Letter from city staff on outcome of request from Lakeland community members for purchase of historic Lakeland High School site for use as a community center. This letter from Patrick Grady, Assistant Director of Community Development was written in response to a letter from Civic Association president, Leonard Smith. Review of both letters makes clear there was a debate about the facts of the situation.
The Baltimore Afro American May 5, 1928 Lakeland, Maryland Last Tuesday evening The Slabtown District Convention was put on at First Baptist Church. A speaking competition was held at Fairmont Heights on Friday April 27th. George H. Randall and Hattie Thomas competed for Lakeland School. Hattie Thomas was awarded third place. Eliza Greene, Mamie Edmonds and Emma Green are at home with the grippe. A party was given for Ruby Briscoe’s 6th birthday. Guests were Marie Greene, Bernice and Jerline Tolson, Saxaline Briscoe, Anthony and Hannah Brooks, Mary Weems, Lucille Giles, Mamie Singleton, Virginia Griffith, Isabelle Sayman, Vera Johnson, Mary and Julia Briscoe, Dorothy Mack, Omega Giles, Vicurtis Gray, Dervey Lomax, Raymond Wilson, Clarence Lyles, William Steward, McKinley Gray, Chaperons were Mrs. Sayman, Etelka Lomax, Mrs. Noamlitha Hodge, Mr. Willis and Almo Poole. On Thursday Mr. and Mrs. John Spriggs hosted Rev. J.A. Dames of Washington DC
Baltimore Afro American July 28 1928 page 17 News Article New Lakeland High Ready This Fall – School Building to House Children From Six Maryland Towns Structure Cost is $25,000- Parents Raising Funds Now for Equipment The Colored Parent’s Teacher Institute of Prince Georges County was organized on July 27 1926. This group was approved to receive a high school on August 10, 1926. The school, now being constructed will serve the communities of Laurel, Muirkirk, Ammendale, Lakeland, Bladensburg and North Brentwood. After finishing grade school children will now be able to attend a convenient high school. The new structure will cost about $25,000 and be of red brick with good heating, light and ventilation. Its location will be the central community of Lakeland. A campaign has started to repay an obligation of $2,500. to the Board of Education to pay for the land. The fundraising began on April 3 and $1,000 has already been promised with $700 already received. The community is pleased about the new school and a ceremonial laying of the cornerstone is being planned along with other special events. A Dramatic Recital by Gabriella B. Drake to benefit the school has been set for late this August. Much of the work to make the school a reality has been undertaken by the Colored Parent-Teacher Institute. They , a collective of scholarly, fearless individuals who are progressive in their work endeavors. The group’s spokesman is W. J. Conway of North Brentwood a Howard University graduate and head of a private secondary school in Washington DC.