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Catoctin Mountain National ParkAug 30, 2007
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Scene in the park
Blue Blazes Still
This afternoon we ran down to Maryland to the Catoctin Mountain National Park. This small park in the Manocacy Mountains was originally settled by Scotch-Irish and German settlers in the 1700's. Over the years the area has been used by loggers and charcoal makers. Tannerys also sprung up over the area.
One famous industry in the area was whiskey. Stills sprang up in the woods during prohibition with the largest being the Blue Blazes. When it was raided in 1929 the Sheriff found eighteen 500 gallon barrels at the still.
In the 1930's the CCC and WPA worked in the area improving the park. At times the area was even used to train spies for the OSS.
During WWII Franklin Roosevelt used the area as a retreat as the secret service deemed the presidential yacht too dangerous and Warm Springs too far from Washington.
Finally in 1949 it was returned to the NPS for public use.
I hike to the still and we drive through the park. We see two white tailed deer in a thicket. The area is beautiful, quiet and serene, I can see why Roosevelt liked it so much.
