John Wilhide – Hi! I’m John Wilhide and I’m from Taneytown, Maryland. I am currently studying at Hood College, where I am pursuing a History Major. At Catoctin Furnace, I am slowly working on transcribing a number of letters between 1830-1850’s and serving as a docent in the Musuem of the Ironwork on weekends. I have also worked as an intern for Carroll Community College in a presentation on the history of the Women’s Suffrage Movement as well as an intern for the Carroll County Farm Museum, where I helped to write their spring/summer self-guided tour as well as research for the Alms House. Outside of academics I enjoy playing soccer and field hockey as well as playing the guitar. 

Kaylie Bergeson – Hi! I’m Kaylie Bergeson, and I grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland. I currently attend the University of Maryland, College Park where I am pursuing a major in history (with a concentration in the history of science & medicine) and a minor in archaeology. At Catoctin Furnace, I researched data about the African American population in Catoctin and northern Frederick county, utilizing the valuable resources of the Graceham Moravian church. I have also worked in archives and collections at the Howard County Historical Society and the Baltimore Museum of Industry with the intention of going into the museum industry. Outside of academics, I am the president of the Swing Dance Club at UMD, and enjoy dancing, reading, and music!

⇒  Presentation on Recovering Identity by Kaylie Bergeson

Kaycee Conover – Hello! I am Kaycee Conover and I am from Milford, Massachusetts. I am currently in my third year at Tufts University studying English and History. My interests lie in the daily life and culture of historical societies and how they are influenced and developed. At Catoctin, I am researching for and assisting in the development of a children’s mobile game to engage, educate, and entertain the younger visitors of the historical society. Aside from work and academics, I love to borrow and read books from the library, bike through the woods, and lay on the floor with my dog. 

Dana Gordon – Dana Gordon is from Illinois and is currently attending Loyola University Chicago as a Public History M.A. student.  She is primarily interested in 19th and 20th century cultural history.  At Catoctin Furnace, she is contributing lesson plans and materials to be used in classrooms and by field trip groups, drawing upon her experience as a Jr. High classroom teacher.  Her hobbies are watching Pre-Code films and completing an average of one crochet project per year.  

Maya Wasserman – Hi, my name is Maya Wasserman. I am from Massachusetts and currently a senior at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Religious Studies. My main project at Catoctin Furnace has been developing new waysides for the Iron Trail, where I have gotten the opportunity to dive into many different topics and eras of the furnace’s past. When I’m not learning about public history, I love exploring Maine restaurants and finding cats and dogs to pet on the way!