Our Mission and History
OUR MISSION
The WGCA seeks to improve and sustain a high quality of life for the community residents by providing opportunities for communication and exchange of ideas, for political activism, and by encouraging cooperation, support and unity among residents.
OUR HISTORY
WHITFIELD GARDENS COMMUNITY 55 YEARS OF HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Developer, Jerome Friedlander, of Timora Construction Company, built three model homes on Braeside Drive. From these model designs, in 1966 a new community called Timora Woods was formed in the Whitfield Gardens subdivision. The Fair Housing Legislation of 1965-66
Mandated that there could be no discrimination against any race of ethnic group, and thus
Black individuals and families began to move into Timora Woods. This precipitated the flight and disinterest of some potential residents from this development.
Two developers were involved in the development of the first 100 homes, each developing 49 because they were required to provide a playground for the children with the building of 50 homes. Apparently, the Timora Construction company went bankrupt after 150 homes were built, and over time other developers and builders were involved in the construction of the now 500 homes which comprise the Whitfield Gardens Community.
Timora Construction Company left the new residents with numerous problems which encouraged them to join in a unified effort to ensure that the problems were addressed and resolved. There was inadequate street lighting, lack of trash removal, no playground facilities and unacceptable property beautification.
Residents met in each other’s homes under the leadership of Otis Thompson and Eddie Peterson until the numbers became so large that the meetings were moved to James McHenry Elementary School. To have a stronger voice in the new community and in the County overall, these men along with Thomas E. Johnson and Florence Val Taylor facilitated the incorporation of the Whitfield Gardens Civic Association (WGCA) in 1969.
The motivation and purpose of the WGCA has not changed since the initial residents came together in unity meeting in homes with the goal of uniting the residents of the community for their common good, encouraging full participation by all to advance progressive endeavors. Under the leadership of Mrs. Virginia Burnette in 1981, the Association goals were expanded to “exercise, promote and protect the privileges and interests of the residents of the Whitfield Gardens community of Lanham Prince George’s County; and to foster a healthy interest in civic affairs of the community; to develop good citizenship and to inquire into civic abuses and to seek reformation thereof.
Between 1966 and 1967, the Association petitioned the County for streetlights and the correction of other construction deficiencies left by Timora Construction Company. Also, the Timora Woods Teen Club was formed to support the education and developmental needs of the community. In addition, the Whitfield Gardens community joined the Lanham Citizens Association in opposing the Zoning Map Amendment proposed in 1969.
Following the incorporation of the WGCA in 1969, Thomas Johnson was president of the Association and they held their first cabaret as a fund-raising activity, and also a Political Action Committee was formed which conducted a Voter Registration Drive. Transportation was provided to get residents to register and vote at Capital Plaza. The Association also petitioned WM&A Busline to provide service to and from this area. 1970, there was a need to tackle the problem of water drainage with the builders. Also, each resident purchased two trees, through the Association, from the Department of Public Works that were planted in front of their homes for shade and beautification.
