When Laurel Park is converted into a training center in a year or two upon completion of the renovation at Pimlico, the racetrack’s extraordinary history will come to a close. Over its 115-year existence, the track has seen numerous Triple Crown winners and for 43 years was host to the Washington, DC International, the most prestigious international race in the world. Horse racing wasn’t the only spectacular event that took place at the racetrack, as shown in the timeline bel

Fred Frederick, who passed away in January, was a Laurel icon. Since he opened his Chrysler dealership in its present location on Route 1 in 1959, he was involved in more community efforts than probably anyone. When I interviewed him in his office in 2014, he had so many stories that my recorder’s batteries ran out. As I tried to politely leave and slowly backed out of his office, he was yelling, “Wait! One more! I have one more!” Here are some highlights from that interview.

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the Laurel Leader . 1816 There were four competing stagecoach lines running from Washington to Baltimore, through Laurel on the Washington Turnpike, which much later became Route 1. The six-hour trip cost $6. 1911 In November, only a month after the Laurel Race Course opened, “a well organized effort by a band of notorious race track crooks to fl

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the Laurel Leader . 1907 In June, the Leader  ran the photo of Laurel’s military band shown above. 1918 In March, “Rev. and Mrs. H.C. Bird recently entertained 85 soldiers from Camp Laurel. Later Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Pettit entertained 75 soldiers. At both homes, coffee, cake, and sandwiches were served. There is no scarcity of musical talent in the

In May 1942 a group of young U.S. Army Rangers on a field in Fort Meade stood at rapt attention as their 5'5'-tall, 136-pound instructor ordered a trainee to charge at him with his rifle and bayonet. “Come on, boy, like you mean business!” shouted the bald instructor, who held a short length of rope between his hands. The soldier did as ordered and lunged at the instructor. But in just a few seconds, the soldier lay flat on his back, tied up with the rope. Even though the ins

Raised in Laurel since 1953, Jim Cross was a member of the last graduating class (1965) from the old Laurel High School on Montgomery...

The idea of townspeople forming a posse conjures up images of cowboys in the old west on horseback going after desperadoes who robbed a...

Stepbrothers Jeff Aug and Steve Levine began their musical journey as Green Eggs & Ham in 1985 as sophomores at Laurel High School....

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the...

Clippings from the Laurel Leader  tell the story of the Laurel Jewish Congregation’s struggle to establish a synogogue in Montpelier in...

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the...

Anne Colt Leitess is currently serving her second term as Anne Arundel County’s State’s Attorney. Over her 25-year plus career as a...

New Autobiography by Laurel’s Marty Friedman Pulls No Punches A young Marty Friedman rehearses with his band, Deuce, on Supplee Lane in...

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the...

Newspaper clippings after the May 15, 1972 assassination attempt on Alabama Governor George Wallace at Laurel Shopping Center from...

Laurel’s oldest resident, Virginia “Ginny” Scagliarini, who turned 102 in August, loves to tell stories about her father, Ben Chapman,...

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the...

Part 2 — But Why? For almost 10 years, families in six different counties in Maryland were victimized by terrifying arson fires to their...

Part 1 — What He Did It was his gait. That’s how they knew it was him. After almost 30 years in law enforcement, first with the Baltimore...

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the...