This triple-A cottage is not within the bounds of East Wilson Historic District. However, South Lodge Street — below the warehouse district — has been an African-American residential area since the turn of the twentieth century.
For much of the twentieth century, the house was owned and occupied by Oscar B. Green, his wives, and their descendants.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, Oscar Green, 35; wife Josie, 22; children Willie, 6 months, and Eva, 2; and sister-in-law Mattie Walls, 20.
In the 1922 and 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Green Oscar (c) tobwkr h 606 S Lodge
Josephine Green died 21 October 1927 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 37 years old; was born in Henderson, N.C., to Joseph Ward and Francis Rawls; was married to Oscar Green; lived at 606 South Lodge; and worked as a day laborer at Export Tobacco Company.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Green Oscar (c; Essie M) lab h 606 S Lodge
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Green Oscar (c; Essie M) factorywkr h 606 S Lodge
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, tobacco cooper Oscar Green, 44; wife Essie M., 26; and children Eva L., 12, Willie O., 10, Hattie M., 6, and Lucile, 4; Mary Barnes, 48, dressmaker, and her children Alma, 20, servant, Elizabeth, 16, Lalla R., 12, and Elois, 8.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, Oscar Green, 53, redrying laborer at tobacco factory; wife Essie May, 36; and children Eva L., 22, Willie Oscar, 19, Charles B., 16, Hattie Margaret, 15, and Lucille, 14.
In 1940, Willie Oscar Green registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 June 1919 in Wilson; lived at 606 South Lodge Street; his contact was Beulah Sutton Green, 606 South Lodge; and he worked for R.P. Watson Tobacco Company, 410 South Street, Wilson.
Eva L. Green died 6 April 1941 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 15 May 1917 in Wilson to Oscar Green and Essie Winstead; was single; worked as a tobacco factory laborer; and lived at 606 South Lodge.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, Arthur [sic, Oscar] Green, 64, loads truck at tobacco company; wife Essa Mae, 40; daughter Lucy, 24; grandsons Dona Roy, 1, and Jessie, 3; son Willie, 30; granddaughter Marie, 8; grandson Willie M., 7; daughter Hattie M., 26; granddaughter Margaret, 4; and son Charlie, 26.
Essie Mae Green died 5 September 1953 in Wilson. She was born 1 July 1904 in Wilson to Junius Walker and Louise Hyman; lived at 606 South Lodge Street; worked as a laborer; and was married to Oscar Green.
Wilson Daily Times, 19 September 1953.
Carrie Coleman Green died 23 July 1972 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 December 1902 in Alabama; was married to Oscar Green; was retired; and lived at 606 South Lodge.
Oscar Bell Green died 26 September 1975 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 September 1897 to Nelson [Neverson] Green and Isabella Thorp; was a widower; lived at 606 South Lodge; and was a tobacco factory laborer. Lucille Tillery was informant.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, November 2022.