Laurel, MD…Camp Laurel has come to Main Street. A new “unit” of the Laurel Historical Society’s (LHS) 2017 exhibit: “Laurel’s WW1 From Here to Over There” has been “redeployed” and is getting a second life in the window of 342 Main Street, Laurel, former home of PG Office Supply.
The new “unit” focuses on Camp Laurel. Soldiers from across the country were assigned to train at Camp Laurel, and overflow personnel were stationed at the Laurel Cotton Mill. Jay Lyons, whose story is included in the new display, was one of them. “Unit I”, which was up until recently, gave an overview of the war’s impact on Laurel and focused on the soldiers who fought from Laurel. “Unit III” will focus on the end of the War and the devastating Meuse-Argonne Battle in the fall of 1918 during which several Laurel-area soldiers died. All three “redeployments” include a list of all the soldiers from the Laurel area known to have served in the conflict.
A goal of the LHS has been to take its exhibits off-site and building owner Joe Tredway’s willingness to let the organization use his space provided the opportunity to extend the WW1 exhibit’s reach. Laurel Board of Trade Director Tredway, and Laurel Board of Trade Chairman Jim Cross built a peg-board display set-up on which panels were affixed, and building owner Tredway painted it, and rehung side curtains. LHS members Marlene Frazier, Charles Hessler and Karen Lubieniecki installed the panels.
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The United States entered World War I April 6, 1917 and the war ended November 11, 1918. Most of the US, and Laurel soldiers’ involvement, including heavy fighting, took place during 1918. During this ongoing anniversary year, “redeploying” the exhibit reminds people of our community’s involvement in one of the great turning points of American history.
The Laurel Historical Society was founded in 1975. Since 1996 it has operated the Laurel Museum, whose current exhibit “We the People: How Civic Engagement Shaped Laurel,” runs through December 2018. The Laurel Museum is open Wednesdays and Fridays 10-2, Sundays 1-4. Group tours by appointment. Admission is free. The Laurel Library and digitized Laurel Leaders and other items from the LHS collection are open to researchers by appointment Monday-Friday and online to members. The Laurel Museum is located at 817 Main Street, Laurel, Md. For appointments or for additional visitor information contact 301-725-7975 or info@laurelhistoricalsociety.org or visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org #