Berdell Mary Jones passed on March 12, 2007, at the age of 74, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland. In her passing, she left behind beloved family and friends. Details of her service are included in the clipping.
These are 10 of the best all-met players that played in the all-met and all-star teams from the area leagues.
Parkdale makes a play for DeMathas number 1 ranking but leaves defeated. In a game, 71-54 DeMatha keeps its record intact.
The Diamondback publishes a piece on urban renewal in the city of Lakeland. It highlight's the commitment of Lakeland residents to preserving the neighborhood.
The University at Buffalo expected and received a massive crowd for its debut game for Coach Turner Gill. Past games set the standard for this game's crowd. Though very pleased with the crowd turn-out, concerns didn't disappear from their minds about the defensive line. But in a show of unity, the team wears the same attire to the game. They come out hand-in-hand from the tunnel with uniforms in a show of strength.
James Gray, part of the Heilbronn Stars, helped his team in the ACC basketball standing. His team dealt with the Landstuhl Caduceus from Germany. 96-95 the Heilbronn Stars won most of the game with a six-point lead. But ended with 1 point defeat—also two other ACC games with details about their wins.
Many significant players and plays in a game against the Baumholder Buger Bears of Landstuhl Germany and the Heilbronn Stars. The Stars win 88-86.
Ballou is newly ranked as the #1 team in The Washington Post's weekly high school basketball team ranking. Other teams have tied for the position but have come up short in holding the position.
Prince George's Journal
News reports on Parkdale basketball games. A win against Crossland and a loss against St. Anthony's. In the game against Crossland, Jim Gray is mentioned as a significant player. The longest clipping details a tournament between many Prince George's County schools plus Parkdale. The Parkdale team won their portion of the tournament against Arundel.
In a PG County basketball tournament, Parkdale is continuing to prevail within it. Parkdale v Whitman is supposed to take place. Mentioned are other details about Whitman and the tournament players.
The community of Lakeland and its members want to preserve its history by and through LHP. The project members plan to display artifacts from collections every year and preserve the past.
One win and a loss from Parkdale. Both games are against the same team, St. Anthony's. James Gray is mentioned in an article from the ACC league in Germany. He is on the Heilbronn Star and is mentioned to give the team potent in fast-breaking and averages 26.8 per game.
Parkdale plays Bladesburg and wins.
News clippings about Parkdale winning. But the first clipping is an overtake of DuVal against Parkdale. Other two games Parkdale wins against Bowie and Suitland.
Parkdale plays different teams and continues to be a challenger to other basketball teams in the area. The team wins against St. Anthony and also becomes ranked 4th in the top five high school basketball teams in the area. Though Parkdale is a great team they also lost against DuVal because of a different style of playing again the team.
Clippings of obituaries from staff or students who were working at/graduated from the school in 1962.
Newspaper clippings about Lomax's becoming elected mayor. Additional clippings about urban renewal, and Parkdale wins.
While a student at Howard University Diane took part in a study abroad experience in India
After a game with St. Anthony, Parkdale wins against Suitland with a 22-point lead. This win allows them to stay on top of the PG AA basketball ranking. The shorter clipping Parkdale the second in ranking with the Star's High School Poll. And Ballou is the first ranked.
Three of the four news clippings are reports on Parkdale games. The reports are on the games against DuVal, Crossland, and High Point. Details from the games and essential team cooperation are included in the clippings. The mid-most clipping reports on the All-Star team James Gray is a part of. The process of choosing the players is mentioned. Also mentioned are the players that were chosen for the Heilbronn All-Star Team.
George Randall is mentioned under the triple jump category. His scoring and schooling (Parkdale) are mentioned as well.
The Diamondback September 15, 1976 Many pieces of Lakeland land were purchased by the Urban Renewal project. The University then discusses the use of Lakeland land for the expansion of their community housing through the Urban Renewal project. This idea is presented by the city community development director, Mr. Edwin Finder. In the meantime, some Lakelanders must rent homes from the city because of the Urban Renewal project’s purchase of their homes. Mr. Finder says that they are to be given first priority in the construction of new housing. At the same time, the Urban Renewal plan exceeded its budget of $5.2 million by another $5 million. The city requested $1.8 million in urgent need funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and was approved to receive it to complete the project. The request was sent to the HUD’s office earlier in the summer of 1976. Getting more federal money to complete the project was imperative and was a way to help fix the damage already afflicted on the neighborhood by natural incidents. Mrs. Hollomand part of the Lakeland resident's group stated opposition to the University's involvement in the project. She said the residents had need for new housing.
The Sentinel Prince George's Drawing above article show a well dressed. Black family, man woman and young boy on a building site with home debris and a hole. Behind them is a bulldozer with a seated operator and smoke coming from it's stack. To one side is a high rise building and a sign reading "Lakeland Urban Renewal Area, High-Rise Living for University Faculty and Senior Citizens". The boy is tugging at the man' sleeve. The headline reads "Is this where you used to live, daddy?" During a meeting in 1973 College Park officials announced HUD funding of the Lakeland Urban Renewal project. That evening was a celebration which included residents of the neglected all Black community. Lakeland residents, many of whom had been relocated from their homes which had been torn down were displeased with the proposal. They saw nothing for them. Another meeting two weeks ago was not a happy event. At that developer, Leon Weiner shared his plan for the community. The information was greeted with protests from residents. Rather than a development of single family homes favored by the community Weiner's plan features six single family homes, a high rise for University of Maryland faculty members and another for senior citizens along with some townhomes and finally some low income housing units. One whole area of the community would remain vacant. Residents noted that the plan was set without input from them. They even questioned the selection of Weiner for the project. Early in the project it was clear urban renewal was too big an endeavor for a small city. By that point it was too late to halt the project. Costs snowballed. The original price tag was $1.3 million that grew to $2.9 million and now rests at 10 million. Things went down hill for the community too. In 1968 the city's urban renewal director assured the them of "retaining the community's sprit and identity" "This is a project of urban renewal, not Negro removal." In 1970 the city administrator assured a reporter "No one (in Lakeland) will be displaced." The current urban renewal director reported 67 families had already been moved out and 44 more will be leaving. There is a history of broken promises. Lakeland was not a slum. There were some substandard homes, and poor and unpaved roads. The fault of the city. Lakeland was a vital community with a history. It would be forever torn apart by Weiner's plan. If that night of promise in 1973 was the city's finest hour the finalization of the Weiner's plan in two weeks will be College Park's worst.
Collection of ice from branch. Gathering of people at lake for ice skating. Washington Post
Maryland White Sox of Lakeland
Washington Post Potomac district conference of the Baltimore annual conference of the AME Church at Embry
Multi page PDF Washington Post by Sharon Conway
Washington Post by Walter B. Douglas
Washington Post May 12, 1971 Page B 13 The City of College Park was granted $2.9 million in Federal funds to rehabilitate Lakeland, a Black community of 137 families on a 105 acre plot. A total of $3.8 million in Federal funds is committed for the project. City officials said it was unclear when work would begin on the project. 62 of Lakeland's 141 homes were judged "unfit" and must be repaired or demolished. In addition to a shortage of housing other problems of the community are its location in the flood plain, isolation with access only from Route One, encroachment by industrial sites as well as "poor or inadequate public facilities and services". The acting city manager said that work will start after the hire of necessary city staff and the development of needed contracts.
Washington Post July 31, 1972 Eugene L. Meyer Page C1 Image of Paint Branch accompanies the article. Caption reads “ Paint Branch will be widened, deepened and straightened if Army Corps of Engineers’ plan is put in effect.” Leonard Smith is quoted in giving his experience of flooding during tropical storm Agnes last month. A 30 year resident of Lakeland community of 147 Black and 30 white families between Paint Branch and Indian Creek. Enacting the Corp of Engineers plan would end the treat of future flooding. They would widen, deepen and straighten the waterways. Conservationist object charging the work would diminish the area’s natural beauty and fail to resolve the flooding problems. There is opposition between the theory that the national environment should not take priority over the built environment, businesses and homes. The more than 10 year old plan will be brought to the National Capital Planning Commission next week. The creeks are home to many types of small animals. The project is expected to cost about $900,000. A 1960s plan for the area would have lined the upstream banks with concrete. This has been changed to the use of rocks instead. Most of the land belongs to Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the rest would be purchased by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. The College Park Ecological Association representative Judy Comparetto expressed the desire for an option which would not harm the river. Those living near the creeks, government officials favor the Corp’s plan. Some argue that the work would create new problems downstream. To this College Park City Council Member Dougherty stated “The night of Agnes” “I stood down there and helped 147 families out of Lakeland, and I did not see a beaver, raccoon or eel or any of the ecologists or conservationists. However, I saw an awful lot of cold, frightened people” Mrs. Comparetto said “The only solution is to get those people to higher ground, and don’t develop where you know it will be flooded out”
Washington Post March 30, 1896 Page 10 Reservoir Needed for the Columbia and Maryland Power-house. A contract was awarded for construction of a dam and reservoir on Paint Branch between College Park and Lakeland for the supply of water to the power house of the electric railway. It will be about 200 yards west of the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad a bridge to cross Paint Branch will be in the same area.
Washington Post Leon Wynte February 11, 1982 Page B1 Residents of Lakeland describe the community that once was, homes. and childhood memories. They asked for help to stop flooding, pave roads and improve some of homes. What they received was an ease of flooding as well as sidewalks, and a high rise apartment building for senior citizens. Gone though are 104 of the community's 150 households. Federal bureaucracy and inflation are blamed for this outcome. One former resident is grateful for the program as it helped her move to an accessible modern home. Another said he doesn't visit anymore as "Everything's been pushed out" Lakeland is less than a mile in area and divided by railroad tracks. It was once a white community and some burned their homes when leaving. Dispite little support from others a Black community thrived with its own institutions. There was a high school, tavern, Elk's Hall, American Legion post. At the start of the project residents were optimistic. In 1965 the area was surveyed. Four years later a 36 page urban design plan was created. In 1971 the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development approved $5 million for the project and $1.2 million was to come from the City of College Park. The original plan called for 90 units of low to moderate income housing mixed with 47 single family homes in the western area along with 300 units of housing in the east. Little of this took came about. Work was held up over environmental concerns causing home purchases to not begin until 1973. Jack Callahan, urban renewal director reported the program cost by 1976 had doubled. The City then asked HUD for more money. Ed Finder joined the City staff and brought new life to the program. He was a former reginal director with New York states' Urban Development Corporation. He used his connections to find interest in the project. Five developers made proposals. Lakeland residents endorsed their top three proposals. Leon Weiner was not among that group. Finder endorsed Weiner, a known developer of government backed projects and the city agreed. He proposed high rise apartment buildings. Finder left the project the next year and is now director of economic development in Paterson NJ, Of the project he is quoted as saying "There are people who may be bitter." The Project Area Committee made up of residents pretested plan changes. Mary Braxton said she has a box full of records from the project and hates to think about what took place. It makes her ill. Vernice Buell of HUD said it was rare for residents to return unless a real effort is made to meet their desires for housing. Harry Braxton, Jr called the bulldozer the 'giant eraser'. No recreation facility was included in the plan and the PAC requested the purchase of the Lakeland High School building to fore fill that use. That request was declined. Mrs. Braxton said "What we have looks good, but we don't have much" "We gave up two-thirds to get one-third."
Washington Post by Eugene Meyer PDF
2nd part of article
Obituary, Etta Marshall Washington Post
Article from Greenbelt Cooperator
The Baltimore Sun February 27, 1945 Page 15 Lakelanders represented by Washington Attorney, Charles Houston to oppose inclusion in incorporation as part of municipality. Said tax burden would be difficult for residents due to their low income.
Washington Evening Star March 21, 1945 At a meeting with the Prince George's delegation in Annapolis individuals from Lakeland and Berwyn expressed opposition to the incorporation plan. Those present said the benefits for the measure did not outweigh the costs and not enough time was allowed to give the issue sufficient study. The mayor of Riverdale suggested the Calvert Homes section be come part of his town. A representative of the University of Maryland spoke in support of incorporation and stated it would be difficult not to include Lakeland due to its location in the center of the proposed town.
Letter to the Editor of Afro-American Miss Mack's impression of Lakeland
top left Christmas Dinner at Cloud Avenue top right Christmas at Cloud Avenue. Center George Henry and Agnes Gross Christmas morning at son's home on Pierce Avenue. Right Maxine Gross at home on Pierce Avenue. Bottom newspaper clipping on summer program at Lakeland school with UM students