Month: March 2022

The ascetic James Atkinson.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 March 1930.

  • James Atkinson  

Probably, in the 1880 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer John Atkinson, 43; wife Jane, 28; and children Cora, 11, Edna, 8, Mattora, 6, Nellie, 4, and James Gray, 1.

In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer John Atkinson, 63; wife Jane, 58; and children Nellie, 21, James, 19, Nettie, 18, Naoma, 15, Lucy, 13, and Robert E., 8.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: James Atkinson, 29; mother Jane, 55, widow; sisters Nellie, 31, and Nettie, 18; and boarders Lillian, 8, and Elmira Woodard, 2.

James Atkinson died 9 December 1943 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 64 years old; was born in Wilson County to John Atkinson and Jane Newsome; was single; and was engaged in farming. He was buried in Farrells cemetery. Willie Woodard, Black Creek, was informant.

902 Washington Street.

The one hundred-fifty-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.

Presumably, this house is under renovation. Here, the original cedar shakes in the front gable are visible under an overlay of vinyl siding.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1930; 1 story; bungalow with gable-end form and recessed entry.”

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Murphy Geo (c; Lucinda) lab h 902 Washington

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 902 Washington, rented for $16/month, George Murphey, 34, town laborer; wife Lucile, 33, laundress; and children Willie, 15, and Pearl, 13.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fletcher Williams, 49, blacksmith at J.Y. Buchanan’s; wife Esther, 38, Carolina Laundry worker; and children Armina, 12, Gladys, 19, Virginia, 9, Fletcher Jr., 13, and Charles, 15. All were born in Goldsboro, N.C.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Fletcher (c; Esther; 5) blksmith h 902 Washington

Wilson Daily Times, 16 January 1941.

In 1942, Fletcher Williams registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 August 1900 in Goldsboro, N.C.; lived at 902 Washington Street; his contact was sister Minnie Williams, Viola Street near High School; and he worked for “J.Y. Buchanan, Blacksmith Alley, back of Old Quinn Store” in “Alley between Clark Fac. & Old Quinn Furn. Sto.”

In 1942, Fletcher Williams Jr. registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 November 1925 in Goldsboro, N.C.; lived at 902 Washington Street; his contact was mother Esther Lee Williams, 902 Washington; and he had “been going to school.”

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Felman Walter C (c; Velma) lab h 902 Washington

624 East Green Street in its heyday.

As a reminder, here’s what Frank S. and Bessie Parker Hargrave‘s house at 624 East Green Street looks like now. It has been heavily and unfortunately modified, both cosmetically and structurally. 

Happily, though, there are photographs of the Hargraves house at its best, when a deep porch shaded its front windows and a low hedge bordered its front lawn.

624 East Green Street, probably early 1920s.

Photo courtesy of an anonymous reader. Thank you!

Town turns down request for recreation funding.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 September 1937.

The path to building Reid Street Community Center was a rocky one. As reported in September 1937, African-American community leaders, headed by William Hines, appeared repeatedly before Wilson’s Board of Aldermen (the precursor to City Council) seeking help.  To match federal funds, the group requested $7500 to add to another $7500 they hoped to receive from the county. When the county declined to approve the funds, the group returned to the city to ask for the $7500 outright to build a scaled-down building. “The request was voted down by the Aldermen last night on the grounds that the appropriation the town had made was contingent on the county’s appropriation and that there seemed to be some doubt anyway whether the town even could appropriate the money.”

The Center was finally funded in the spring of 1938 and opened at the end of the year.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

1109 and 1109 1/2 Washington Street.

The one hundred-fifty-fourth 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.

These little endway houses seem to have begun life as twins. As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, 1109 is “ca. 1935; 1 story; shotgun with side wing” and 1109 1/2 is “ca. 1935; 1 story; brick-veneered and modernized shotgun.”

1109

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1109 Washington, rented for $13/month, Raymond Tillery, 27, waiter at Carolina General Hospital; wife Louise, 24, cook; and daughter Edna R., 2.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Tillery Raymond (c; Louise; 1) lab h 1109 Washington

In 1942, Raymond Ben Tillery registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 18 March 1913 in Wilson; lived at 1109 East Washington; his contact was Mrs. Raymond Ben Tillery; and he worked at Carolina General Hospital. 

White realtor George A. Barfoot advertised 1109 Washington for sale in 1948, noting that it was a good home for colored people.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 March 1948.

A month later, Barfoot dropped the price a bit and provided a little more detail about the house’s amenities.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 April 1948.

1109 1/2

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1109 1/2 Washington, rented for $13/month, taxi driver George Vick, 34, born in Wilson, and wife Blanche, 30, tobacco factory stemmer, born in Fayetteville.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Vick Geo (c; Blanch) taxi driver h 1109 1/2 Washington

In 1942, George White Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 9 June 1903 in Wilson; lived at 1109 1/2 Washington; his contact was Mrs. S.H. Vick, 622 East Green; and he worked for Safety Taxi Company.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2022.

We will operate just as we have been.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 March 1913.

——

Porter Dave Barnes died in January 1913. Less than two months later, Barnes’ family placed a notice in the local paper assuring the public that his business would continue as usual. His stepson Walter S. Hines, a barber, signed the notice as business manager, and Charlie Barnes, whose relationship if any I have not determined, signed as driver. The two outlined the methods of contact and deadlines for arranging pick-up of goods from daily trains.