Learn/Explore

Recovering Identity: Northern Frederick County Cultural Resource Survey Public Forum

Click here to view a recording of the forum.

Slave Resistance at Antietam Iron Works

To view a blog from Tolson’s Chapel with interesting information on the above topic, as well as Catoctin Furnace and John Brien, click here.

The Underground Railroad in Hagerstown

To view a brochure with a lot of interesting information on this topic, click here.

Recording of Catoctin SlaveSpeak Performance

On Juneteenth 2020, and in observance of Emancipation Day, the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) presented a live reading of Catoctin SlaveSpeak by Elayne Bond Hyman.  Catoctin SlaveSpeak is a collection of narrative poems in the voices of enslaved Africans, as well as their enslaved descendants, who were imported to work at the Catoctin Iron Furnace in Thurmont, MD.   

Cast:
Elayne Hyman
Rona Mensah
Ray Hatch
Kimberly (Zoe) Donahue-Rick
Richard Johnson
Zachary Leo Harris
Julie Herber
Tad Janes

To view this performance, click here.

Historical Research

The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society celebrates, studies, and preserves the rich history of this pre-revolutionary industrial village, including the architecture, cultural landscapes, lifeways, and foodways of the workers.  On our Historical Research page, you will find some interesting documents and links to historical and scientific research we and others have conducted.

The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society’s Historic Building Trades Program with Elizabeth Comer

Check out our own Elizabeth Comer in the PreserveCast podcast episode entitled “Rising from the Ashes with the Catoctin Furnace Historic Building Trades Program”.  The PreserveCast is the most popular historic preservation podcast.

Podcast Alert!

Check out the Frederickland podcast, hosted by Dewey, for their feature on the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society: Frederickland – The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society.

The Frederickland podcast is devoted to sharing the voices and pictures of Frederick, Maryland.

The Clothing of the Forgeman’s House

Approximately 100 items of clothing dating from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century were recovered during the restoration of the Forgeman’s House. The worker clothing, worn and torn beyond repair, was shoved into gaps between the walls and eaves of the house, possibly serving as insulation. All genders and ages are represented. A catalog of the clothing is available here.

Please watch the news story about this important discovery on WHAG.

An Archaeological Mystery

Any guesses what this is? Recently, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society received this as a donation. Please let us know if you have any ideas!

Another Archaeological Mystery

This item was recovered from archaeological excavations below the Forgeman’s House. The material appears to be the same glassy slag that is found all over the village of Catoctin Furnace, ranging from dark gray to black in color and full of impurities. The shape, however, is clearly decorative. Because of its unique shape, it has reminded some of us of: earring pendants, icicle hanging decorations, and Venetian glass. What do you think??? Please let us know!

Buried Secrets: Study of skeletal remains may hold key to slave history

Catoctin Furnace Bioarchaeological Research in the Frederick News-Post: Frederick News-Post

April 12, 2015
Erik Anderson

New Video of Catoctin Furnace and Springfield Manor

Check out our new aerial videos of Catoctin Furnace and Springfield Manor taken by Till Sonnemann using a Phantom II Quadcopter with a GoPro3+:

Catoctin Furnace Historic Site and Nearby Springfield Manor Winery and Distillery