A Tale of a Trail

“Glimpses of Yesterday; Visions for Tomorrow!”

 

During 2004, while the Thurmont Lions Club was celebrating 75 years of serving our community, they adopted a slogan, “Glimpses of Yesterday; Visions for Tomorrow”.  At that time, they also began planning for a major community project – restoration of the Thurmont Trolley Trail into a hiking/biking trail!  After a lengthy planning and approval process, work began last month.  Phase 1 of the project (Main Street to Water Street) is now progressing quite nicely – several members of the Thurmont Lions Club, as well as other local residents have spent numerous hours stabilizing the stream banks, grading, spreading stone (393 tons to date; with perhaps another 100 tons to go), removing bridges/culverts, and pouring concrete pads in preparation for new bridges.  The Lions Club has been extremely resourceful with the limited funds available for this project – they have utilized existing concrete slabs to stabilize the banks and have used neighboring debris to provide “fill” for low areas of the trail.  The Thurmont Lions would like to thank, 1) the Frederick County Office of Soil Conservation (especially Kenny Favorite and Terry Welsh) for the many hours devoted to the extensive planning/approval process and their continued guidance; 2) Allen Haines, Ben Ogle, Dick Eyler, and Denny Long for the many hours they have spent and the use of their equipment and, 3) Amvets Post 7 and Yellow Springs Lions Club for their recent donations.  Phase 2 of the project (Water Street to Moser Road) is currently in the planning stage.  The Lions Club continues to seek donations for this community project – checks should be made payable to “TLC Foundation, Inc.” and mailed to the Thurmont Lions Club, P. O. Box 306, Thurmont, MD 21788.  Questions and comments can be referred to Gene Long at 301-898-7004.  Through this project, the Thurmont Lions Club is truly bringing their slogan to life – “Glimpses of Yesterday; Visions for Tomorrow!”