Just before Christmas 1924, an early morning fire raged in Sunshine Alley, the tiny neighborhood off South Goldsboro Street. Two houses were destroyed and another, rented by Lizzie Pittman and Hattie Moore, suffered damage.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 December 1924.
The ninety-fifth 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 the East Wilson Historic District, this house is: “ca. 1930; 1 story; bungalow with gable roof and prominent gabled porch; aluminum-sided; builder said to be John Reid.”
In the 1925, 1928 and 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories, nurse Hattie Grissom is listed at 203 North Vick.
Hattie Grissom Henry died 21 November 1930 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in Wilson County to Preston Thorne of Edgecombe County and Eddia Adams of Greene County; resided at 203 North Vick; was a widow; and had worked in nursing. Lydia Coley was informant.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 203 North Vick, tobacco factory stemmer Emma Artist, 60, widow, born in Robeson County, and daughter Virginia, 24, Wilson County teacher.
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Artis Emma (c) tob wkr h 203 N Vick; Artis Virginia (c) tchr h 203 N Vick
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2018.
Wilson Daily Times, 21 December 1935.
On Christmas Day 1902, Amos Webb, 21, of Gardners township, son of John Webb, married Frances Woodard, 19, of Gardners township, daughter of Joyner and Lou Woodard, at James Lewis’ in Gardners.
In the 1910 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Amos Webb, 30; wife Frances, 28; children William M., 6, and Elnora, 2; and Pinky Woodard, 21.
Amos Webb Jr. died 12 August 1918 in Taylors township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 19 July 1918 in Wilson County to Amos Webb of Wilson County and Frances Woodard of Nash County.
In the 1920 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Amos Webb, 40; wife Fannie, 38; children William, 16, Elnora, 12, Louise, 9, Ruth, 5, Jason, 4, and Paul, 3 months; and laborer Jack Williams, 85.
Jason Webb died 10 July 1958 in Newport News, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 January 1916 in Wilson, N.C., to Amos Webb and Fannie Edwards; worked as a laborer for the city of Newport News News; and was married to Laura Webb.
Francis Webb died 13 December 1935 in Gardners township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 50 years old; was married to Amos Webb; worked in farming; and was born in Nash County to Johnie and Louiseana Woodard.
Wilson Daily Times, 12 December 1925.
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On 12 January 1868, Wright Barnes, son of Harry Taylor and Nelly Barnes, married Jane Strickland, daughter of Redrick and Mary Strickland, in Wilson County.
In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Wright Barnes, 22, wife Jane, 19, and daughter Henrietta, 7 months.
In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Wright Barnes, 31; wife Jane, 29; and children Henrietta, 11, Susan, 9, Della, 8, William W., 7, Mattie, 5, and John R., 4 months.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Wright Barnes, 51; wife Jane, 50; and children Mattie, 21, James, 17, Bessie L., 14, Willie, 12, Mary A., 11, George, 9, Jane, 6, and Fannie, 4.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Finch Mill Road, farm laborer Wright Barnes, 61; wife Jane, 58; and children Mary A., 17, George, 15, Jane Jr., 14, and Fannie, 13.
Janie Barnes died 18 June 1917 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 21 years old; was born in Wilson County to Wright Barnes and Janie Conn; and was married. Informant was Bessie Smith.
Wilson Daily Times, 20 January 1920.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Park Avenue, street ditcher Wright Barnes, 71, and wife Jane, 68.
Henrietta Flemmings died 29 August 1921 in Township #12, Edgecombe County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1881 in Wilson County to Wright Barnes and Jane Barnes and was married to Henry Fleming.
Mattie Davis died 28 October 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 62 years old; was born in Wilson County to Wright Barnes and Jane Strickland; resided on Church Street, Wilson; worked as a laundress; and was married to Charley Davis.
Susianna Blount died 11 June 1936 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 60 years old; was born in Wilson County to Wright Barnes and Jane Barnes and resided at Blount Street, Wilson. Informant was George Barnes, 710 Suggs Street, Wilson.
George Barnes died 6 June 1974 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 February 1891 to Wright Barnes and Jane Strickland; was married to Mary Dupree; was a retired laborer; and resided at 910 Wainwright Street, Wilson.
Wilson Daily Times, 24 December 1938.
Mary Thelma Barnes, daughter of John M. and Annie Darden Barnes, in fact married Walter Byers, not Bias. Thelma Barnes Byers received degrees from Virginia State College in 1928 and Columbia University in 1941. The Byerses later relocated to Charlotte, where an elementary school still bears Walter G. Byers’ name.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 December 1934.
The Carolina Stompers — “ten first class negro musicians rendering the type of music of the Cab Calloway style” — entertained a conference of aviation enthusiasts at Cherry Hotel on 11 December 1934.
Wilson Daily Times, 11 December 1934.
Pittsburgh Courier, 23 December 1944.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 909 Mercer, owned and valued at $1500, farmer John Tillery, 51; wife Conielia, 45; and children Jessie, 20, cook; Ashley L., 18, helper on truck farm; Raymond, 16, helper on truck farm; Adelia, 14; Johny L., 11; Elnora, 7; and Clyde, 5.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 911 South Mercer, John H. Tillery, 66, “hires out & plows” in agriculture; wife Cornelia, 56, stemmer at redrying plant; children Nelora, 17, and Clyde, 15, “cleans up yards;” and daughter Jessie Williams, 30, “cooks & cleans,” and her children Alice Raschelle, 4, and Barbara Anna Williams, 2.
Clyde Tillery registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson County.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 December 1949.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 December 1942.