Groundbreaking for New Facility on Saturday, November 18

"Celebrating the Past, Digging the Future" will be the theme of a combination groundbreaking and 50th birthday celebration for the Thurmont Library, according to Frederick County Public Libraries. A special event marking the occasion will be held on Saturday, November 18, 10:00 a.m., at the site of the new regional facility at 76 East Moser Road.

Everyone is invited to join dignitaries from the county and town, as well as library staff members to witness the first shovel full of dirt during the official groundbreaking. Birthday cake will be served at the site to mark Thurmont Library’s 50th Birthday too! More birthday festivities, sponsored by the Friends of the Thurmont Regional Library, will continue back at the current branch at 11 Water Street until 1:00 p.m. with displays of original scrapbooks and photos, a visit with Bob the Builder plus other surprises to mark this special occasion.

Celebrating History

The Thurmont Public Library was the vision of a dedicated group of community leaders. In early 1955, a committee was formed under the leadership of local merchant Ross V. Smith and serious planning began to bring a library branch to Thurmont. Prior to this time Emmitsburg was the closest library and was founded 50 years earlier.

After a series of successful fundraisers, $6,000 was dedicated to the building of a new library. By May of 1955, a building was purchased on West Main Street to serve as the first branch library.

The new Thurmont Public Library was dedicated on February 25, 1956, and Mrs. Edith Hammaker served as its first librarian. Mrs. Hammaker, who had studied library science at Simmons College in Boston, was one of the most determined of Thurmont residents who wanted to bring library services to the town. At the dedication, Mrs. Hammaker presented Mr. Ross V. Smith with the library’s very first library card. Mr. Smith would go on to serve as the first president of the Library Board of Trustees.

Just two months later, the library had issued 377 library cards.

In 1965, the West Main Street facility was already too small and an expansion was discussed. In 1967, under the direction of Board President Vic Jagow, the library acquired its current site, a building on Water Street. A former Moravian Church, built in 1874 and used as a church until 1918, the building was also Weybright’s Store in 1924, an American Legion Store, and even the Thurmont Teen Center before becoming Thurmont Library.

An average of 3,500 people walk in and out of the library’s Water Street location each month. The small branch has served the community well, but has outgrown its space.

Thanks to community support and diligent members of the library, the community will see the library move once more.

A New Library

The new Thurmont Regional Library will be a state-of-the-art 25,000 square foot facility that will serve the entire northern Frederick County area with high-quality library services in a comfortable, beautiful space for a variety of community activities. Two meetings rooms will be available at no cost to community non-profit groups. There will be a number of computers available to the public, as well as relaxing seating areas to sit and enjoy the latest periodicals or newspapers. The collection of materials available to northern county residents will increase dramatically.

Some interesting features for the new facility include a children’s section of the library designed just for them with colorful art, unique furniture, plenty of computers, and comfortable spaces to sit and read. There is also a special room just for programs and story times. Teens will also have their own trendy space to choose books, use the

computer and participate in special programs. The new building will also feature wireless Internet connections and interesting new chairs especially designed for laptop use.

The Thurmont Regional Library has been designed by PSA-Dewberry, Inc., of Fairfax, VA, and will be built by Waynesboro Construction Company, Inc. The library is scheduled to open in the spring of 2008.