Andrew taught history in Woodbridge, Virginia, until his retirement in 2024. He moved to Thurmont with his wife after he fell in love with the historic charm of the town. As a history teacher, he is focused on bringing educational programming and guest speakers through the Thurmont Historical Society!

Garrett is originally from Emmitsburg and is a 2012 Catoctin High graduate. From an early age he found interest in history and family genealogy. In 2022 Garrett, his wife and their young kids moved back to Thurmont to plant roots and be close to family that still live in the area. Garrett is excited to join the Society, serve his community, and put his interest in history into action.  Professionally, Garrett is a Retirement Plan Advisor at Kampstra Wealth Management in Gettysburg, PA where he specializes in collaborating with business owners, CFOs, and HR Directors to optimize workplace retirement plans. He and their firm have the skills, specialization, and resources available to serve and implement 401(k) plans, cash balance pension plans, defined benefit pensions, municipal pensions, 457(b) governmental plans, and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Garrett earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Shenandoah University. He volunteers in the Leadership and Mentoring Program at Shenandoah’s School of Business and serves on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Gettysburg. Garrett enjoys spending his time away from work with his wife Ericka and their family. He is an avid sports fan, weightlifter, and outdoorsman.

Carol and her husband, Steve, came to Thurmont in 1972 when they purchased the St. Stephen’s Church building and converted it to a private home and craft shop, which they managed for 25 years. She has enjoyed a life-long interest in history and has been a consistent advocate for preserving the rich history of Thurmont and the surrounding area. Carol is our chief research contact and has focused on genealogy and family history since 1988.

Ron was born on a farm between Rocky Ridge and Graceham but grew up in Thurmont and graduated from Thurmont High School in 1964. He spent his youth delivering pies throughout town for his grandfather, who operated Millers Bakery from a house on Carroll Street. Ron left Thurmont in 1971 to live in Frederick because it was more convenient for his job at Mount Olivet Cemetery, where he began working in 1966. He became superintendent at Mt. Olivet in 1982 and remains in that capacity still.

Caylee is a native of Walkersville. She graduated from Hood College in 2021 with a double major in History and Global Studies. She completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at American University in 2023 while working full-time at the Ausherman Family Foundation. Caylee is a newcomer to Thurmont and offers her services and skills to the historical society as one way to get engaged, give back to the community, and learn about the town.

Makala Harrison is working on completing her Master’s degree in Entomology at the University of Maryland. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Philosophy at Mount St. Mary’s University. She teaches an entry level Biology course at the University of Maryland and has fallen in love with teaching, she hopes to become a college professor. At the Thurmont Historical Society, she assists with curatorial work and grant writing.

Shaun is a retired attorney who served as a principal at Miles & Stockbridge, P.C., specializing in affordable housing, community development, and complex financial transactions. He chaired the firm’s Finance and Capital Markets industry team and the Affordable Housing and Community Development practice group, providing expertise to a range of clients. Shaun also served as President of the Miles & Stockbridge Foundation, overseeing the firm’s charitable initiatives. He owns a house in Thurmont and, in his retirement, wants to find ways to continue to pursue his passion for history, learning, and Thurmont.

Hello, my name is Daniel Lewis. In 2023, I graduated from Shippensburg University with my B.A. in History with an American Studies concentration and a German Studies Minor. In 2024, I graduated from Shippensburg University with my M.A. in Applied History with a concentration in Community History and Historic Preservation. Today, I am an Architectural Historian within the Cultural Resources Division of Navarro & Wright Consulting Engineers, Inc., a multi-disciplined civil engineering firm based out of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. With a deep passion and professional background in local history and historic preservation/cultural resource management, I am committed to advancing Thurmont Historical Society’s mission in fostering and promoting the history of Thurmont and its associated cultural heritage.

Chloe is from Annapolis, MD, and she is currently a junior at Mount St Mary’s University. She is studying Communication, and has experience working with the Mount’s blog, and is currently working with the Mountain Echo (school newspaper). This semester she will be interning here at the Thurmont Historical Society for content creation, newsletter, website, and social media assistance! She also loves to run and is on the Cross Country and Track teams at the Mount!