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. 1918 In March, the Leader reported that “Mayor George W. Waters, Jr., who has been confined to his home with a severe cold for a week, is again able to be out.” 1923 In December, the Laurel Boys’ Fife and Drum Corps was organized under the direction of Walter D. Lanahan. The Corps was composed of boys from every church in Laure

Mark Opsasnick’s incredibly researched book, Rock the Potomac, is chock-full of stories and biographies of the people and groups who were part of the history of rock ‘n roll and country music in the DMV. “Rock the Patuxent” provides excerpts from the book that highlight the greater Laurel area. Radio station WLMD in Laurel, where Cathy Ponton King worked as news director in the late 1970s. (Top photo: John Mewshaw. Bottom photo: Laurel History Boys Collection) Cathy Ponton Ki

(Photo: Department of Defense) “No other event … is likely to have … a greater impact on the Agency’s security program.” — NSA study (1963) In 2013, when Edward Snowden leaked thousands of documents detailing the inner workings of the National Security Agency (NSA), the reaction and outrage from the government was later summed up by former Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who said, “We had a cyber Pearl Harbor. His name was Edward Snowden.” Snowden initially fled to Hong Kon

Did you know that greater Laurel is a hotbed of dinosaur and early mammal species? Just look down—fossils may be under your feet in your own yard. (Photo: Natural History Society of Maryland) Dinosaur Park in Laurel Just a short distance from downtown Laurel and the Patuxent Research Refuge is Dinosaur Park off Contee Road near U.S. Route 1. The Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) owns an

From North Carolina to York, Pennsylvania (Above): A portrait of Jonathan Jessop, the Quaker leader, engineer, and namesake of Jessup, Maryland; a map he drew as a young boy depicting the March 15, 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse, fought around his family’s North Carolina farm. Jessop’s remarkable life also included careers as a clockmaker, bridge designer, B&O Railroad superintendent, horticulturist, and a figure closely connected to the early abolitionist movement. (Cour

Years ago, promotional items like these were a common way for businesses to advertise. Restaurants, bars, and other local establishments often gave customers free ashtrays, matchbooks, and calendars featuring their name and logo. As a kid, I assumed taking an ashtray from a restaurant was stealing. One day, after I slipped one into my pocket, a waitress caught me. Instead of getting me in trouble, she smiled and told me it was perfectly fine—they were meant to be taken as sou

Photos courtesy of Jim Clash Minot, North Dakota (population 50,000) is home to the U.S. Air Force 91st Missile Wing. Buried deep in the ground there are 150 nuclear-tipped missiles, which, if launched, could destroy a good chunk of the world’s population. I traveled to Minot awhile back to visit an underground bunker there, in which two young men sit ready to turn keys to launch those missiles, and the silos where the underground missiles are housed. Both complexes are locat

53rd Annual LVFD Joint Memorial Day Service Members of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) were honored to once again host the Annual LVFD Joint Memorial Day Service on May 25. The event brought together members of the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad, American Legion Post 60, and the Laurel Police Department, along with residents from throughout the community. Persistent rainfall throughout the week forced the service to relocate indoors at the Joseph R. Robison Laurel

Summer 2026 Brian Bennett, 43 City of Laurel employee Brian Bennett died on April 19, 2026, as the result of a car accident. He was the son of Bob and Eileen Bennett, who raised him and his sister, Diane, in Laurel. He spent most of his life in Laurel and was known for being the quarterback at St. Vincent Pallotti High School. With a lifelong love of football and golf, he remained active in sports long after high school and college, forming lasting friendships through athleti