Deep in a valley at the very beginning of the Potomac River is the small town of Kitzmiller. Thomas Wilson settled in that yet unnamed area in 1801 when his only neighbors were itinerant bands of Native Americans. The following year, he built a gristmill, which eventually ground grain for most of what is now Allegeny and Garrett Counties.

During the next half century, farming and stock raising occupied most of the families who came to join Mr. Wilson in the valley. Ebenezer Kitzmiller was not one of them. He built a woolen mill in 1853 that produced wool of such superior quality that clothing and blankets made from it were prized by woodsmen and lumbermen from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Besides operating his mill, he found time to woo and marry Thomas Wilson’s daughter, Emily, and to get the town named after him when a post office was established there in 1877.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s the bountiful forests provided the first major industry—logging. Then came the discovery of coal, and the rush to mine it was on. The town prospered. In its hey-day, Kitzmiller had a bank, high school, two doctors, a dentist, a movie theater, three barber shops, a gas station, and numerous other shops and activities. No saloons were allowed within the town limits; that ordinance is still in effect today. Kitzmiller probably had a population of about 1,500 just prior to the Depression.

Over the years, timbering slowed, and the small mines became less profitable. People moved away to find work. In the early 1950s, the high school was consolidated with Oakland High School 18 miles away. Loss of people meant loss of businesses; the once crystal clear Potomac River was now polluted by acid run off from the closed mines. Floods magnified the town’s hardships.

Through the stressful times the community remained strong and close-knit, characteristics that payed off as revitalization began in the later part of the 20th century. The population at the end of that century was approximately 275. The former high school now has become an outstanding elementary school with about 100 students. It is truly the heart of the community. Volunteers organize little league and other activities year round for the children. There is a volunteer fire department, a Lions Club, and community/civic groups; hot meals are provided for senior citizens. Thanks to the efforts of state agencies, the Potomac River is once again alive and a trout fisherman's dream! With so much to offer now, drawing businesses back to Kitzmiller is no longer just a hope but a solid reality.

A walk down Main Street to cast a line in the river or enjoy a walk through the park explains why people may move away but always know that their home is Kitzmiller.