A belated birthday visit with Mrs. Bell.

I sent Inez Dickerson Bell a card for her 101st birthday last month, but decided to pop in to see her, too. She was enjoying a little quiet time in her room, but was happy to see me, and we spent a pleasant half-hour or so chatting about the old neighborhood. She marveled at her great age (“That’s a lot of birthdays! I must have done something right”); spoke fondly of my parents (“Beverly is so pretty. And so sweet. She looks good, and she acts like she feels good.” “Rederick! We miss him! He wouldn’t ask for nothing, and next thing you know that garbage can is in the back. Who did it? Rederick! He was doing something good all the time. I’m a witness to that!”); praised me and my sister for our good comportment; reminisced about the Belette Women’s Club; shared tips (“The Bible says ‘do unto others!'”); and philosophied (“I’ve had a good life if I go ‘way from here tomorrow.”) Finally, as I stood to leave, she motioned to her side table: “Take one of these. Enjoy it! ‘Cause I’m gon enjoy mine!” 

As always, thank you so much, Mrs. Bell! See you next time!

Cockrell’s Grocery/Mary Chapel Church.

I visited the State Archives in Raleigh for the first time in a couple of years yesterday. The front desk person asked if I’d been before, and I thought back over the past 41 years and smiled — “yeah, about a million times.” 

I’ve been wanting to examine the photographs taken for the Historic Register nomination report for East Wilson, so I headed over to the State Historic Preservation Office while Archives staff pulled my records requests. A handful of photos were appended to the nomination document, and I knew there were more images available, but not hundreds more! A big shout-out to Renee Gledkill-Earley and Chandrea Burch for going out of their way to accommodate my drop-in visit. Next time, I’ll know to request files in advance. 

Most of the copies I made yesterday will be posted as follow-up to the house or business histories I’ve featured since the blog began, but some will warrant brand-new entries. I grew up seeing these buildings, but not paying any particular attention to them, and so many disappeared in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

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I’ve posted about Cockrell’s Grocery at the corner of East Green and Pettigrew several times. The building has housed churches for the past 40+ years, and its exterior is now heavily modified. These photos, however, show it when its original windows and recessed double doors were still exposed.

402 East Green Street.

N.87-12-250-252, 402 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

Advertised letters, July 1881.

Wilson Advance, 22 July 1881.

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  • Ned Barnes — three adult Ned Barneses are listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County. All were black men, including this one, who was likely my great-great-great-grandfather.
  • Noah Best — though not marked as “colored,” Noah Best was a black man.
  • James Hagans — the three James Haganses found in the 1880 census of Wilson County were young children.
  • Peter Moore — though not marked as “col.”, possibly, in the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Peter Moore, 49; wife Cordelia, 42; and sons Sidney, 17, and Henry, 10.
  • Mollie Peacock — Mollie Peacock is not listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County. (Though Mollie Peacock Bynum, who was white, is.)
  • Albert Parker — Albert Parker is not listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County.
  • Anderson White — though not marked as “col.”, possibly, in the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Anderson White, 25; wife Cornelia, 22; and children Samuel, 4, Elizabeth, 1, and Richard, 1 month.
  • Sarah Ward — four Sarah Wards appear in the 1880 census of Wilson County, three adult. All were black, including this one.

Lane Street Project: the monuments.

When I come home, my first stop is always my father’s grave and then around the corner to Odd Fellows and Vick Cemeteries. 

Today, there was something I had to see for myself.

This really is a handsome marker. Deeply incised. Solid. Substantial. 

One of the corner markers. Its careful placement, guided by archaeologists, starkly contrasts to the violence that attended the installation of the wooden power pole and the five guy wires that tether it and the adjacent steel pole. I recognize and appreciate the shifts in perspective and commitment among city leadership that brought us to this place. 

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2026.

Private First Class Oscar Pate, sent to North Africa.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Johnie Pate, 35; wife Florence, 37; and children Johnnie Jr., 14, Oscar, 9, and Clara, 5.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: John Pate, 44; wife Florence, 47, private housekeeper; and children John Jr., 14, W.P.A. laborer, Oscar, 17, and Clara, 15.

Oscar Lee Pate registered for the World War II draft in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 29 December 1921 in Wilson County; lived at 113 South Carroll Street, Wilson; his contact was Florence Pate; and he worked for T.A. Loving & Company at the Marine Air Base at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Corporal Paul G. Arrington, stationed in Sicily.

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Paul Garfield Arrington registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 18 July 1920 in Sanford, Lee County, N.C.; lived at Route 2, Elm City; his contact was Ann Farmer; and he worked for B.H. High.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Four guilty of gambling.

Wilson Advance, 16 June 1892.

Judgment was suspended against Arthur Young, but James Eatman, Wiley Simms, and Mack Dozier were sentenced to serve two months in jail to be followed by a period in which jail officials could hire out their labor.

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  • James Eatman
  • Wiley Simms
  • Arthur Young
  • Mack Dozier 

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: painter Mack Dozier, 60; wife Elibeth, 48; children Julia, 17, and Sid, 15; and mother Charlotte, 69.

Mack Dozier died in Richmond, Virginia, on 28 February 1905 at the City Almshouse. Per his death certificate, he was 64 years old; was born in Wake County, N.C.; was married; and worked as a painter.