Laurel History Boys

10/10/2026

The Saturday photo of the week

1942: Laurel ads in the Fort Meade Post

Laurel has always been an important neighbor to Fort Meade. During World War II, Laurel businesses especially catered to the soldiers stationed there.

10/03/2026

The Saturday photo of the week

1960: Intersection of Routes 29 & 198

Hard to believe the intersection looked like this in 1960.

09/26/2026

The Saturday photo of the week

1970-71: Laurel High School Drama Production

During the school year 1970-71, the Laurel High School Drama Club performed “Look Homeward Angel,” a play by Thomas Wolfe. Thanks to cast member Charlie Nickell we have this photo of the cast taking a bow. Help us fill in the blanks (from left to right):
1. Cheryl Whitney
2. ??
3. ??
4. ??
5. Charlie Nickell
6. Todd Matthews
7. ??
8. ??
9. Paul Reyes
10. ??
11. ??
12. Gail Morgan
13. Rick Taylor
14. ??
15. Gil Clark
16. Mike Stinus
17. ??
18. ??
19. ??

09/25/2026

We’ve added more faces from Laurel’s past to our “Next of Kin” collection—but not all of them are human!

Among the unidentified photographs we’ve rescued from local estate sales are a few furry friends of the past, clearly important enough to their families to earn a place in the photo album.

Take a look through the growing collection. Perhaps you’ll recognize a relative—or maybe even a long-ago family pet!

Explore “Next of Kin”:
https://www.laurelhistory.com/next-of-kin

09/24/2026

Tomorrow night at Gude Mansion. This is an outstanding new documentary film from Laurel filmmaker Dion Johnson.

It's outdoors so bring a blanket or lawn chair. FREE

09/23/2026

Reminder! Tomorrow evening!

Our Kevin Leonard will present Laurel's 1970 Centennial Celebration!

In an extraordinary display of community involvement, Laurel’s Centennial Celebration in 1970 spanned eight days, was managed by a Who’s Who of the Laurel business community, staged events in every corner of the city, raised tens of thousands of dollars from local businesses who lined up to sign checks and be sponsors, and, most impressively, produced a massive stage play about Laurel’s history that included a cast of almost 400 residents.

Thursday, September 24 | 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Cost: FREE (advanced registration required)
Location: Laurel Pool Room and Zoom (hybrid event)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speaker-series-laurels-1970-centennial-celebration-tickets-1997019692659?aff=LHB

09/19/2026

The Saturday photo of the week

First Responder Vehicles from the Past

The Laurel community has been served well over the years by the Laurel Police Department, the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, and the Laurel Rescue Squad. Each organization has expanded and updated their fleet of service vehicles over time. Here are just a few examples.

09/17/2026

Save the date.

Our Speaker Series returns next Thursday, September 24 with a special hybrid presentation by Kevin Leonard of the Laurel History Boys on Laurel's Centennial Celebration!

Thursday, September 24 | 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Cost: FREE (advanced registration required)
Location: Laurel Pool Room and Zoom (hybrid event)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speaker-series-laurels-1970-centennial-celebration-tickets-1997019692659?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

In an extraordinary display of community involvement, Laurel’s Centennial Celebration in 1970 spanned eight days, was managed by a Who’s Who of the Laurel business community, staged events in every corner of the city, raised tens of thousands of dollars from local businesses who lined up to sign checks and be sponsors, and, most impressively, produced a massive stage play about Laurel’s history that included a cast of almost 400 residents.

Image: Laurel Centennial Parade, Circa 1970. The passing float reads "Laurel Shopping Center Salutes Laurel Centennial". Laurel Historical Society Collection.

09/16/2026

Every old photograph captures someone’s story—even when the names have been lost.

Next of Kin is a collection of unidentified photographs dating from the early 1900s through the 1960s, most acquired from estate sales in and around Laurel by our Pete Lewnes. With no names or identifying information written on them, the identities of the people pictured have been lost to time.

We’re sharing them here in hopes that someone might recognize a familiar face—a parent, grandparent, relative, neighbor, or friend—and help us return a name to a photograph.
Take a look. You just might find someone you know.

There are still plenty of photos to be added. This album will continue to be updated, so please check back often.

https://www.laurelhistory.com/next-of-kin

09/13/2026

“A Cemetery Story” is getting a little shorter this time.

Our first “A Cemetery SHORT Story” remembers someone Richard Friend actually knew: Paul Warner (1926–1986).

Paul spent his entire life in Laurel, growing up on Avondale Street in the shadow of the old Avondale Mill. He served in World War II, raised a family here, and in 1969 found himself on the front page of the Laurel Leader after being present during an armed robbery at Keller’s Laurel News Agency.

But that's not how Richard remembers him.
Paul was the grandfather of Richard’s childhood best friends, twins Rodney and Ronald Pressley. With their own father absent, their grandfather became much more like a father to them. Richard remembers him as a familiar presence during their childhood—including Mr. Warner’s fondness for playing the Atari 2600 with them.

It’s a much shorter cemetery story, but a particularly personal one.

Watch “A Cemetery SHORT Story: Paul Warner.”

Not every cemetery story needs a mystery—or a full-length episode....