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Before Waterloo, There Was Substation A in Laurel

  • Writer: Pete Lewnes
    Pete Lewnes
  • 12 hours ago
  • 3 min read

In 1910 the General Assembly enacted a law creating the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles led by John E. George and was located at the Union Trust Building in Baltimore. Eleven years later, on February 10, 1921, the Maryland State Police was formed under the direction of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Substation A was one of the first five original substations created under new commissioner, E. Austin Baughman, as the new force began. For the very first time, they would now have a strategic statewide presence throughout Maryland. However, Substation ‘A’ would be relocated several times prior to reaching its final destination in Waterloo.


The first substation in Laurel was located in 1921 on the corner of Fifth and Montgomery Streets at the site of the current Laurel Armory. There, it shared space with the Mayor and City Council, as well as the Laurel Fire and Police Departments. (Photos courtesy of Barry Walters)
The first substation in Laurel was located in 1921 on the corner of Fifth and Montgomery Streets at the site of the current Laurel Armory. There, it shared space with the Mayor and City Council, as well as the Laurel Fire and Police Departments. (Photos courtesy of Barry Walters)

The station was initially located at the Maryland National Guard Armory in Hyattsville and its occupation there would only be temporary due to an unanticipated complaint from a public interest group of women in Laurel. They were very vocal but supportive of the state police and complained that Substation A should be moved to Laurel due to its midway point between the cities of Baltimore and Washington. After much deliberation and by order of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, it was indeed relocated to the Laurel City Hall and Jail at Fifth and Montgomery Streets—the current site of the Laurel Armory—in the early summer of 1921. This was also the current home to the Mayor, City Council and Laurel Fire and Police Departments. By 1923, according to a Sanborn Fire Insurance map and a recently discovered photo, the station would once again be moved within the city to A Street. According to some local residents, the building later became a residence that existed until burned in a controlled fire by the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department in the early 1980s. This now is a parking lot located behind the old Baublitz Garage and currently owned by Fred Fredrick Chrysler and Jeep.

Maryland State Police Substation A was located in this two-story building (above right) on A Street, just off of Main Street and Washington Boulevard. The building is identified in a 1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance map (below) on property now owned by Fred Frederick Chrysler and Jeep, and had been the second location in Laurel.
Maryland State Police Substation A was located in this two-story building (above right) on A Street, just off of Main Street and Washington Boulevard. The building is identified in a 1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance map (below) on property now owned by Fred Frederick Chrysler and Jeep, and had been the second location in Laurel.


The A Street location existed here for here about seven years until a new substation was constructed in North Laurel across from where Carmax stands today. This third site was dedicated on January 15, 1930. The larger building could accommodate the growing Maryland State Police force and was just minutes away from the Loveless Garage located near the southeast corner of Route 1 and Whiskey Bottom Road. They furnished commodities, gas, and oil along with service for the State Police motorcycle fleet. In the years that have followed, this property later became home of the Outriders Diner and is currently occupied by a small industrial park.



In 1930, the Substation was relocated yet again—this time to North Laurel across from the site that in 1948 would become home to Laurel Raceway (later known as Freestate Raceway) and current site of Carmax.
In 1930, the Substation was relocated yet again—this time to North Laurel across from the site that in 1948 would become home to Laurel Raceway (later known as Freestate Raceway) and current site of Carmax.

The new location provided easy access to Washington Boulevard at a time when bootlegging and other crimes gave it the reputation for being the most dangerous stretch of highway in all of Maryland.
The new location provided easy access to Washington Boulevard at a time when bootlegging and other crimes gave it the reputation for being the most dangerous stretch of highway in all of Maryland.
The Loveless Garage, located on Washington Boulevard just south of Whiskey Bottom Road, was moments away from Substation A and maintained a service contract with the Maryland State Police motorcycle fleet. (Artifacts courtesy of Peter & Martha (Kalbach) Lewnes collection; photo by Jack Delano, Library of Congress)
The Loveless Garage, located on Washington Boulevard just south of Whiskey Bottom Road, was moments away from Substation A and maintained a service contract with the Maryland State Police motorcycle fleet. (Artifacts courtesy of Peter & Martha (Kalbach) Lewnes collection; photo by Jack Delano, Library of Congress)

On April 26, 1938, with the dedication of the newly built Waterloo Barracks in Jessup, Substation A was moved for the last time and is still located there today.


 (Photo courtesy of Barry Walters)
 (Photo courtesy of Barry Walters)

While the Laurel Police Department served it’s residents within the city during this time and over the years, the goal of the Maryland State Police was to enforce motor vehicle laws and prevent bootlegging and crimes along what was once called the most dangerous stretch of highway in the state of Maryland.


Many thanks to Barry Walters for the endless help and support with this story.      


 

Pete Lewnes is a founding member of The Laurel History Boys, and a prolific collector of Laurel historical memorabilia from all eras.






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