The twenty-ninth 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.

As described in the nomination form for East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913. 1 story. Nathan Haskins house; two-room triple-A cottage; Haskins was a laborer.”

As shown in the 1913 Sanborn map of Wilson, 702 East Green was originally numbered 631. (In the early 1920s, 629 East Green was renumbered 700 to reflect the T-intersection of Elba Street opposite.) Nathan Haskins rented the house for a few years and is improperly credited as a significant owner.

Detail from 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.

The house was built well before 1916 and possibly as early as 1894, when Harriet Wilkins purchased the lot. Wilkins married Austin Barnes in 1903.

In the 1908, 1912, and 1916 Wilson city directories, Austin Barnes is listed as a laborer at 631 E Green.

The Barneses had no children. In 1917, George H. Edmundson bought the house from Harriet Barnes’ estate for his parents, Jerry and Zillie Edmundson.

In 1918, George Howard Edmundson registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 April 1876; lived at 631 East Green Street; worked as a porter for Oettinger Department Store, Wilson; and his contact was Maggie V. Edmundson. [Edmundson apparently rented the house out for decades, returning in late 1940s.]

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Haskins Nathan, lab, h 702 E Green.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: cook Addie Haskin, 50; daughters Martha, 20, public school teacher and Addie D., 19; daughter-in-law Gladis, 19; and Nathan, 32, cooper at a tobacco factory. The family rented the house for $30 a month.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 702 Green Street, Gentle Bynum, 34, truck driver for Farmers Oil Company; wife Rosa, 30; children Mary E., 12, William, 9, and Dorothy M., 2; and sister Gladys Harris, 17.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Edmundson Geo H (c; Maggie) h 702 Green

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 702 Green, George Edmundson, 73, and wife Maggie, 72.

George Howard Edmundson died 9 May 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 19 April 1876 in Wayne County to Jerry Edmundson and Zilla [no maiden name]; lived at 702 East Green Street; worked in farming; and was buried in the Masonic cemetery. Maggie Edmundson was informant.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2017.

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Black Wide-Awake post No. 1000 — thanks for your support!