Thurmont in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Preparing the Hearth
Catoctin Mountain Park
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 5, 2018
1. Preparing the Hearth Marker
Inscription.
Preparing the Hearth. Catoctin Mountain Park. This is a hearth, one of many sites in the park where a collier burned wood to make charcoal. Notice the blackened soil. The collier first cleared a level area 30 to 40 feet in diameter. Each time he used the hearth the collier raked the dirt and dust aside., Then the hauler pulled the sled into the area and stacked the four-foot logs as you see them here. The hearth was now ready for the collier to put his charcoal-making experience to work, a series of step-by-step skills learned and mastered in a seven-year apprenticeship., [Image captions:] , A collier trims a log as he prepares to build a stack on the hearth., A collier takes out a hearth for the next burning.
This is a hearth—one of many sites in the park where a collier burned wood to make charcoal. Notice the blackened soil. The collier first cleared a level area 30 to 40 feet in diameter. Each time he used the hearth the collier raked the dirt and dust aside.
Then the hauler pulled the sled into the area and stacked the four-foot logs as you see them here. The hearth was now ready for the collier to put his charcoal-making experience to work—a series of step-by-step skills learned and mastered in a seven-year apprenticeship.
[Image captions:]
A collier trims a log as he prepares to build a stack on the hearth.
A collier takes out a hearth for the next burning.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.
Location. 39° 38.619′ N, 77° 26.62′ W. Marker is in Thurmont, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker can be reached from Park Central Road north of Foxville Road (Maryland Route 77), on the right when traveling north. On the grounds of Catoctin Mountain Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14707 Park Central Road, Thurmont MD 21788, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 5, 2018
2. Preparing the Hearth Marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 5, 2018
3. The Hearth
Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 121 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
