Boonsboro Flag Unveiling

In 1975, Boonsboro unveiled its first Town flag designed by an art class at Boonsboro High School. Since then, the original flag was practically lost to history. Some may not even know that our Town has a flag, and most had never seen it.

Earlier this year, the flag was unpacked from the collections at the Boonsborough Museum of History and excitement set in to resurrect this historic symbol and make it a symbol, once again, for our town.

A flag re-unveiling ceremony was held in Shafer Park at Boonesborough Days on September 9th with Town Mayor Howard Long, town council members and board members and volunteers of the Museum.

The Flag’s Origins

In 1975, then Mayor of Boonsboro, Mayor Edward Weaver, discussed during a town council meeting, the idea of creating a town flag. A representative of the Boonsboro Historical Society who was present at that meeting, Doug Bast (founder of the Boonsborough Museum of History), took the idea and ran with it. A committee was formed and Patricia Lemkuhl, an art teacher at Boonsboro High School, initiated a flag design contest at the school. Mayor Weaver even offered a $25 U.S. Savings Bond as a prize for the winning design. The winning flag design was completed by Boonsboro high school senior, Wayne Shifler.

The original flag from 1975, which was located earlier this year folded neatly in storage, was originally hand stitched by Helen Lakin Truehart, Pat Lemkuhl’s aunt, and was first unveiled at a ceremony 48 years ago, also at Boonsborough Days in Shafer Park.

The Boonsboro Flag

Wayne did considerable research and put much thought into his design. The colors on the Boonsboro flag echo the Maryland state flag. The frontiersman represents our town founders George and William Boone. The frontiersman is holding a hoe because he was a farmer and tilled the soil. The 13 stars represent the 13 original colonies with the center white star representing Maryland. The number 7 denotes the fact that Maryland was the 7th state to enter the Union.

Flag Fundraiser

To raise funds for the Boonsborough Museum of History, a nonprofit that works to preserve the vast historical collections of Douglas Bast, the Museum is offering a tshirt, sweatshirt, decals and postcard that feature the design of the town flag.

View/order the tshirt or sweatshirt

Decals and Postcards are available at the Boonsborough Museum of History,  Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe or Gifts Inn Boonsboro.

The Museum is also considering ordering FLAGS that may be flown at residents’ homes, but needs to determine interest before placing the order due to the fact that at least 100 flags would need to be ordered. If anyone would like to indicate their interest in a flag, please send an email to the Museum at boonsboroughmoh@gmail.com.

Haven’t been to the Museum yet?

Among the collection highlights at the Boonsborough Museum of History are:

• Extensive displays of Civil War relics from the local battlefields of South Mountain (Boonsboro was the location of 2 battles in the Civil War), Antietam and Harpers Ferry, including personal items of Confederate Officer Henry Kyd Douglas.
• Rare books and documents including the Martyr’s Mirror (largest book printed in Colonial America), a rare Basel imprint dated 1513 and a land deed signed by “Mad” Anthony Wayne.
• A large collection of firearms – from tiny watch fob pistols to cannons weighing nearly a ton. Over 500 edged weapons from around the world, including a gauntlet sword inlaid with gold.
• Displays of antique china and glassware showing the diversity that was used in America from the China trade procelain of 1790 to the depression glass of 1930.
• Indian artifacts from North, Central and South America, including stone weapons, pottery, beadwork and a cane that was actually carved by the infamous Apache Chief Geronimo.
• A varied collection of lighting devices that span 2000 years – from Roman pottery oil lamps to Art Nouveau electric lighting.
• Ancient artifacts, including a Roman bronze safety pin (ca.100 BC), an Egyptian mummy statue (ca. 2000 BC) and rare Chinese stirrups from the T’ang Dynasty.
• Reconstructions of a Cabinetmaker’s Shop of 1860 and a Nineteenth Century General Store with displays of dolls, toys and authentic old-time merchandise.

Come visit!

Our collections have many stories to tell!  We are open Sundays from 1-4 PM May through January 1 or for an appointment at any other time throughout the year by calling 301-432-696 or sending an email to boonsboroughmoh@gmail.com.

If you have an interest in the Boonsborough Museum of History, sign up for a free membership!

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