Exhibits

George Nye & His Diaries: September 1998-October 1999.

Laurel, Maryland....A Presidential assassination, Temperance, the Civil War and a new music hall were only a few of the topics covered in George Nye & His Diaries, an exhibit that opened September 27, 1998 at the Laurel Museum The exhibit was based on information gathered from on six newly acquired diaries and select papers of General George H. Nye, Superintendent of the Laurel Mills from 1877-1885. It included local tie-ins to events of national importance such as the assassination of President James Garfield, and a growing national movement-Temperance-which had strong supporters in Laurel.

Central to the exhibit was a look at popular culture, and everyday life in Laurel as reflected in the General's Diaries. For example, he started1882 noting.."read round the World in 80 Days" The exhibit included a copy of the book from that era, receipts from shops in Baltimore & Washington, and the program of a groundbreaking ceremony for the fancy Victorian Academy of Music structure by local Masons. In a ceremony marking the 120th Anniversary to the day of that event, the Museum and the Laurel Wreath Lodge masons reenacted the laying of the cornerstone of this building.

George H Nye was born in Hallowell, Maine in 1828 of an old New England family. His early career in cotton manufacturing was interrupted by the Civil War, for which Nye volunteered only one month after its beginning in 1861. Nye spent Thanksgiving of 1861 at Camp Kelsey at Annapolis Junction, not far from where he would later live. Camp life was reflected by a photo of a print that showed the unique tents and camping style of the soldiers of that time. A replica of the tent was part of the exhibit.

During his service Nye, who was first part of the 10th and later the 29th Maine, participated in the Battle of Antietam and in campaigns that took him as far south as New Orleans. He was wounded at Cedar Creek and Cedar Mountain. Nye was promoted to Brevet General at the War's end.

Nye's post-war manufacturing career brought him to Laurel in 1877. He found a Mill that had been closed for months. August 13, 1877 his diary entry reads "went to Laurel on a 9 am train with [James] Gary (the Mill owner) and Stewart. Took account of stock in Mill and looked over things generally--found everything much better than I anticipated." And on August 15 he noted "started mill at 6 o'clock. 120 looms running."

The Mill continually had problems-not the least of which were a leaking dam, shortages of cotton, and layoffs. These are reflected in a poignant audio sequence that was part of the exhibit's "Mill Superintendent" section. Nye, who invested in the Mill, ultimately lost his investment; a disaster to the ready-to-retire former general.

In 1881 President Garfield was shot and later died. An employee letter, and a closing notice posted on the Mill brought this national event right to Laurel's doorstep.

Nye was an avid believer in Temperance-the anti-drinking movement that was growing in strength during this period. The "How Dry We Were" section of the exhibit used his papers, diaries and newspaper clipping to illustrate frequent meetings and a struggle to generate community interest and support for outlawing liquor.

As the largest employer in town, Nye, his wife Charlotte (Charlie) and children Clara, Grace, Gertie and George Junior had immediate entree into Laurel Society. His diary, and contemporary letters from Robert Sadler, the town's pharmacist, provided insights into the Nye families everyday life -and how they were viewed by others in the community. The Nyes were part of the Social Union, a gathering that regularly put on skits and sang songs. In one of Sadler's letters to his fiancée Margaret Jackson of Philadelphia. He wrote "...the gem of the [Social Union] evening was a vocal selection by Mrs. McKenzie. She had a charming voice and quite put Grace Nye in the shade..."

Nye left Laurel in 1885 after the Mill again closed. He moved to S. Nattick Massachusetts and never worked in manufacturing again. He died in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1908. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  His wife Charlotte, who died in 1883 while they lived in Laurel, is buried in Rome, Maine.  Her gravesite includes two young Nye children, Georgiana and Catherine, and her gravestone mentions Shields Burr, husband of Nye's daughter Clara, who died while on an expedition to Mexico and was buried at sea.

Nye himself was virtually unknown in Laurel until Laurel Historical Society member Kenneth Skrivseth and 12 year old Brandan Gill did an Internet search of the name George Nye, known only as a name on a map and a listing in a directory. Their search ultimately lead to a treasure trove of information and the diaries, which the Museum purchased in 1997 from Nicholas Picerno, who owned almost all of Nye's papers. The Museum ultimately also purchased additional materials referenced in the exhibit.

The exhibit was curated by Kenneth Skrivseth, Karen Lubieniecki and Museum Director Kate Abrogast and was designed by Jane Cole. It ran through the summer of 1999.

Special thanks:
Nicholas Picerno for sharing items from his extensive Nye collection.
IQ Systems for invaluable assistance with design and production of this exhibit.

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