In the beginning, the years 1940 and 1941, there was mud in the streets, in the yards, in the homes and in the clothing of all. This muddy place was the developing community of Landover Hills, Maryland.
Monroe and Dorothy Warren planned this community. Throughout the years, the property on which the subdivision was built had changed ownership several times. It had been divided and rearranged from three other properties.
The approximately 148 acres of hilly land was bounded by Annapolis Road, 68th Place, Ardmore-Ardwick Road and the Pennsylvania Railroad. The soil was the red clay of this part of Maryland. The landscape was rural and typically country in appearance and facilities. Two small farms and several tracts of heavy woodland contributed to the beauty and charm of the area.
In 1940 model homes were ready for inspection. Interested people had the privilege of selecting a lot from a large plat of the area. The buyer could choose a lot, large or small, according to his needs. The early price of these homes was between three and four thousand dollars, and they could be had for a low down payment and an interest rate of 4%. The future residents paid a low monthly ground rent until they were ready to purchase the lot.
By 1943 homes were being built on Taylor Street and beyond. The homes on the streets south of Taylor were "prefab" due to shortages of materials brought on my the war.
Lots were graded, front lawns sodded and shrubs planted. The town slowly took on a urban look but missing were stores, gas stations, schools and doctors. Shopping was done in Washington, Hyattsville, Bladensburg or other nearby communities. Medical services also had to be obtained in other areas and there was no organized group to make things happen.
Landover Hills was very fortunate in many ways. It was blessed by many residents with the leadership necessary to form groups to get things done. These people came from many places across our nation; they came because of transfers and changes in jobs or because of that growing sound of war. They gathered in private homes to form a civic association and a fire department. They established churches and solved school problems. They were professional, knowledgeable and thorough in their approach to solving the needs of the community.
