Old Laurel High School

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Laurel High School
Laurel High School Dec 08.JPG
Old Laurel High School, December 2008
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Location700 block of Montgomery St., Laurel, Maryland
Coordinates 39°6′25″N76°51′20″W / 39.10694°N 76.85556°W / 39.10694; -76.85556
Built1899
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No. 79003170 [1]
Added to NRHPJune 27, 1979

Old Laurel High School is a historic former school building on Montgomery Street in Laurel, Maryland. Built in 1899, it was the original Laurel High School and the oldest high school in Prince George's County. [2] [3] The school left in 1965, and the building is now owned by the Laurel affiliate of the Boys and Girls Club.

Contents

History

Edwards Phelps (mayor of Laurel 1895–1902) was instrumental in the 1899 founding of the high school, which was also the first high school in Prince George's County. [3] 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. [4]

The first class had an enrollment of 59 students and four teachers. The 1900 graduating class was all female. [5] 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. [6]

After the high school left, the building was owned by the county and named the Edward Phelps Community Center. 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's cupola was used during World War II as a Civil Defense aircraft spotting station for identifying enemy aircraft. [8] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ↑ Jane Cole and Stuart Hurtt (June 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Laurel High School" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Toth, Sara (November 20, 2013). "Laurel High students holding history in their hands". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014. Laurel is the oldest high school in Prince George's County, opening its doors in 1899
  4. ↑ Wilfong Jr., James C. "History of Laurel". City of Laurel, Maryland. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  5. ↑ Moran, Caitlin (November 26, 2009). "In trivia contest, Laurel is always the category". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2014. The correct answer? 'They were all women,'
  6. ↑ Restivo, Patti (June 11, 2015). "Last class at old Laurel High marks 50th reunion". Laurel Leader. Baltimore Sun Media Group. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Leonard, Kevin (October 25, 2021). "History Crumbs, Vol. 3". The Laurel Chronicles. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  8. ↑ Leonard, Kevin (July 1, 2019). "Some of the most notable years in Laurel's robust history as midpoint between Baltimore and Washington". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 2, 2024. In April [1942], ... the cupola ... was converted to an Air Raid Observation Post
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