Recent CFHS Awards and Recognition
2020 Gold Seal of Transparency on GuideStar
2019 Frederick County Landmarks Foundation County Executive Award
Awarded by the County Executive of Frederick County and the Frederick County Historic Preservation Commission to recognize excellence in an historic preservation project, publication, or program in Frederick County.
“ I am pleased to present the first-ever County Executive Award to an organization that has lovingly cared for an important piece of Frederick County History. For more than 45 years, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society has carefully fostered restoration of the small industrial village that supported the furnace operations outside of Thurmont. One of the most impressive aspects of the society’s work has been its incredible success in securing local, state, federal and private grants. More than a quarter of a million dollars in grant funds have been used for a wide range of projects…The Historical Society has not been afraid to tackle the issue of slavery and its aftermath.Volunteers documented the remains of a cemetery that is the final resting place for many of the enslaved people who worked at the furnace. In fact, the Historical Society has helped to advance our understanding of the role these men and women played in the development of America as an industrial giant. The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society is known for making Frederick County’s rich history relevant, engaging, and personal. They are a shining example of what volunteers can accomplish in the preservation realm, and I thank them for their dedication to our community.” Jan Gardner, Frederick County Executive
2019 Frederick County Landmarks Foundation Community Leadership Award
For more than 38 years, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society has restored, preserved, interpreted, and shared the rich history of the industrial village. Founded in 1973 to halt the planned destruction of the historic iron furnace during roadway construction, the CFHS has maintained an activist agenda of community leadership in the historic preservation field for nearly four decades. The unique industrial village maintains the layout and structures built between 1774 and 1820 with remarkably few modern intrusions. The village is located south of Thurmont and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Catoctin Furnace Historic District. The Community Leadership Award is a testament to the dedication of preserving the cultural and historical heritage of Frederick County.
2019 Preservation Maryland – Best of Maryland Award
The Phoenix Award
The Catoctin Furnace Historic Building Trades Program in Western Maryland embodies the mythology of the Phoenix as the symbol of new life for the historic buildings and the young people who take part in their preservation. Through the Building Trades Program, students of Silver Oak Academy, a residential boarding school overseen by the State of Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, gain marketable real-world job skills in the preservation trades. The partnership between CFHS and Silver Oak Academy exemplifies private and public resources coming together to save important historic buildings, while improving young lives.
2017 Joy Reese Derr Award of the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium
CFHS was awarded The Joy Reese Derr Award for Outstanding Museum-Community Relations by the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium. The Frederick Historic Sites Consortium is a program of the Tourism Council of Frederick County and a collaboration of nearly thirty museums, historic sites, and other partner organizations. The award is given only when the consortium identifies organizations offering exceptional programs to the community.”
Silver Oak Academy Certificate of Appreciation
“For the guidance and opportunities you give our students.” To see certificate, click here.
