Subject: Pre urban renewal landscapepage 2

Project Parcel 19-8

In 1970, Prince George’s County officials reported that only a few of Lakeland’s streets were paved, lighting was inadequate, and home values lagged behind those of neighboring white communities. The report failed to mention contributing influences, such as the disparity in economic prospects and the lack of financing opportunities for residential and commercial properties. African Americans were primarily dependent on unregulated private lenders; bank mortgages were rarely granted. Here are two homes on Lakeland Road circa 1968.

Navahoe Street

Block 45 lots 1-5

On this lot for many years was an electric power substation. After its removal the Smith family relocated to a house moved to this site. Their new home had been owned by the Pitts family. That house had been located in the western area of Lakeland. Urban renewal records show there were other homes which were candidates for being moved. It is unclear why other houses were not moved.

Coal Shed and outhouse near Winnipeg Avenue and Albany Avenue

Located on Rhode Island Avenue

Miscellaneous Sheds - removable 4/25/74 Block 44, Lots 1,12,13,14 & 15

Calvert F. & Mary A. Long 8141 Baltimore Blvd, College Park MD

Here is the central section of Lakeland Road around 1965. Embry A.M.E. Church is on the right and First Baptist Church is to the left, just out of view.

Edwards house twenty years after #16 1966 without car.

5001-5007 Lakeland Rd Parcel 15/8

Parcel 19-7 Block 44 East 1/2 lot 6 Joseph A. & Eleanor M. Galvagna

The Dory family home. It was moved in the early 1900s from College Avenue in Old Town College Park to its current location on Navahoe Street. In the 1940s, they were the first family on the street to have a telephone, and they took calls for the whole neighborhood.

8121 54th Avenue Block 44 Lots 2 and 3 Gilbert Thomas

5402 Cleveland Ave Carl E. Cager, et al

4800 Lakeland Rd West 69 ft. of Lot 10 in Block 12 Harold W. & Julia M. Pitts

5400 Cleveland Ave Block 45, Lot 6 Project Parcel 18-3

Leonard Smith and Mamie McCorkle 8200 Rhode Island Avenue Pride of Bladensburg Lodge #514 I.B.P.O.E.W.

Weygandt property

Located directly across from Lake Artemesia and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks, the Gray family home was for more than 60 years the site of many gatherings for family and friends. It hosted elementary school students in 1909 when the space in the schoolhouse became inadequate. From 1909 to 1917 a post office and rail stop operated from it as well. Today, Paint Branch Elementary stands on the property.

Children playing ball in a Lakeland street

East side of Winnepeg from in front of lot 6, block 35 looking north

"Looking Southeast toward Navahoe Street from 8000 block of 54th Ave" Note attached is not correct. View was from Lakeland Road. The rail crossing was not visible from Navahoe St.

This map shows notations on owners of properties

8104 and 8106 48th Avenue Block 19 E. 87.1 of Lot 1 Project Parcel 23-1

With the limited access African Americans had to public spaces until the 1960s, this building on western Navahoe Street was forced to serve a multitude of functions. It was designated “Lakeland’s Hall” because it served as an informal community center as well as a place for public meetings, dances, wedding receptions, and church services. On Saturday, it became a movie theater. The building is shown here circa 1965. This hall replaced an earlier structure that was located in the central section of the community.

5100 Pierce Av George and Rosie Gross

Looking East

J. Chesley Mack, sometimes referred to as the unofficial mayor of Lakeland, operated Mack’s Market on Rhode Island Avenue. It was a general store with an ice cream counter and billiard parlor on the main floor, and rental apartments on the second floor. Mack also worked as a chef at the University of Maryland and served as Lakeland’s City Council representative from 1945 until 1957.

5415 Detroit Ave Block 44 Lots 1, 12, 13,14, 15 Earl & Velma Weygandt & Carter Weygandt Eng. Inc.

Two seated on the porch of the Gray family home located on the corner of 54th Avenue and Pierce Avenue

Urban Renewal Parcel 8 Block 15 5001-5007 Lakeland Rd

Little New Zion Fire Baptized Holiness Church of the Americas building was erected as a Rosenwald school, Lakeland Elementary School. In 1950 when high school classes in Lakeland were transferred to Fairmont Heights High the younger grades moved from this building to the old high school on 54th Avenue.

In 1970, Prince George’s County officials reported that only a few of Lakeland’s streets were paved, lighting was inadequate, and home values lagged behind those of neighboring white communities. The report failed to mention contributing influences, such as the disparity in economic prospects and the lack of financing opportunities for residential and commercial properties. African Americans were primarily dependent on unregulated private lenders; bank mortgages were rarely granted. Above are two homes on Pierce Avenue circa 1965. Here are Two homes on Lakeland Road circa 1968.

Embry AME Church was founded in 1903 in the home of Samuel and Georgianna Stewart. The congregation built a chapel in 1905 in a low-lying section of the community. In 1918, the building was moved to a site on Lakeland Road. In 1920, a new church on the same location replaced the chapel. Over time, a parish hall and study were added. The building is shown here around 1965. (Courtesy of Thelma Lomax)

Urban Renewal Property Map

4904 Navahoe St Thomas & Elsie Moody

Calvert F & Mary Long Service Station 8141 Baltimore Ave Block 16 Lots 3,4,5,6,7,10 & 11 Project Parcel 22-2