to other localities.
They will be found principally in Northern,
| Southern and Western states.
After an expiration Of one hundred years.
the present status of Thurmont means that
we have not ,etrograded, if we have not
made the marvellous strides which build a
,crcsts buried with the past, and much
desired industries Of the present handicapped
| for the want Of capital, we have done as well
with our heritage as it is sometimes said of
{ llluIN lul|uS, III lHtN lluNt NOV 1AIttNi w
inheritance, they have at asst held on to it,"
Thurmont is the most progressive village
IN Frederick County, and under an efficient
board of commissioners the municipal laws
are rigidly and imparaIlv executed and the
result is fair, beautiful town, commencing
/ Itself at once to strangers BY a phenomenal
| transformation we have grown into town
OF churches and stores. The saluary intlu.
cncc of persistent sunday school work, COM
mcnccd by our ancestors four decades ago,
in the United Brethren and Methodist
! churches, and in the academy, has developed
into church going community and law
abiding citizenship.
From stOwawav places comes old docu-
mcnts, showing that they fought the liquor
traffic with a viii, and so, no blot mars the
fair escutch"on oftheir sons in this particular.
ORIGIN OF THURMONT WATER co,
One evening in December, 1856, three men
were smoking and talking in corner store
in McchanicsiOwn when, in their own words,
"our cnterprising Waeschc' dropped in and
was sGon IN an earnest conversation cndcav'
oring to convince his listeners that the town
ought to he supplied with mountain water,
and IN answer to the question, chow much
will YOU SUBSCRIBE" he was met with the
prompt reply, "as much as You will''-a ban
ter possibly, but it proved to be the beginning
of the water supply enterprise, and to L. Il,
l,,. 4 4: 90 ~,
the subject.
THE TOWN HALL.
Soon after the pure water of High Run
began to sparkle in convent, nj places about
our home. cur boys, encouraged by few
Older ones, organized Il hose company with
Dr. NJ f. Lralherman at the helm. Through
the courtesy of j Henry Freeze the company
was rendered the use Of hls hall, and they
accepted and continued the use Of his hall
until the year 1883, when Mr. Freeze sold his
building, and the company found it necessary
to find other quartcrs. They AT once appoint
ed committee composed of Dr. Lcatherman,
Henry Bennett and John II Rouzer, to
confer With the citizens with a view OF
securing a town hall. a few Of the Oldest
and largest tax payers objected, but finding
that the younger element with the smaller
tax payers were determine I, they fell in
line.
The site cost about $500, and in course of
time the building committee, composed of &.
J. Carmack and l. w 10y turned the building
oyer to the town authorities. The total cost
was $4,4OO OF this amount there remains
unpaid $4,000.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
This building is in course of erection and
has progressed slowly from the beginning OF
it's history Great delay was occasioned by
the selection of a site, and after it was
secured the structure was built rs the work
men could spare few days time from Other
buildings in course of erection. 1t is not
ready for occupancy, and as to the question
of when it will be, echo answers When
With the majority of the people the High
School building is disappointment, both in
the matter of location and architecture
design. A few practical citizens excrted
efforts to haye an ediice worthy of the town
and why they did not succeed is yet to bt
explained Our County School Examiner
favored the erection of more imposing
building, and the question now is, did tho
citizens committee stand by him?