I am certain that most Thurmont residents are aware that Thurmont was know as Mechanicstown until 1894. That year a petition was submitted to the Maryland General Assembly requesting the the Town name be changed to Thurmont. The story of why the name was changed is well known and was taken up at the request of the Western Maryland Railroad to eliminate confusion with other towns with similar names. Why the name Thurmont was chosen is another story!

In the James Black Meeting Room at the town offices you can see the original petition signed by 113 Thurmont residents and businessmen. Surprisingly I recently found an entry in the Town Meeting Minutes from June 6, 1956 noting the the original petition had recently been given to the own by Mr. George Hahn. The Commissioners voted to have the petition framed, preserved and displayed in the Town Offices.