Laurel’s WW1 Redeployed to Main Street

Strollers on Laurel's Main Street can get a taste of history at 342 Main Street. The Laurel Historical Society’s (LHS) recently closed exhibit: “Laurel’s WW1 From Here to Over There” has been “redeployed” and is getting a second life in the window of the former home of PG Office Supply.

Between now and November, 2018, the LHS plans to feature selections from the exhibit panels. Part I, now on display, gives an overview of the war’s impact on Laurel and focuses on the soldiers who fought from Laurel. It includes a list of all the soldiers from the Laurel area known to have served. Part II will feature soldiers who came to Laurel for training and Camp Laurel. Part III will likely look at the community, the end of the War and the devastating Meuse-Argonne Battle in the fall of 1918 during which several Laurel-area soldiers died.

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 and fulfilled that wish. Laurel Board of Trade Director Tredway, and Laurel Board of Trade Chairman Jim Cross played a key role in bringing the project to fruition. Not only did they build a peg-board display set-up on which panels were affixed, but Joe Tredway painted it, rehung side curtains and made sure the display window was ready for the installation, which was completed by LHS members Marlene Frazier and Karen Lubieniecki

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 will remind 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 #