The thirty-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: “circa 1960; 1 story; concrete block double shotgun.” This description of 807 Viola is obviously incorrect. What happened?
The nomination form lists five houses on the north side of the 800 block of Viola Street: (1) #801, an I-house built about 1913; (2) #803, a house built about 1970; (3) #805, a Queen Anne built about 1913; (4) #807; and (5) another Queen Anne built about 1913.
A current aerial view of the street shows that, nearly 30 years after the neighborhood was surveyed, 801 and 811 are vacant lots. #803 is easily recognized as the modern house described in the nomination form. However, there is no 805 Viola. Rather, the house next to 803 is 807 — the Queen Anne depicted above. The concrete block double shotgun is, in fact, #809.
The 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map, below, sheds some light on the street’s curious numbering. #801, the two-story I-house, is shown at the corner of Viola and Vick. At #803 is the predecessor to the 1970s-era ranch house now there. Hard against the street in #803’s front yard was #805, marked “S” for “store.” #807 is the same house currently at the location.
In the 1916 Wilson city directory: Brown Caroline h 807 Viola.
In the 1920 Wilson city directory: Brown Caroline dom h 807 Viola.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 807 Viola, Caroline Brown, 50, and daughter Marjory, 22, both tobacco factory laborers, and grandchildren Lister, 12, and Marie, 1.
In the 1930 Wilson city directory, 807 Viola is described as vacant, and there is no listing for the house in the 1930 census of Wilson.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 807 Viola Street, widowed laundress Blanche Farmer, 67; sons Henry, 34, truck driver for wholesale grocery company, and Samuel, 25, janitor for retail department store; and grandchildren Windsor, 24, tobacco factory laborer, Turner G., 19, cafe cook, and Gloria Hagans, 13, and James H. Farmer, 6.
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson City Directory: Farmer Blanche (c) h 807 Viola.
Blanch Farmer died 27 March 1959 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 29 July 1889 in Wilson County to Samuel Gay and Alice Bryant; resided at 807 East Viola Street; and was a widow. Goldie Ricks was informant.
Photograph of house by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2017; aerial photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Thank you for posting this information. Blanch Farmer, one of the residents of this house, was my great-great grandmother. My parents lived across the street from “Ma Blanch” at 802-B Viola st, and I was born there the same year that Blanch died. Blanch was much older than her death certificate suggests. She was actually born July 29, 1871, which would have made her 87 at the time of her death.
Hi, Allen! Great to hear from you. I hope you’ve seen the other Gay and Farmer posts on my blog! If there are photos of Miss Blanch, her husband, children or siblings, I’d love to share them here!
Hi Lisa- Not sure if you recall, but you shared a ton of information with me a few years back, and I have connected with so many family members. Thank you for that. I think I may have a couple of pictures. What’s the best way to get them to you?
Yes, I remember you! We have an almost-family link. 🙂 My email address is lisayhenderson at gmail. (I’m in Wilson for the holidays, by the way. I also ride through the streets of East Wilson when I’m home.)