The legacy of Arthur Wilmer Park

Entertainment venues such as The Howard Theatre, Evan’s Grill, and Arthur Wilmer “Wilmer’s” Park opened the door to a world that existed separately and unequally, a world where Black patrons could hear and see live performances from groups that would have been out of reach and inaccessible if not for these places, a world where touring artists could not only perform but also eat in public and get a few hours of rest before moving on to their next stop.

I got a good look at Wilmer’s Park recently through the personal stories of a local Prince George’s County resident guide. He recounted his memories of his father, Poppa Stoppa, operating the park’s carnival games and concessions in the late 1960s. He continued his descriptions with a fondness that made me wish that I could have experienced those days when the area was on the chitlin’ circuit.

Artists such as Ike and Tina Turner, The Chi Lights, Patti Labelle, and Stevie Wonder performed at the Brandywine park before they became headliners in Whites-only venues that accepted them as performers but not as patrons.

All I could do, at the present time, was hang on to my guide’s words as I stared at the overgrown vegetation on what looked like a run-down tobacco barn with a collapsed roof that was once home to indoor performances, and also housed staff that lived on the premises. There were a few other unsound structures but no landmarks, plaques, or structurally sound sites to attract attention. As nature reclaims the 80-acre site in Brandywine, Maryland, all that remains of the people that once inhabited those spaces are memories.

One jukebox at a time

Tobacco was one of the main cash crops in the Washington region well into the 19th century. County records show that the farm, whose original owners were the Grimes family, had multiple farmers before Arthur Wilmer paid $6,500 ($86,328 at 2022 rates) for the site in 1947, according to a Post article.

The land was originally supposed to be a hunting ground, but Wilmer had other plans. As the owner of the Little Harlem Supper Club in DC, which was advertised as a “modernistic cocktail lounge,” he was in contact with local and national headliners who visited the restaurant after their shows. Having a monopoly on jukeboxes throughout the area, as well as cigarette machines, Wilmer generated enough wealth and connections to transform his site into one of the biggest Black-owned venues in the Washington region.

As the venue grew in popularity, a ticket window was placed on Brandywine Road, which was the only way in or out of the location. The converted tobacco barn became the main dancehall that included sleeping quarters for the live-in staff. The site also had a motel, bar, restaurant, picnic area, ball field, games, merry-go-round, and home for Wilmer’s family.

During the summer months, various popular entertainment acts performed before up to 5,000 patrons in the evenings. During the day, the patrons played baseball and saw a rotating roster of circus-style acts. During the winter, the patrons and events were moved inside.

Desegregation and better venues for Black audiences had an impact on Wilmer Park’s attendance and revenue. Now, instead of venturing to a location outside of the core of DC, which had difficult parking and aging equipment, people visited state-of-the-art venues with all the amenities. Consequently, Wilmer’s Park fell into a slump that turned around slightly in the 1980s.

Second wind

In its next phase, Wilmer’s Park stayed relevant by welcoming acts of all ages, races, and genres. A yearly Jerry Garcia celebration and a now-defunct festival called “Metro World” became draws as well as local go-go acts, such as Little Benny and The Junkyard Band. Rastafarian performers included Jah Works and Black Sheep, along with bigger acts such as the heavy metal band Metallica. In the 1990s, acts featured at the park ranged from alternative and progressive rock to hip-hop, which created new memories of the site for younger fans.

Behind the scenes, the revival was short-lived. Competition with venues such as The Capital Center (demolished in 2002) and an increasingly competitive ticket-buying marketplace left Wilmer’s Park in a worse state, according to a retired police officer and former attendee I spoke to who kept in touch with neighbors of the property. The venue’s end came with the death of Arthur Wilmer in 1999.

In limbo

Wilmer left behind inheritances to three of his five children and a granddaughter, Shatise L. Wilmer, which are in accordance with his will. Yet not all of his final wishes have been followed, notably his wish to sell the land to the highest bidder, according to a Post article.

Another Post article documents legal and financial battles between Leslie M. Parks (daughter of Arthur Wilmer), Anthony T. Watson (Wilmer’s general manager), and James H. Taylor (court-appointed estate handler) throughout the 2000s, while the park hosted an occasional event, despite ongoing deterioration.

Parks sought investors through her entity The Wilmer Park Entertainment Center Inc. to assist in the renovation of the property, while private investors negotiated with the estate handler on their own plans for the locale.

According to Wilber Fletcher, an acquaintance of Arthur Wilmer, he wanted to sell the land but was unable to decide if it should be Parks or Watson.

Unfortunately, the park stayed in limbo as Watson and Parks fought to procure capital to both purchase the land and start renovations. This led to years of shifting cooperation, coming up short, and missed opportunities.

Where the property stands today

It has been over 20 years since the passing of Arthur Wilmer. Throughout this time the space that was Wilmer’s Park has disappeared under weeds and vegetation. Only remembered in stories shared at local gatherings and social media groups, I feared that the success of Wilmer’s Park would remain a lost piece of both local Black and music history.

However, on Saturday, October 8, 2022, Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Sydney J. Harrison (D) and Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation (M-NCPPC) held a commemorative festival, featuring the go-go band Rare Essence, at the nearby Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex, a Prince George’s County-run recreation center.

During the event, both neighbors and Harrison shared their own stories of visiting Wilmer’s Park while discussing possible plans for the future. Also discussed were plans for a 2023/2024 Feasibility Study and/or Master Plan to assist in determining the best uses for the site.

“The overall goal is to integrate some of the old uses of Wilmer’s Park. Potential ideas include restoration of the baseball field, a music-inspired playground, a small outdoor performance area, a picnic area, and museum creation for Mr. Wilmer’s home,” said Anika B. Jackson, Division Chief of Public Affairs and Community Engagement for Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation (M-NCPPC) when asked about the feasibility study and site plans. Additionally, she mentioned that Shatise Wilmer was involved and on board with the current plans.

With this news, I believe Wilmer’s Park could have a second life as a center for the community and a regional draw while honoring and enhancing its history and culture.