Career
He brought to Laurel "electric lights, water works, improved streets, brick pavements, electric railroad between Laurel and Washington, improved train service, free express delivery, telephone exchange system, three steel bridges over the Patuxent River and night robe factory". As of 1908, the night robe factory was run by East. Rosenfeld & Company
Mayor Phelps was born in Laurel on January 5, 1861. His four surviving daughters were Eva Dean (married George Dean), Edna Phelps, Maude Beall (married Norris Beall), and Lillian Phelps, and his five surviving sons were Harry South., Arthur P., Charles East., Alan, and William.
After Sewall died, Phelps married Helen Shaughnessy of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
They had no children. Phelps died in Annapolis on May 12, 1931.
At 9th and Montgomery Streets, its building later housed the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, Laurel City Hall and Police Department, and currently the Harrison-Beard Community Center. Phelps was instrumental in the 1899 founding of, the first high school in Prince George"s County.
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 $1000 of his own money).
Phelps built the house at 1110 Montgomery Street in 1888, and his family lived there until March 4, 1915.
