Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc.

06/21/2026

Our Juneteenth commemoration events were super successful! Thanks to everyone who attended!

06/20/2026

06/19/2026

"A person is not forgotten until his or her name is forgotten."
The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. board and members are both elated and humbled to be part of the 2026 Juneteenth commemoration with the Thurmont Lions Club, Catoctin Mountain Park, historic Harriet Chapel, and the Catoctin Furnace Friends Group. As part of our commemoration, we will be reading out the names of the enslaved workers at Catoctin Furnace to make sure they are not forgotten.

06/13/2026

Have a look at this virtual tour for our events on Juneteenth this coming Friday, June 19th!

We are meeting at 2:45pm at Catoctin Mountain Park's Hog Rock Trail parking lot for a guided tour, exploring the regional history of slavery and emancipation.

Events continue at 6pm at the Museum of the Ironworker.

06/08/2026

𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞nth 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞 ❤️🤎💛

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝐭𝐡
𝟑 𝐩𝐦
Join a ranger at Catoctin Mountain Park's Hog Rock Trail parking lot at 2:45 pm for a guided tour, exploring the regional history of slavery and emancipation on this 161st anniversary of Juneteenth.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝟔 𝐩𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫
𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟏𝟎 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
Elizabeth Comer, CFHS President
Crystal Claggett, Descendant Friends Group President
𝐖𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫
&
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤
𝐖𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠, & 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟
𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬
Representatives of Scouts BSA Troop 270

𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬
Harriet Chapel

Refreshments courtesy of the Thurmont Lions Club
All are welcome

06/08/2026

Naomi Naylor Happy 88th Birthday added to the CFHS YouTube channel
January 18, 2006

Numerous guests arrive at the Golden Corral for Naomi Naylor's surprise 88th birthday party on January 18, 2006. As she opens the door, the guests sing "Happy Birthday."

Pastor Joan Hall leads a prayer and then shares information about the biblical connection to the name Naomi. Pastor Hall also shares family history and genealogy, the longevity of Naomi and her family members, and Naomi's skills as a great cook and iced tea maker. Memories of East Street include Naomi's skill in straightening and curling hair, her gift of hospitality, her love of singing, and her beautiful alto voice.

Memories include Naomi serving as a cook at both Masser's Restaurant and Millie's Restaurant. Naomi was a member of the "East Street Gang" when she lived on East Street. She is an integral member of the Sugarloaf Mountain Christian Community Church.

Pastor Hall presents a photo of Naomi and her sister when they were younger women.

Naomi sings "Ride Out Your Storm," and party guests join her.

The viewer will recognize many faces and voices.
______________

Naomi Naylor
Happy 88th Birthday
January 18th, 2006

Transferred by Capital Video, Inc.
Frederick MD
301-694-3500

This video was uploaded with the permission of Belva King, the producer. Belva is a native resident of Frederick County, Maryland. She is also a dedicated local historian. One of Belva's greatest achievements is the publication of a seven-volume set of her newsletters, totaling over 2,000 pages, that showcase African American history in Frederick County, Maryland.
https://catoctinfurnace.org/african-american-history-in-frederick-md-belvas-museum-artifacts/

Naomi NaylorHappy 88th BirthdayJanuary 18th, 2006Transferred by...

06/07/2026

Happy 80th Birthday Edna Diggs (Friday, August 31, 2007) added to the CFHS YouTube channel
Celebrated Saturday, September 1, 2007

Belva King invited Edna’s family and friends to gather at Grace United Church of Christ, 25 East Second Street, Frederick to wish Edna a surprise birthday party on Saturday, September 1, 2007. The day begins with the large number of guests arriving and greeting each other and the camera captures faces and fellowships. Master of Ceremonies Leonard Diggs (Edna’s son) begins the program with a welcome, songs by Connie Palmer, and a blessing by Rev. Michele Langston.

Many songs such as “Lead Me, Guide Me”, “Hallelujah, Salvation and Glory” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” are performed by a trio and a solo "Great is Thy Faithfulness" by Pastor Simmons.

Family gifts presented to Edna include corsage, flowers, and a quilt made of historic fabric pieces handed down through Edna’s family. Many members share rich memories such as the tradition of making kinklings, trips to Washington, DC, East Street, East Church Street, “The Jungle”, homemade root beer, work, Saint James A.M.E Church, and working at Sagner’s Sewing Company and at Charles River Laboratories at Fort Detrick. The entire crowd sings “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed cake.

Numerous clergy members shared memories.

Edna takes the microphone and tells a humorous story about discovering the surprise party invitations in the mailbox and accidentally moving them to the wrong mailbox! Luckily, the invitations were all delivered.

The viewer will recognize many faces and hear many voices.
______________

This video was uploaded with the permission of Belva King, the producer. Belva is a native resident of Frederick County, Maryland. She is also a dedicated local historian. One of Belva's greatest achievements is the publication of a seven-volume set of her newsletters, totaling over 2,000 pages, that showcase African American history in Frederick County, Maryland.
https://catoctinfurnace.org/african-american-history-in-frederick-md-belvas-museum-artifacts/

Happy 80th Birthday Edna Diggs (Friday, August 31, 2007)Celebrated...

06/05/2026

Interview with Byron Bowie (1/31/2012) added to the CFHS YouTube channel

Belva King interviewed Byron Bowie on January 31, 2012. Byron was one of three musical brothers with deep Frederick County roots: Lester, Joseph, and Byron. They discuss music as a Bowie family legacy including their grandfather (born 1905) who began playing in the Bartonsville Band at the age of six in 1911.

Byron was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and grew up in St. Louis. When asked how he got started in music, Byron said he didn't have a choice because his father was a high school music teacher! He played many instruments – flute, saxophone, trumpet, piano, etc. Byron went to the University of Missouri at Columbia on a scholarship and began playing gigs at parties and dances because he needed money – in his words he played “green” music, whatever he was paid to play!

He became a professional musician. Byron played with many artists such as Lou Rawls, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. He moved to Chicago and put together bands for artists that came to town to play. Toward the end of his career, he served as the musical director for a dinner theatre outside Chicago.

Byron's recording career in Chicago changed when the industry moved west. With his brother Joseph and musicians who previously backed James Chance, Byron was a founding member of Defunkt, a New York City band. Byron played on the Bill Cosby show and at the inauguration of two US presidents - Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Byron fainted on stage at Obama's inauguration.

His advice for young folk is to play what you want to play. “Express yourself however you want to play”.
Byron and Belva show and discuss family photos on the piano including Byron’s mother’s family.

Byron always wanted to be a studio musician. It came from years of playing with so many different people. When asked who was most instrumental in his career, Byron said Kirk Stewart, the conductor for The Dells (Kirk died 1982). Later, Byron became The Dells musical director.

As Byron’s reputation grew, he wrote music for bands, as a kind of translator...professionally reproducing music for the artists who hired him to put together a band for their performance.
Dr. Clarence Knight, Jr. was his contact for the inaugurations.... Byron came to the DC and Baltimore areas often and knew Dr. Knight.

Byron’s first gig was going out on the road with rhythm and blues singer Little Milton in 1963. His last gig was at President Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009.

______________

Interview with Byron Bowie on January 31, 2012
Raw unedited footage
King Video Productions

This video was uploaded with the permission of Belva King, the producer. Belva is a native resident of Frederick County, Maryland. She is also a dedicated local historian. One of Belva's greatest achievements is the publication of a seven-volume set of her newsletters, totaling over 2,000 pages, that showcase African American history in Frederick County, Maryland.
https://catoctinfurnace.org/african-american-history-in-frederick-md-belvas-museum-artifacts/

Interview with Byron Bowie1/31/2012Belva King interviewed Byron ...

06/04/2026

Thank you Megan Gilliland WBFF FOX45 Baltimore for your coverage of the important role of Catoctin Furnace during the Revolution.

You can watch coverage tonight, June 4th, at 5PM on WBFF FOX 45

05/22/2026

The Museum of the Ironworker will be open from 10am to 4pm throughout Memorial Day Weekend (including Monday)! Make sure to stop by!