The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Braswell R. Winstead attended Lincoln University with Samuel H. Vick and returned to Wilson to teach and work under Vick as assistant postmaster. Winstead later worked as a barber and briefly tried his hand at operating a livery stable at 129 South Goldsboro Street, now the site of Gig East.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

Detail from Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C. (1908). John H. Aiken operated a stable at 125; it is not clear how he and Winstead divided the space.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.