Photo by Graham Cullen Dee Connolly worked to have two Maryland Civil War Trails signs posted along U.S. 15 in the hope of drawing visitors to Emmitsburg.

"Dee is always working on something to better the community. She's the bomb," said Bob Hance, president of the Emmitsburg Business and Professional Association.

Connolly's latest project concluded with two Maryland Civil War Trails trailblazer signs on U.S. 15 directing tourists into town.

"She worked very hard obtaining the trailblazer signage," Hance said. "She stayed on the town government until action was taken. We hope that the many, many visitors who travel (U.S.) 15 north to Gettysburg will experience Emmitsburg as well."

Connolly saw trailblazer signs on U.S. 15 that directed tourists into Gettysburg on walks as a member of the Gettysburg Walking Club.

"And I thought, we have five historical markers in Emmitsburg ; why don't we have signs that direct tourists into our town? Tourism is all we have because we don't have infrastructure to support anything else," Connolly said.

Connolly made her case to town officials, the Emmitsburg Business and Professional Association, the Frederick County Tourism Council and the Maryland State Highway Administration. After a year of pushing, the signs were erected about a week ago.

"It's so exciting to finally have the signs up," said Connolly, owner and operator of Antiques Folly on Main Street.

According to the Census Bureau, Emmitsburg and Brunswick have the highest poverty levels in Frederick County. Any additional tourism dollars that come into town as a result of the signs are sorely needed, Connolly said.

"My goal is to get people to our historic sites, boost economic development and get a couple of families out of poverty with tourism," said Connolly, who is membership and marketing coordinator for the local business association.

Connolly isn't taking all the credit for the signs.

"The real heroes behind this project are Frederick County Tourism Council Director John Fieseler, town council President Chris Staiger and EBPA officers Libby Briggs and Bob Hance," she said.

Connolly describes Emmitsburg as "Mayberry-like."

"But I mean that in the nice way," she said. "It is small town at its very best. I like the feeling of walking down the street and knowing people, and the town government is wonderful to work with."

Connolly also wants to develop a walking tour in Emmitsburg and establish a Main Street programn.

She was born in Baltimore, but her parents had a farm near Gettysburg where she grew up and developed an appreciation for history.

"I had been raised around all the historic statues," Connolly said. "While most girls were reading Nancy Drew, I was reading history books about the Civil War. I wanted to know both sides of the story."

At 12, she read "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy.

"I was inundated with Gettysburg history. I was there," Connolly said.