Lakeland High School

The Baltimore Afro American April 21 1928 p 14 Lakeland, Maryland On Sunday at 10 am Sunday School took place at Embry AME Church. Rev. Jasper of Brentwood preached at 3 pm. He was accompanied by some of the members of that church. Rev Wing, Embry’s pastor preached his farewell sermon at 8 pm. Friday night there was a contest sponsored by the Federation of Women of Brentwood, Bladensburg, Hyattsville and Lakeland. The event was a benefit for the new high school. First Baptist Church had communion service at 3 pm Mr. and Mrs. George Gross Sr are celebrating the birth of a new grandson in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dory, Harriet Hughes, Beatrice Thomas, Hattie Thomas, Ferdinand Hughes and young Josephine and James Waters visited Baltimore on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. James Gray ad Mrs. Irene Clark hosted Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sellman of Contee Maryland on Sunday. Mrs. Contee is the sister of Mrs. Gray. On Wednesday evening Mrs. Ralph Conway gave a birthday party for her husband. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Moody, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Randall, Mr. and Mrs. Alex James, Mr. and Mrs, James A. Gray, Mrs. Millie Jones, Noamlitha Hodge, Mrs. Henry Conway, Eunice Johnson, Gertrude Waller, Sarah Rollins, Joseph Thomas, Eugene Brown, Arthur Brooks, Earl Johnson and Louis Gray. The monthly meeting of the Parent-Teachers Institute took place at Brentwood AME Zion Church. Attendees from Lakeland were the president George Randall, Mamie Weems, secretary, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Mack with their daughters Bessie and Dorothy, Julia Briscoe, Ellen Briscoe, Mr. and Mrs. James Gray with their son Robert, Mary E. Johnson, Mary Brooks and Ambrose Green.

Baltimore Afro American News Article April 14 1934 p. 18 Chestertown Five Tops Lakeland On Friday Garnett High School Tigers beat Lakeland High School the champions of the western shore. The venue was at capacity for the game which took place in Chestertown, Maryland. The Tigers star players were Graves and Jones. Stand outs for Lakeland were Davis and Webster.

The historic Lakeland High School began as a six-classroom high school in 1928. It was expanded in the 1940s to add additional classrooms, and again in the 1950s for a multipurpose room. That building served the community’s school children from 1928 until 1972. It functioned as a high school until 1950, as an elementary and junior high school until 1962, and as an elementary school until 1972. The school board later used the building as a special education center. This structure, relatively unchanged, is still standing.

Principal Edgar A. Smith is pictured here with the 1938 senior class of Lakeland High School. Smith was appointed principal of Lakeland High School when the school opened in 1928. He held the position until 1966, through its transition to a junior high and later to an elementary school. During much of this period, he also served as a classroom teacher. Even with these responsibilities, Smith completed his master’s degree at Temple University. Students are first row Milton Mack, unknown King, unknown Ross, Willie Randall 2nd row unknown, Oscar Owens, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Principal Edger Smith back row James Marshall, unknown, Hamp Conway, unknown, Gasson Bradford

The 1943 freshman class of Lakeland High. By this time, the county school buses were bringing students to Lakeland from the other African-American communities along the US Route 1 corridor, from Mount Rainier to Laurel. After 1946, students also were bussed from the Highland Park area of the county until Fairmount Heights Junior -Senior High School opened in 1950.

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.

The Baltimore Afro American November 22 1930 pg. 15 Lakeland High Loses Article Football loss of Lakeland High School’s boy’s team against Rameses A.C. The score was zero all at half time. Dudley made the first score and Brown the extra point. Carr made the second touchdown and Brown again kicked the extra point. Outstanding players of the high school were Ghost Gross, Flash Gray and the caption, Brisco.

Members of the Lakeland High School Dance Group in 1946. Group President Mary Day and secretary LaVerne Tolson are pictured, as are other members. They are shown in the school hallway. Dance, music, and athletics were offered at the school. Teachers donated time to the community and often taught extracurricular programs after school. Educators defined their roles as providing more than classroom learning; they worked to expand the cultural horizons of students, as well.

During class of 1950 Lakeland High School reunion event in Wildwood NJ

Coach Estee B. Wells and co-captains Robert Moore and Elijah Norris led the Lakeland High School football squad to a second undefeated season and the state football championship in 1946. Pictured on the field at Lakeland High School are the coach and members of the football team.

April 19, 1930 Lakeland Hi Wins Lakeland High School’ baseball team won its season home opener beating Marlboro High school 9 to 3. Pitchers were Gross and Carroll. The Lakeland team also traveled to Bowie where they beat the Bulls. Gross pitched a no hit game.