The Thurmont Lions Club is working away on the Thurmont Trolley Trail project. A small band of volunteers have been gathering to do the physical labor of moving rocks and raking stones while other volunteers have donated their heavy equipment to help with the big work.

Ben Ogle, Allen Haines and Dick Eyler have donated their time and their heavy construction equipment to help break up the old bridge that connected Park Lane to the trolley trail, move dirt, rocks, concrete and debris to help create sturdy embankments, and move and scrape the trail surface to prepare the trail for the delivery of stones. Without their help, the Lions would have had to pay a contractor handsomely to do this work. The Town of Thurmont has been also very supportive by loaning equipment and help. Denny Long has been doing complimentary welding in preparation for the construction of three bridges along the trail.

The Lions Club has been quite frugal in using their limited funds. The club has managed to not only find volunteers to help with the heavy equipment projects but they are also recycling natural materials to help stabilize the stream bank that runs alongside the trail and raise the elevation of the trail. They have reused rocks, concrete, asphalt and debris from the original stream bank and trail. They even used natural debris from a rubble pile at the nearby Federal Stone plant.

With the use of volunteers, loaned equipment and recycled materials, they have been able to stretch their donations. This is important since the Club has only received donations totaling $15,800 and the project is estimated to cost $42,000.

The Lions Club has received to major financial donations HKB Myers Land in the amount of $5,000 and Thurmont AMVETS Post 7 in the amount of $2,000. Donations have also been received from NVR, Thurmont Self Storage, Center of Life Chiropractic, J & B Real Estate, Schildt Construction. Plus, area residents have donated a total of $1,000 to the project. The Lions themselves have donated over $4,000 to the project, $750 from a Lions Club yard sale, and $1,500 from the Frank Martin Memorial Project.

HKB Myers Land has offered an additional large donation of $45,000 if their proposed development is annexed, however the Lions Club is not counting on that until it has been received. The Lions Club has also applied for a few grants to help with the project but again is not counting on them to go help cover today’s expenses. "Work is happening now and we need the funding now," said project chairperson Gene Long. Any large funding that does come via donations or grants could be used for Phase 2 of the project (the section between Water Street and Moser Road) or for trail maintenance, beautification or expansion.

The money for the project is dwindling quickly. Just this past week, 390 tons of stone at a cost of $3,700 was purchased to create a base for most of the trail in phase 1. The most expensive part of the project will happen next as they prepare for the construction of three bridges, one at Park Lane and two more along the trail. One of the trail’s bridges will need to be of vehicle-bearing weight to allow Allegheny Power vehicles to cross. As a side note, Allegheny Power has declined to offer any funding toward the cost of the bridge or trolley trail project.

In the meantime, the Lions club needs donations to help with the project today. They also need able-bodied teenagers or adults to help with the physical part of the trail restoration.

If you would like to help with this project by making a financial or time donation, call Thurmont Lions Club Trolley Trail chairperson Gene Long at 301-898-7004.