Why are these items the most important finds of the year for the Laurel Historical Society?
These two items - a plastic dinosaur toy and an old-fashioned china doll head - are just a glimpse of the hundreds of artifacts unearthed during the archaeological excavations on the campus of St. Vincent Pallotti High School over the past two and a half years. To me, they represent everything the Laurel Historical Society does. Because a century ago, a child living just blocks away from our museum building and the Grove lost this doll part. Decades later, another child lost this dinosaur. A few decades after that, our students from the summer camp and high school archaeology club found them. It was like an instant time machine to the past, history literally in their hands.
These lost treasures from the past were discovered by the children of the present and preserved by us for the children of the future. It's these moments of connection that I live for, and exactly what our organization is built around - perfectly capturing the history, heritage, culture, community engagement, and partnerships that we are all about.
I invite you to join us once again in fulfilling this mission. Your belief in our work has been instrumental in our achievements, and I am counting on your continued support to help us reach even greater heights in the coming year.
In 2024, LHS will continue to work with our partners, including Laurel Elementary School, Laurel for the Patuxent, St. Mark’s, and Mt. Zion; plan to hold listening sessions for additional community input; and expand our popular walking tour program. But you already know that our organization does great things with a great group of people: our dedicated board members, passionate volunteers, generous donors, and supportive sponsors.
In fact, everyone reading this letter is a vital part of our incredible community. I am immensely proud of both this community and our organization. The Laurel Historical Society consistently achieves a lot with a little, but with your help, I'm hoping that "little" will grow into a lot! This small museum cannot continue our mission without your support and your financial contributions. Just a small $25 donation last year toward our Archaeology Camp made the difference to accommodate additional students, allowing more children to hold history in their hands and discover connections to the past.
As the year draws to a close, I urge you to continue your generous support. Your donations help us continue our vital work of preserving our shared heritage and educating the present and future generations about the history that shapes our community. A reply card is enclosed for your convenience, or you may donate securely online.
Thank you for being part of our journey, for preserving our history, and for making our community stronger. Together, you and I can ensure that the Laurel Historical Society remains a beacon of knowledge, a bridge between generations, and a treasure trove of memories.
With Gratitude,
Ann Bennett
Executive Director
P.S. YOU can help us preserve Laurel’s past for the future! Please demonstrate your commitment to the work of the Laurel Historical Society by giving to the Annual Appeal today. Send your best gift before December 31st!
These two items - a plastic dinosaur toy and an old-fashioned china doll head - are just a glimpse of the hundreds of artifacts unearthed during the archaeological excavations on the campus of St. Vincent Pallotti High School over the past two and a half years. To me, they represent everything the Laurel Historical Society does. Because a century ago, a child living just blocks away from our museum building and the Grove lost this doll part. Decades later, another child lost this dinosaur. A few decades after that, our students from the summer camp and high school archaeology club found them. It was like an instant time machine to the past, history literally in their hands.
These lost treasures from the past were discovered by the children of the present and preserved by us for the children of the future. It's these moments of connection that I live for, and exactly what our organization is built around - perfectly capturing the history, heritage, culture, community engagement, and partnerships that we are all about.
I invite you to join us once again in fulfilling this mission. Your belief in our work has been instrumental in our achievements, and I am counting on your continued support to help us reach even greater heights in the coming year.
In 2024, LHS will continue to work with our partners, including Laurel Elementary School, Laurel for the Patuxent, St. Mark’s, and Mt. Zion; plan to hold listening sessions for additional community input; and expand our popular walking tour program. But you already know that our organization does great things with a great group of people: our dedicated board members, passionate volunteers, generous donors, and supportive sponsors.
In fact, everyone reading this letter is a vital part of our incredible community. I am immensely proud of both this community and our organization. The Laurel Historical Society consistently achieves a lot with a little, but with your help, I'm hoping that "little" will grow into a lot! This small museum cannot continue our mission without your support and your financial contributions. Just a small $25 donation last year toward our Archaeology Camp made the difference to accommodate additional students, allowing more children to hold history in their hands and discover connections to the past.
As the year draws to a close, I urge you to continue your generous support. Your donations help us continue our vital work of preserving our shared heritage and educating the present and future generations about the history that shapes our community. A reply card is enclosed for your convenience, or you may donate securely online.
Thank you for being part of our journey, for preserving our history, and for making our community stronger. Together, you and I can ensure that the Laurel Historical Society remains a beacon of knowledge, a bridge between generations, and a treasure trove of memories.
With Gratitude,
Ann Bennett
Executive Director
P.S. YOU can help us preserve Laurel’s past for the future! Please demonstrate your commitment to the work of the Laurel Historical Society by giving to the Annual Appeal today. Send your best gift before December 31st!