1970 – Laurel…

The Pinehurst Hotel in downtown Laurel, provided a studio in basement space that had formerly been a rathskellar. More than once there were drop-ins from the alley, demanding beer. The hotel did provide room for us to gather in before dinner, an improvement over private happy-hour get-togethers. And the city of Laurel was most hospitable, entertaining the painters at wonderful parties, and hanging Colony shows at the Lauren Rogers Museum. But the hotel was old and far from ideal. Since urban renewal was threatening, it was necessary to go house-hunting once more.

During the Laurel years, Bill Rowell resigned for health reasons and Lallah Perry was again drafted to serve, with R. B. “Jake” Jacoby, as co-director for about a year.