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!
Short W. Barnes was a carpenter, not a barber, but at least briefly he invested in a barbershop in downtown Wilson that catered to white customers.
1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.