Month: December 2021

716 East Green Street.

The one hundred-forty-second 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 building is: “ca. 1913; 1 story; shotgun with flush eaves and chamfered porch posts.”

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The 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory lists laborer Edward D. Gause and wife Rosa, students Lorine and Maude Gause, and laborer Maxie Gause at 716 East Green.

Ed. Gause died 19 July 1929 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, he was 54 years old; was born in Nichols, S.C., to Solomon Gause and Annie Gause; worked as a common laborer; lived at 716 East Green; and was married to Rosa Gause. Inez Williams was informant, and Gause was buried in Rountree’s cemetery.

The 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory lists factory hands Lorine and Maude Gause, laborers Maxwell and Winston Gause, and laundress Rosa Gause at 716 East Green.

Lorene Gause died 6 January 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was single, was 21 years old, worked as a domestic, and was born in Mullens, S.C., to Ed Gause and Rosa McDaniel. Rosa Gause, 716 East Green, was informant.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 716 East Green, rented for $14/month, Joseph Sutton, 61; wife Malissa, 60; children Beatrice, 26, James, 25, Fred, 23, Bruce, 19, Beulah, 17, and Mable, 16; and grandchildren Ivan, 8, and Geraldine, 7.

Fred Douglass Sutton registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 September 1918 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 716 East Green Street, Wilson; worked for Southern Tadoco [Tobacco] Company, Wilson; and his contact was mother Millisa Gray Sutton, 716 East Green.

James Wesley Sutton registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 August 1914 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 716 East Green Street, Wilson; worked for Southern Tobacco Company, Wilson; and his contact was mother Mallissie Grey Sutton, 716 East Green.

Joseph Levi Sutton registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 9 May 1919 in Wilson County, N.C.; lived at 534 East Nash Street, Wilson; worked for Southern Tobacco Company, Wilson; and his contact was mother Malissie Grey Sutton, 716 East Green.

Thomas Rogers registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 February 1900 in Nash County, N.C.; lived at 713 East Vance Street, Wilson; worked for R.F. Beland at Plummer Shop, 119 South Goldsboro Street, Wilson; and his contact was Mrs. Mallissa Sutton, 716 East Green.

The 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory lists laborer Fred Sutton, maid Beatrice Sutton, CCC worker Bruce Sutton, tobacco worker James W. Sutton, laborer Levi Sutton and wife Josie, and Melissa G. Sutton at 716 East Green.

The 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory lists student Bruce Sutton, housekeeper Melissa G. Sutton, and domestic Rosa Sutton at 716 East Green.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, November 2021.

Well-equipped to carry on the work.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 December 1936

In late 1936, Rev. I. Albert Moore moved on to Indianapolis, and Rev. Richard A.G. Foster arrived from that city to begin his brief, but impactful, pastorate at Saint John A.M.E. Zion Church.

School closings and reopenings.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 December 1936.

For a brief period in November-December 1936, all three of Wilson’s Black schools were closed down. The Stantonsburg Street School (formerly known as Colored Graded and later as Sallie Barbour) shut down for repair of a burst boiler. The Colored High School (later known as Darden) was closed indefinitely due to a serious fire, and Sam Vick Elementary’s grand opening had been delayed by late furniture arrivals.

Old type privies.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 August 1955.

It is not clear where this photo was taken in Wilson, but the endway (or shotgun) houses would appear to indicate east or southeast Wilson. Though this photo dates to 1955, the endway houses and their backyard privies would been common sights in East Wilson in the first half of the twentieth century.

The obituary of Charity Parker.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 December 1936.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 December 1936.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Charity Holland, 48, laundress, and children Charlie, 24, barber, Jane, 20, Mazie and Daisy, 18, Lue, 16, and Lillian, 12.

On 26 April 1911, Lucy Hollond, 21, daughter of Ben Holland and Charity Hollond married Frank Battle, 21, son of Harry Battle and Bella Battle, at Charity Hollond’s residence in Wilson. Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Ada Knight, Annie Roberson, and Joe Baker.

On 7 September 1911, Moses Parker, 47, of Wilson, married Charity Holland, 50, of Wilson, in Wilson township. Primitive Baptist minister Jonah Williams performed the ceremony at Charity Holland’s residence in the presence of John Battle, George W. Wood, and John H. Akins.

On 28 October 1914, Arthur Futrell, 23, of Rocky Mount, and Louisa Holland, 21, of Wilson, were married in Wilson. Methodist Episcopal minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Shedriac Dancy, Moses Parker, and A.D. Dawson Jr.

On 24 December 1914, Mazie Holland, 20, daughter of Benjamin Holland and Charity Holland married Willie Wells, 21, son of C.M. Wells and Cherry Wells, at First Baptist Church in Wilson. Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of John T. Battle, J.W. Rogers, and Joe Baker.

Louise Futrell died 12 March 1918 in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County. Per her death certificate, she was 23 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Benjamin Holland and Charity Jones; was married to Arthur Futrell; had lived in Rocky Mount for three years; and was buried in Wilson.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 417 Goldsboro Street, general public drayman Moses Parker, 59, and wife Charity, 64.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Parker Moses (c; Charity) gro 1006 e Nash h 1004 e Nash

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1004 East Nash Street, owned and valued at $1700, grocery store proprietor Moses Parker, 63; wife Charity, 60; and roomer Elizabeth Simms, 17.

Moses Parker died 23 September 1936 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 73 years old; was born in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Jason Parker and Annis Parker; was married to Charity Parker; lived at 1004 East Nash Street; and worked as a carpenter.

I have not found Charity Parker’s death certificate.

900 Viola Street.

The one hundred-forty-first 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 building is: “ca. 1910; 1 story; Frank Barnes house; L-plan cottage especially intact, with turned porch posts and sleeping loft; Barnes was a blacksmith.”

This house has recently undergone extensive renovation.

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In the 1912 and 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Barnes Frank (c) blksmith C Culpeper h Viola nr Reed

In the 1928 and 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Boykin Jas (c; Nancy S) carp h 900 Viola

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 900 Viola Street, owned and valued at $4000, private practical nurse Nancy S. Boykin, 59; husband Christian Church clergyman James, 44; daughter Lila R., 19; and roomers Ines Williams, 23, and Minnie Nelson, 20, both servants.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 900 Viola, farm laborer George Richardson, 40; wife Annie, 26, tobacco factory stemmer; and John B. Barnes, 27, tobacco factory packer.

In the 1941 and 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Richardson Geo (c) Annie lab h 900 Viola