History Timeline

  • 1738

    Thurmont's History

    Area settled by the Krieger and Weller families, among others

  • 1748

    Thurmont's History

    Frederick County officially established – the land area (in fact, all of Western Maryland) had been part of Prince George’s County.

  • 1770

    Thurmont's History

    Original Apple’s Church structure is erected by people of Reformed and Lutheran faiths on property donated by Peter Apple.

  • 1776

    Thurmont's History

    Catoctin Furnace created by Thomas Johnson and his brothers.

  • 1784

    Thurmont's History

    Lorentz Krieger - a founder of the settled area that became Thurmont - died.

  • 1793

    Thurmont's History

    First tannery built in by Daniel Rouzer.

  • 1803

    Thurmont's History

    Lawrence and John Creager (Anglicized spelling of Krieger) lay out 50 lots from inherited land holdings along what now is Main Street and Water/Church streets and offer them for sale. The new village is named Mechanicstown, likely as a nod to the cluster of toolmakers, mills, tanneries, and artisans already established on or near Hunting Creek.

  • 1805

    Thurmont's History

    Jacob Weller BS (for blacksmith) – grandson of a founder – builds first tavern/inn building in town on West Main Street (still standing).

  • 1806

    Thurmont's History

    First general store is established by Jacob Firor on West Main Street

  • 1811

    Thurmont's History

    Jacob Weller BS establishes a tool factory on West Main Street.

  • 1822

    Thurmont's History

    First school opens.

  • 1825

    Thurmont's History

    Jacob Weller BS produces the first friction matches in the United States (the “Match House” where he manufactured the matches still is standing on West Main Street).

  • 1830

    Thurmont's History

    Weller church is constructed on land donated from the Weller tract; first church within the town boundary.

  • 1831

    Thurmont's History

    Settled area formally incorporated as Mechanicstown by Maryland’s legislature

  • 1839

    Thurmont's History

    John R. Rouzer born – grandson of Daniel Rouzer; he will become a Civil War hero and then a leader in Thurmont and Frederick County

  • 1840

    Thurmont's History

    James Creager – great grandson of Lorentz Krieger – starts a furniture-making and funeral director business that endures for 140 years through three generations

  • 1846

    Thurmont's History

    Jacob Weller BS died

  • 1852

    Thurmont's History

    Mechanicstown election district is created by the State of Maryland

  • 1865

    Thurmont's History

    6th Maryland Regiment, Company D [including Mechanicstown-area men] participates in Confederate Army surrender at Appomattox

  • 1865

    Thurmont's History

    Col. John R. Rouzer buys the house at 11 North Church Street

  • 1871

    Thurmont's History

    The Western Maryland Railroad reaches Thurmont

  • 1871

    Thurmont's History

    The first edition of the Catoctin Clarion is published

  • 1874

    Thurmont's History

    Frank Hammaker establishes Thurmont Marble & Granite

  • 1889

    Thurmont's History

    Samuel Birely and Van B. Osler start a bank in Thurmont, which will become the Thurmont Bank in 1901 after Osler’s death

  • 1894

    Thurmont's History

    The name of the town is changed from Mechanicstown to Thurmont

  • 1903

    Thurmont's History

    Flame extinguished for the last time at Catoctin Furnace

  • 1905

    Thurmont's History

    Western Maryland Railroad accident – 16 dead from the Thurmont/Catoctin Furnace area

  • 1908

    Thurmont's History

    Thurmont is served by an electric trolley connecting it to Frederick city

  • 1914

    Thurmont's History

    Col. John R. Rouzer died

  • 1915

    Thurmont's History

    Western Maryland Railroad/Blue Mountain Express accident – six dead from Thurmont

  • 1922

    Thurmont's History

    Memorial Park dedicated as a tribute to 11 Thurmont men killed in World War I

  • 1926

    Thurmont's History

    Edwin and Ethel Creeger (new spelling) buy the property and house at 11 North Church Street

  • 1929

    Thurmont's History

    Deputy Sheriff Clyde Hauver is killed during a raid on the Blue Blazes still in the Catoctin Mountains

  • 1929

    Thurmont's History

    Wilbur Freeze establishes the Cozy

  • 1936

    Thurmont's History

    Clair Frock Company starts a Thurmont factory

  • 1936

    Thurmont's History

    Jungleland Snake Farm moves to Thurmont (now the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve)

  • 1938

    Thurmont's History

    Catoctin Recreational Area is assembled for the National Park Service

  • 1940

    Thurmont's History

    Last issue of the Catoctin Clarion is published

  • 1940

    Thurmont's History

    First edition of the Catoctin Enterprise is published

  • 1942

    Thurmont's History

    Federal Government creates Shangri La in Catoctin National Park area (now called Camp David)

  • 1943

    Thurmont's History

    (Ensign) Edwin C. Creeger, Jr is Thurmont’s first killed casualty in World War II

  • 1944

    Thurmont's History

    Cannon Shoe Company establishes a Thurmont factory

  • 1950

    Thurmont's History

    Moore Business Forms starts manufacturing operations in a new facility in Thurmont

  • 1951

    Thurmont's History

    Thurmont’s American Legion Post 168 is dedicated to Edwin C. Creeger, Jr

  • 1954

    Thurmont's History

    Last run of the electric trolley

  • 1957

    Thurmont's History

    Route 15 highway / bypass created over West Main Street

  • 1968

    Thurmont's History

    Catoctin High School opens in Thurmont

  • 1971

    Thurmont's History

    Edwin Creeger dies

  • 1990

    Thurmont's History

    Ethel Creeger donates the house at 11 North Church Street to the Thurmont Historical Society

  • 1991

    Thurmont's History

    The last issue of the Catoctin Enterprise is published

Keep Thurmont History Alive!

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