This is one of several images taken by Randy Waesche in the summer of 1979 showing gas lines on North Church Street. These images appear to have been taken from the railroad embankment and from the railroad bridge over North Church Street. The gas shortages in 1979 created some very long lines at local gas stations. This gas station is now the home of the Thurmont Auto Sales used car lot, the building remains pretty much as it is seen here with the addition of a garage bay at the far end. Directly across the street, you can see Glen Rickards TV repair shop in the old car dealership building. Over the year this building housed the Thurmont Garage, the O'Toole Brothers, Martin Ford, and Leisner Ford. The two-story brick building to the left of the old garage houses J&L Too, a sub and pizza shop owned by Jim and Lolly Wisotzskey. Near the center of the image, you will see the sign for the Super Thrift grocery store. The Super Thrift moved to this location from East Main Street, Hobbs Hardware now occupies the building on East Main. At the left near the end of the line of cars can be seen tractors in front of Robert Remsburg's business the Thurmont Farm Center

In this detail from the previous view, you can see Glen Rickards TV and repair shop in the old garage building with the Magnavox sign. To the left, you can see J&L Too owned by Jim and Lolly Wisotzskey. The J&L Too building was built by the Miller family and originally housed their sub and pizza shop on the right and a beauty parlor on the left. There have been several restaurants at this location including Stavros Pizza, Dockside, and now Bollinger's Restaurant.

This is another detail taken from the first photo. The Super Thrift sign can be seen at the center. To the right of the Super Thrift is the old High's Store at what is now the Thurmont Paze Shopping Center, CVS is no located abut where Highs was in this photo. To the left of the HIgh's, you can just make out the old American Gas Station, this was demolished when the THurmontPlaza expanded. To the left of the American Station, you can see the Direct To You Gas Station, this building remains basically unchanged since the 1930s. At the bottom, left can be seen tractors in front of the Thurmont Farm Center. The Farm Center was owned by Robert Remsburg and sold tractors, tools, and appliances. Brothers Ace Hardware now occupies the old Farm Center property.

This view looking out North Church Street was taken by Randy Waesche from the railroad bridge and shows cars lined to buy gas in 1979. At the left is the gas station and to the right is the old Ford garage building. You will note that at this time the Thurmont Auto Sales was located in the old garage across the street for their current location. There is also a sign noting that all shoes are on sale. This belonged to a store at the back of the building that sold clothing, in later years a used office supply store and then a used furniture store occupied most of the building. The building was removed to make way for a new structure with businesses on the first level and apartments on the second, but the new building never materialized.

A detail of Randy's photo showing the old garage buildings. The oldest partition near the camera began as the Thumonrt Motor Company in the early 1910s then became the O'Toole Brothers Garage where they sold many different brands of cars and trucks over the years. In the early 1950s, the business was purchased by Henry Martin and it became a Ford Dealership. The additions at the far end were built at this time. In the late 1950s, the business was purchased by Vic Leisner and it became Leisner Ford. After Leisner's closed it served as home to many businesses including Glen Rickards TV and repair shop as seen in these images. 

This detail shows the Thurmont Farm Center with tractors in front of the building. The Farm Center was owned by Robert Remsburg, he also taught AG classes at the Thurmont High School.  I remember when we were kids that the Farm Center having some pretty big old tractors and harvesting equipment outback. At this time they also sold parts and appliances. They sold International Harvester equipment,  you can see the IH sign on the top of the building. Robert Remsburg was alsi=o involved in the Farm Repair Shop located on Summit Avenue in the mid to late 1940s. The repair shop had tools to repair farm equipment and many local farmers used the facility. The Farmer Repair Shop is featured in the Thurmont On Parade movie. It is my understanding it was established during the Second World War years to help farmers repair equipment with parts that may not have been readily available.

A detail of the Gas Station. Note the 88.9 cents per gallon price on the gas!  This was a high price at that time due to shortages. I remember when gas was 32 cents per gallon and then rose up to 70 cents plus during the 1973 OPEC oil crisis. At that time we could only get gas every other day if it was available.  Rationing was based on the last digit of our license plates, I saw many arguments at the pumps. Although commercial vehicles could get gas on any day, I only stopped when my tag number was allowed so as to avoid an argument from other drivers.

This is the Guardian Hose Company 1985 Hahn Pumper, this truck had a 1,000 gallon per minute pumping capacity. The image is taken form a color slide and appears to have been shot at Catoctin High School.  If anyone can fill in details like the cost, a history of the truck while at the GHC, rebuilds and when it was removed from service it would be appreciated.

A third view of the Thurmont businessmen at an unknown coal mine. Several of these gentlemen were involved in the Thurmont Electric Company as well as the Thurmont Water Company. They seemed  determined to bring much needed moderinization to Thurmont and in this case the bulk purchase of coal may have played a part in their plans.
From L-R An unknown coal mine representative, Peter N. Hammaker, Lester Birely, Martin Luther Creager and William J. Stoner.