Old Laurel High School Explained

Laurel High School
Coordinates:39.1069°N -76.8556°W
Built:1899
Architecture:Greek Revival
Added:June 27, 1979
Refnum:79003170

Old Laurel High School is a historic former school building on Montgomery Street in Laurel, Maryland. Built in 1899, it was the original home of Laurel High School, the oldest high school in Prince George's County.[1]

Laurel High School was founded in 1899[2] with an enrollment of 59 students and four teachers. The 1900 graduating class was all female.[3] The cupola on top was used during World War II as a Civil Defense aircraft spotting station for identifying enemy aircraft.[4] In 1965, the high school moved to a larger building on Cherry Lane. The last graduating class at the original location held a 50th reunion in 2015.[5]

After the high school left, the building was owned by the county and named the Edward Phelps Community Center. Edwards Phelps was mayor of Laurel from 1895 to 1902. He was instrumental in the 1899 founding of the high school, the first high school in Prince George's County. When the project's low bidder failed to give bond and didn't continue with the contract, Phelps assumed the risk for completion of the work at that price, ultimately losing $1,000 of his own money.[6]

Beginning in 1974, the space was rented to the Laurel Boys and Girls Club, for $1 a year. In 2002, the club bought the property. It was originally offered to the city of Laurel, but the cost of repairs led the city to turn it down. The club remains there.[7]

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as "Laurel High School".

In 1921, the St. Vincent Pallotti High School, a private Catholic school, was founded directly across the street.

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration: Laurel High School . June 1978. 2015-08-01 . Jane Cole and Stuart Hurtt . Maryland Historical Trust.
  2. News: Laurel High students holding history in their hands . The Baltimore Sun . November 20, 2013 . Sara . Toth . June 28, 2014 . Laurel is the oldest high school in Prince George's County, opening its doors in 1899 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200544/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/laurel/ph-ll-lhs-lhs-1121-20131120,0,4956469.story . July 14, 2014.
  3. News: In trivia contest, Laurel is always the category . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203082625/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-11-26/news/36849277_1_laurel-high-school-laurel-city-council-laurel-resident . live . December 3, 2013 . November 26, 2009 . Caitlin . Moran . June 28, 2014 . The correct answer? 'They were all women,' . The Washington Post .
  4. News: Some of the most notable years in Laurel's robust history as midpoint between Baltimore and Washington . July 1, 2019 . The Baltimore Sun . Kevin . Leonard . November 2, 2024 . In April [1942], ... the cupola ... was converted to an Air Raid Observation Post.
  5. News: Last class at old Laurel High marks 50th reunion . Patti . Restivo . June 11, 2015 . December 18, 2017 . Laurel Leader . Baltimore Sun Media Group . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150051/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/laurel/ph-ll-laurel-high-class-1965-0611-20150611-story.html . August 26, 2018.
  6. Web site: History of Laurel . Wilfong Jr. . James C. . November 28, 2013 . City of Laurel, Maryland .
  7. Web site: Leonard . Kevin . History Crumbs, Vol. 3 . The Laurel Chronicles . October 25, 2021 . 2024-10-31 .

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