Boonsboro Reflections: Boonsboro’s First Library

On July 21, 1900, Major Josiah Pierce Jr., son-in-law of Mrs. Dahlgren of South Mountain House, organized the Republican Club of Boonsboro. He felt that the town should have a club, which, in addition to a political agenda, should have daily newspapers, periodicals...

BOONSBORO REFLECTIONS: Construction of the Washington Monument

It must have been a remarkable sight – on the morning of July 4, 1827 as many as 500 citizens of Boonsboro and nearby communities assembled on the town square at 7:00 am and, headed by the stars and stripes and a fife and drum corps, marched to an area called...

BOONSBORO REFLECTIONS: Crystal Grottoes

Crystal Grottoes, the only commercial cave now open in Maryland, is also one of the largest in the state. Nearly one half mile of passage was mapped in 1968. The cave was discovered in 1920 as a result of quarry operations for road material.  A drill bit (for placing...

BOONSBORO REFLECTIONS: Dr. Peter Fahrney’s Legacy

Dr. Peter Fahrney was born in Lancaster, PA in 1767, orphaned by age two and raised by neighboring families.  He learned the trade of a tanner and, together with his wife Eve (Durnbaugh) Fahrney, had 4 children.  Sadly, his wife died when their oldest child was only...