1920s

The talented and enterprising Calvin S. Edwards.

Per his 1918 World War I draft registration card, Calvin S. Edwards worked as a plumber for J.E. Alphin, a commercial heating and plumbing systems contractor doing business across eastern North Carolina. Around 1921, Edwards branched out on his own, working from a shop at 529 East Nash Street.

Wilson, N.C., city directory (1922).

The 1925 Wilson, N.C., city directory reveals the many pots in which Calvin S. Edwards had a finger, listing him four times:

  • Edward Calvin S (c) plumber 549 E Nash h Carolina nr Reed
  • Edwards Calvin (c) (Carnation Hotel) h 1109 Carolina
  • Carnation Hotel (c; Henry Lassiter, Calvin Edwards) 518 E Nash
  • PLUMBERS-GAS AND STEAM FITTERS Edwards Calvin S (c) 549 E Nash

He had moved his plumbing shop up the block to a storefront in the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall and, with Henry Lassiter, opened the short-lived Carnation Hotel in the building we know better as the Orange Hotel.

The two-story Carnation Hotel was at 518 East Nash in the early 1920s. Detail, 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map.

By 1930, as seen in this Sanborn map,

Throughout the 1930s and early 1940s, Edwards remained engaged in plumbing work, but invested in real estate in east Wilson, including the corner grocery at 1114 Carolina Street.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 February 1945.

Wilson Colored High School awards its first diplomas.

“For the first time in the history of Wilson students of the colored high school will be awarded diplomas ….”

Wilson Daily Times, 23 May 1924.

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Recommended reading, no. 25: Chowan Beach, Remembering an African American Resort.

Founded in 1926 on the eastern bank of the Chowan River, about 100 miles northeast of Wilson, Chowan Beach was a thriving African-American resort for decades, drawing family vacationers and legendary chitlin circuit musicians for decades. In this slim book packed with photographs, Frank Stephenson brings to life a favored vacation spot for generations of Wilsonians.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 July 1940.

 

Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist rents temporary space.

Shortly before Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church built the church that now houses Saint Mark’s Episcopal, they rented the second floor of the Knights of King Solomon building on Stantonsburg Street (now South Pender.) The Knights agreed to provide fuel, light, and janitorial service to the church.

Deed Book 147, page 193, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

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  • J.S. Spell of Wilson, N.C. — John S. Spell.
  • S. Carraway of Kinston, N.C. — Stephen Carraway Sr. (1864-1949) was grocery merchant in Kinston.
  • W.M. Mitchell of Rocky Mount, N.C. — William M. Mitchell (1874-1931) was a Atlantic Coast Line Railway fireman in Rocky Mount.
  • Ed Holden
  • Chas. Woodard
  • Lloyd Thomas

 

Walter had Pete by the collar and had a gun in his hand.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 May 1923.

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  • Walter Bethea

In the 1910 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Raddie D. Betha, 40; wife Mary A., 38; and children Samuel D., 19, Mary C., 18, Herbert, 14, Walter H., 11, Lilly V., 6, James E., 4, and Clifton L., 2 months.

On 9 March 1919, Walter Bethea, 18, of Crossroads township, son of R.D. and Mary Bethea, married Mattie Westley, 16, of Crossroads township, daughter of John Anne Westley, in Wilson County. Herbert Bethea applied for the license, and A.M.E. minister J.F. McNair performed the ceremony at the A.M.E. church in Lucama in the presence of R.D. Bethea, Will Hines, and James Bunn.

In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Walter Bailey, 19, and wife Mattie W., 17.

In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Raddie Bethea, 50; wife Mary R., 45; and children Lillie, 15, James A., 11, Clifton, 9, Vastrie, 6, and Herbert, 22.

Walter Bethea died 29 July 1929 in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 26 years old; was born in Dillon, S.C., to R.D. Bethea and Mary C. Wright; was married; lived at 333 Matthew; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson County.

  • Pete Fields

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 60; wife Julia, 53; daughters Chrischanie, 25, Amanda, 15, and Lutory, 10; grandson Peter, 10; and granddaughters Julia, 5, and Lillie, 7 months.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 68; wife Julia, 70; grandson Peter J., 18; and granddaughters Julia A., 14, and Mary Lilly, 9.

On 1 February 1914, Pete Fields, 22, of Crossroads township, married Verrona Mayo, 18, of Crossroads township, in Lucama, Wilson County.

Peter Fields died 5 May 1923, Cross Roads township, Wilson County; single; about 33 years old; worked as a tenant farmer for W.J. Scott; born Wilson County to Daniel Hodge and Chritchania Allen; buried in Lamm Cemetery. “Murdered by Walter Bethea. Death was instantly.”

  • James Stevenson
  • Queen Ella Mae McDonald
  • Eddie Mitchell

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farm laborer Laurence Michel, 29; wife Easter, 24; and children Alonza, 8, Nettie, 6, Eddie, 4, and Babe, 1.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Lawrence Mitchell, 40; wife Easter, 36; and children Alonzo, 19, Nellie, 17, Eddie, 13, Jesse, 11, Bettie, 7, Coy S., 5, Mattie, 3, and an infant, 11 months.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Henry Street, Eddie Mitchell, 43, chips blocks at Wilson Veneer; wife Pattie, 33, hangs tobacco at redrying plant; and children Willie, 16, fills order at woodyard, and Lawrence, 14.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 Henry Street, Eddie Mitchell, 58; wife Pattie, 48; and son Lawrence, 22, tobacco factory laborer.

  • Lester Harris
  • Ed Lewis
  • John Richardson

Probably, in the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John E. Richardson, 26; wife Jessie, 19; and son-in-law [brother-in-law?] Johnnie Hines, 17.

John Eli Richardson died 19 November 1933 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 June 1893 in Wayne County, N.C., to John M. Richardson and Susan Bunn; was married to Vonia Richardson; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson County.