Name of Trip: Catoctin Furnace and Covered Bridges of Frederick County
Overview: We will photograph an 18th Century furnace, covered bridges, and the great outdoors.
Catoctin Furnace is a historic iron forge located on Route 15 between Frederick and Thurmont in Catoctin Furnace, Maryland. It was constructed in 1774 by four brothers to produce pig iron from locally mined hematite. In blast by 1776, the furnace provided cannonballs for the American Revolutionary War. Some sources state that it also provided cannons.
After visiting the furnace, we will caravan to two covered bridges; we will have lunch (below) in between the two bridges.
Leader: Phil Boyer, cell phone: 301-204-5549
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. at the carpool (below), or 10:00 a.m. at Catoctin Furnace.
Catoctin Furnace Location/Address:
12698 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788
About an hour’s drive from the Silver Spring area: North on I-270 to Route 15 (near Frederick, MD); North on Route 15 to Catoctin Furnace exit signs. (part of Cunningham Falls State Park) Google Maps
Our first covered bridge will be Loy’s Station Covered Bridge, nearRocky Ridge, MD. At the intersection of RT 15 and RT 77, take RT 77 / RT 550 (W.Main Street) east for 1.2 miles to Rocky Ridge Road and bear left following RT 77 (RT 550 goes straight). Continue for 2.4 miles and turn right on Old Frederick Road to the bridge.
The second covered bridge, after lunch, is the Roddy Road Covered Bridge, near Thurmont. From the intersection of RT 15 and Roddy Creek Road, (approximately 20 miles north of I-70 Exit 53), drive east on Roddy Creek Road for 0.5 mile to the bridge.
Carpool location/time:
Meet at the new carpool location in the Forest Glen Metro Parking Lot at 9:30 a.m.:
2100 Walsh View Terrace, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Note that the entrance to the lot is from Kimball Pl in the back, and not from Walsh View Terrace or Forest Glen Rd.
Meet on the north side of the lot, near the trees and the lot entrance.
Lunch:
Restaurant choice by member vote: Either
Thurmont Kountry Kitchen (down-home old fashioned, wear your coveralls)
17 Water St, Thurmont, MD
Or
Shamrock Restaurant (Irish, more upscale and pricey)
7701 Fitzgerald Road, Thurmont, MD