Thurmont's Past
Is Our Future.

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Welcome to theThurmont Historical Society

The Thurmont Historical Society was formed in 1988; our mission is to foster and promote an interest in the history of Thurmont and its broader community. We are an all-volunteer operation. Our office and museum is located at 11 North Church Street in Thurmont’s historic “Main Street” district. The building is an artifact itself and our collection features documents, artifacts, photographs, and other objects that tell the story of Thurmont’s physical and cultural heritage, all displayed in this beautiful, historic setting.

Our History

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Thurmont's Historical Figures

Col. John R. Rouzer Col. John R. Rouzer May 9, 1839 - March 25, 1914 Perhaps the most prominent local resident in Thurmont history. John Rouzer was born the last of ten children to Peter Rouzer and Rachel Hope Martin. His grandfather was Daniel Rouzer, who established a tannery in 1793 and became one of the town’s most successful businessmen and landowners in that era, and John’s uncle, Henry, also operated a successful tannery on East Main Street for... Read the Full Bio Jacob Weller BS Jacob Weller BS 1775 - 1846 One of the most influential of Thurmont’s 18th Century residents. There were two Weller tribes in the early settlement era, the first led by Jacob “the Moravian” and the second by John. John’s son, Jacob, was father to Jacob BS. Jacob BS married Anna Weller, granddaughter of Jacob the Moravian and daughter of another Jacob, which integrated the two families to a degree. To distinguish... Read the Full Bio Judge William J. Stoner Judge William J. Stoner Nov 5, 1881 - Nov 25, 1950 William Stoner was a son of John and Martha Stansbury Stoner. He was born on a farm near Thurmont and attended school in town. He completed a business course in Baltimore after high school but returned to work on his father's farm, and on his twenty-second birthday married Gertrude Rouzer, who remained his companion until... Read the Full Bio George W. Wireman George W. Wireman November 11, 1920 - January 5, 2012 The son of George Wireman, Sr and Nellie Wireman. George graduated from Thurmont High School in 1939 then attended Hagerstown Business College in 1939 and 1940, studying accounting and business; he would catch the train every morning in Thurmont and then again every evening after school in Hagerstown. He married Charlotte Reifsnider in 1946 and... Read the Full Bio Russell Waesche Russell Waesche January 6, 1886 - October 17, 1946 The most famous or publicly accomplished person who was born in Thurmont likely was Russell Waesche. Notably, Russell’s father, Leonard Randolph Waesche, joined the Catoctin Furnace as its bookkeeper in 1882 then became the business manager in 1887. He became general manager of the Monocacy Valley Railroad in 1897, which connected Catoctin Furnace to Thurmont... Read the Full Bio Peter N. Hammaker Peter N. Hammaker February 27, 1858 - August 27, 1925 You may be familiar with Hammaker Street in Thurmont, but are you familiar with Peter Hammaker? He was born into a farming family in Washington County in 1858. After finishing school at 16, he joined his brother, Frank, in Mechanicstown (now Thurmont) where the older sibling started a marble and granite business the same year.... Read the Full Bio

Keep Thurmont History Alive!

There are several ways to keep Thurmont history alive, including donations, purchases from our store, and volunteering your time.

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