Month: June 2023

Lane Street Project: in memory of Costella V.L. Allen (1940-1940).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

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Costella Virginia Lee Allen died 6 May 1940 at her home in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 19 April 1940 in Wilson to Charles Young of Wilson County and Almeta Allen of Saint Paul, N.C. Parthenia Allen was informant. Costella was buried in Rountree Cemetery by C.H. Darden & Sons.

Fitch reelected commander of Henry Ellis Post 17.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 June 1949.

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  • Milton F. Fitch Sr. 

In the 1930 census of New Haven, Connecticut: at 67 Charles Street, mail carrier Collins Fitch, 47; wife Lulu, 45; and children Collins, 25, theatre porter, William, 19, drugstore porter, Harrison, 17, Leroy, 15, George, 12, Milton, 9, Jerome, 7, and Althea, 4.

In the 1940 census of New Haven, Connecticut: Collins Fitch, 56; wife Lula, 54; and children Harrison, 35, club janitor, Leroy, 23, insurance company messenger, George, 21, ring boxer, Milton, 19, new worker, Jerome, 17, janitor in retail clothing store, and Althea, 14.

In 1941, Milton Frederick Fitch registered for the World War II draft in New Haven. Connecticut. Per his registration card, he was born 25 June 1920 in New Haven; lived at 183 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven; his contact was Mrs. Collins L. Fitch; and he worked as a porter at the Winchester Club House, New Haven. 

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 516 Lodge, letter carrier Milton Fitch, 30; wife Cora, 31; children Jerome, 7, Milton, 3, Patricia, 2, and Ernestine and Christine, born the previous December; father-in-law Walter Whitted, 58; and mother-in-law Helen Whitted, 56, 6th grade school teacher. 

Lane Street Project: Juneteenth thank yous!

And it’s a wrap! Juneteenth weekend was extra-special for Lane Street Project. For the first time, we had a booth at Wilson’s Juneteenth Festival, and our first summertime clean-up, co-sponsored by Scarborough House Resort, was a resounding success!

Special thanks to David Speight of Mount Hebron Lodge #42; festival vendor chairperson Sheryletta Lacewell; Lane Street Project volunteers Castonoble Hooks, Briggs Sherwood, Billy and Christina Foster, Brittany Hamm, and Lisa Benoy Gamble; and Jen Kehrer and the good folks of Scarborough House. Thanks also to everyone who stopped by our booth Saturday to learn more about our work at Odd Fellows and Vick Cemeteries and all who showed up in today’s steamy heat to take back a little bit of sacred ground.

Photos courtesy of Jen Kehrer and Derek Griffin.

Lane Street Project: in memory of Damp Haskins (1851-1915).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Memorials for graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo. Memorials for men and women born in slavery will be identified with a broken chain.

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Damp Haskins died 22 April 1915 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 64 years old; was born in North Carolina to Charles Haskins and a mother whose name was not known; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson by C.H. Darden & Sons. William Haskins was informant.

Happy Juneteenth 2023!

The everyday work of Lane Street Project is honoring and uplifting the memory of our ancestors. In these cemeteries, we come closest to the lives of men and women who greeted freedom in 1865. This Juneteenth we rededicate ourselves to the hard work of reclaiming and protecting their resting places.

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Caroline Simms Bunch (1855-1925)

John H. Clark (1863-1949)

Charles H. Darden (1854-1931)

Benjamin Artis Jr. (1849-ca.1895)

Jane Rountree Mobley (1855-1931)

Dinah Scarborough Darden (1860-1913)

Samuel H. Vick (1863-1946)

Smith Bennett (1852-1920)

Julius Franklin Freeman Sr. (1844-1927)

Ned Winstead (1859-1934)

Benjamin Woodard (1836-1917)

Nelson (1854-1934) and Mary Ann Bullock Armstrong (1860-1924)

Eliza Daniel Freeman (1854-1913)

Phereby Barnes Artis Barnes (1850-??)

Spencer Shaw (1859-1932)

On Father’s Day.

I talked to my father a lot about his early life in Wilson. Even when his memory began to fade, he enjoyed a ride up East Green Street, where he would marvel that so many of the “big dogs”‘ houses were gone, and the tiny cottage on Elba in which he’d been born was still standing. We talked about a lot of things, but I never thought to ask my father what he remembered about what he would have known as Rountree Cemetery. If I could have one more conversation, Rountree wouldn’t be the first topic on my list, but I wish I’d asked when I had the time. He always enthusiastically supported all I did and would have lent his voice to those crying out for justice for the Lane Street Project cemeteries.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out here loving and encouraging and inspiring their children. I surely miss mine.