The seventh in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
In the Nomination Form, this house is described as built “ca. 1940; 1 1/2 stories; Nestus Freeman Rental House; locally unique dwelling with a small tower on the front facade and stone veneer; contributing stone fence; Freeman was a noted Wilson stonemason and businessman.”
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Vick, Henry Spivey, 37, manager of cabins; wife Mary, 34; and children Louise, 15, Mary Lucile, 13, Vernell, 12, and James H., 10. Henry and the older two children were reported born in Spring Hope (Nash County), Mary in Kinston (Lenoir County), and the younger children in Wilson. The Spiveys paid $14/month rent.
In 1942, James Henry Spivey of 204 North Vick Street registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County:
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2017; U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line],www.ancestry.com.
Good day!!
My name is Suzanne and James Spivey is my GrandFather (mother’s father) whom I never met. I I was researching the home my mother grew up in and came across this information. I am amazed and excited. Is there a way I can visit the home? I live in Ohio where Grandpa James soon currently lives. His name is Jame H. Spivey as well.
I would love to here from you.
Suzanne
Hi, Suzanne. The house is currently inhabited, but I don’t know its occupants. You can find info re current owners on the Wilson County NC Register of Deeds website.