Eastland GardensEastland Gardens, a little-known treasure in Northeast Washington, DC, is preserved and cherished by the generations who have called it home. Though development was initiated in 1928 by a white-owned real estate investment company, black families and individuals seeking a suburb in the city were able to purchase double lots for single-family houses and gardens. They relied on the expertise of African American builders and designers--sometimes the owners themselves--to create their dream homes. The good fortune of proximity to the Anacostia River, national parks, woods, and fields has enabled Eastland Gardens residents to enjoy garden havens around their individual homes and within the neighborhood and to lay the foundation for a service-rich community. Through their organizational zeal and activism, they have been able to reduce or eliminate the impact of city and federal changes to their nurturing enclave. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 6 |
A Place of Our Own | 23 |
Gardens of Eastland Gardens | 49 |
Worshipping in Our Neighborhood | 77 |
At Play in the Yards and Fields | 95 |
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active addition African American Anacostia Anacostia River annual Aquatic Gardens architect architecture attended attraction backyard Baptist Church became block brother builder building built Chinn Columbia construction continued Cromer Deanwood designed District Douglas Street dump early Eastland Gardens Civic Eastland Gardens Flower EGCA EGFC Elementary School enjoyed football Forty-second Fowler Gardens Civic Association Gardens Flower Club Glover Helen High School Howard James John Kenilworth Kenilworth Avenue known later leaders lilies lived located lots Matthews Meade Street moved named Nash National Park nearby neighborhood neighbors Northeast Office parents park participated photograph pictured Place play police projects purchased raised Randolph Dodd received remained residents Rhuedine Davis river served Service Shaw Stewart teachers track University Walter Washington White wife Wood yard youth Zion