This house lies a block beyond the border of the East Wilson Historic District on a lot carved from land once owned by Oliver and Willie Mae Hendley Freeman.

Per Wilson city tax records, the house was built about 1925.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Howard T J (c; Lula) lab h 204 Powell

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Powell Street, rented at $12/month, odd jobs laborer Frank Sanders, 53; wife Sallie, 49; son Nathan, 20, odd jobs laborer, and daughter-in-law Nelly, 19.

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Sanders Frank (c; Sallie) lab h 204 Powell; Sanders Nathan (c; Nealy) lab h 204 Powell

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Tillman Deal (c; Julia) porter h 204 Powell

Deal Tilghman died 29 December 1941 at his home at 204 Powell Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 July 1892 in High Point, N.C.; was married to Julia Tilghman; and worked as a laborer. He was buried in Rest Haven cemetery.

On 2 May 1944, Preston and Pauline Ward purchased the house from Alex and Lena McMillan, which was located on lots 5 and 6 of Block A of the Freeman plat map, for $200. See deed book 290, page 237.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Murchison Mack (c) waiter h 204 Powell

Wilson Daily Times, 26 June 1948.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2025.