// F R E DE RI C K C O U N T Y TOW NS
Brunswick gets bikers from all over the world, who fly their bikes to
Washington, D.C. and pass through town as they ride to Harper’s
Ferry and the Appalachian Trail. But the city has struggled to capture
those visitors and use them to revive its downtown commercial district.
Even the Brunswick Heritage Museum, which has traditionally
focused on Brunswick’s railroad glory days, is considering expanding
its focus to reflect other periods in the history of the area.
“Brunswick has so many outdoor recreational opportunities from which
to choose: C&O Canal Towpath, Potomac River, Brunswick Family
Campground, Rivers Edge Project, and train watching, too,” said Terri
Householder, the city coordinator for economic development. “Our
natural amenities accommodate people of all ages and fitness levels.” The museum, which among other items features a 1,700-foot model
railroad layout of a train ride from Brunswick to Washington
D.C., has been one of the main attractions in the city, serving
visitors from all parts of the country and the world. The museum
this year was selected as one of five locations in the state to host
The Smithsonian’s Main Street travelling exhibit “The Way We
Worked” from July 21 through Sept. 8.
Looking for solutions, the city hired Illumin8 Marketing PR to
develop a comprehensive, multi-platform economic development
marketing plan with a focus on outdoor recreation, Householder
said. The goal is to help the city recruit businesses geared toward
serving visiting bikers and hikers. But with more out-of-town travelers coming in, museum director
Jim Castle has been fielding questions about the broader history of
the area, including the Native American presence and Brunswick’s
role in the Civil War.
Residents in the meantime are also doing their part in enhancing
the city’s new focus on outdoor activities.
In 2015, Brunswick residents Carlo Alfano and Keith Marks, who
owns the Three Points Bike shop in town, began to transform 59
acres of unused woodland by the city’s Sports Complex into a trail
for hiking and biking. The project, known as Rivers Edge Recreation
Park, has become a community effort involving 530 volunteer work
hours and has already received 576 likes on Facebook.
“A lot of effort has been put into this fabulous trail which will be
opening in the spring,” says Brunswick Mayor Jeff Snoots.
In the spring, Brunswick is also moving on with renovations, which
will add cabins to the popular Brunswick Family Campground, Snoots
said. The city-owned campground is run by River and Trail Outfitters
and offers opportunities for kayaking, climbing, rafting and tubing.
In response, Castle is working on developing a permanent exhibit,
which for the first time will feature a full timeline of history in the
area. He also plans to petition the National Park Service to allow
archeological studies in Native American campsites, which have
been largely unexplored.
“There isn’t much known about the Native American history in this
area,” he said. “It’s never been further researched.”
“We’ve got so much more of a story to tell,” Castle added.
A fifth-generation Brunswick resident, and the first in his family
not to work on the railroad, Castle has noticed the positive changes
happening in town. With more businesses operating, museum
visitors have increased from 5,000 in 2015 to 6,500 in 2016.
“One success leads to another,” Castle said. “The only thing we
really need now is a bed and breakfast downtown.”
CITY FACTS
*Data as of July 1, 2014, based on U.S. Census
Population People under the age of 18
6,102 27.1%
Number of households People aged 65 years and older
2,212 9.8%
Median household income Language other than English
spoken at home
$62,088
3.1%
Median value of
owner-occupied housing High school graduate or higher (aged 25 + )
$188,500 88.6%
People under the age of 5 Bachelor's degree or higher (aged 25 + )
8.1% 26.9%
Spring 2017 // FREDERICK COUNTY GUIDE
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