1950s

Darden grid stars!

Wilson Daily Times, 20 September 1950.

  • William White — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 614 Green Street, George C. White, 41, hotel cook; wife Jane, 38, hotel laundress; and children Hampton, 3, William, 6, Margurite, 14, and Lucile, 4. In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: William H. White, 15, and brother Hampton, 13.

The Trojan (1952), yearbook of C.H. Darden High School.

  • Cornelius Moye — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Anderson McCall, 30, mortar mixer; wife Annie L., 26, cook; and sons Feral McCall, 6; Fred Moye, 8, Cornelius Moye, 7, and William A. Moye, 5.
  • Eddie Best — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 406 Walnut, rented for $12/month, Aaron Best, 39; wife Estelle, 39; and children Rudolph, 14, Royce, 10, Harper and Gerald, 8, Eddie, 7, and Nannie Jean, 5.
  • Albert Cannady — in the 1940 census of Sand Hill township, Moore County, North Carolina: public laborer Albert Cannady, 35; wife Sylvan, 30; and children Lunia, 12, Harold, 9, Albert Jr., Graddick, 4, and Betty Jean, 3 months. In the 1950 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Lipscomb Road, Albert M. Cannady, 45, chief cook at state hospital; wife Sylvan, 43; children Albert M., Jr., 16, grocery delivery boy, Graddick, 14, and Betty J., 10; and granddaughter Amanda Farmer, 3.

The Trojan (1952), yearbook of C.H. Darden High School.

Elm City woman kidnapped from the West Indies.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 September 1937.

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 On 14 July 1895, Robert Taylor, 19, married Lenora Madison, 17, at Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farm laborer Robert Taylor, 25; wife Lenore, 20; and son Arthur, 2. All were reported as born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Rock Quire [Quarry] Road, Rob Taylor, 36; wife Lenore, 29; children Arthur, 11, Willie, 7, Lonie, 5, Mavin, 3, and Kelley, 1; and nephew Freddie, 13.

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Wilbanks Road, farmer Robert Taylor, 46; wife Lena, 39; and children Lonnie, 17, Marvin, 13, Kelley, 11, Robert, 8, Madie, 6, and Clarence, 11 months.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Robert Taylor, 55; wife Lenora, 48; children Robert, 19, Mattie, 17, Clarence, 12, and Clifton, 10; and adopted children Jessie, 11, and Marie, 6. Lenora’s birthplace was given as Tennessee.

Robert Taylor died 19 June 1934 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1911 in Wilson County to Robert Taylor of Wilson County and Lenora Taylor, birthplace unknown; was married; and worked as a tenant farmer.

In 1940 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Robert Taylor, 55; wife Lenora, 50; sons Clarence, 20, and Clifton, 19; and granddaughter Mary Lee, 4.

In 1940, Clarance Taylor registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 21 May 1921 in Wilson; lived Route 2, Elm City, Wilson County, N.C.; his contact was mother Lenora Taylor; and he worked for L.C. Cobb, Elm City, Raleigh.

Robert Taylor died 29 December 1942 near Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1880 in Wilson County to Rachel Mercer of Edgecombe County; was married to Lenora Taylor; and worked as a farmer. He was buried in Elm City Cemetery.

In 1942, Clifton Taylor registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 17 May 1920 in Wilson; lived near Raleigh, Wake County, N.C.; his contact was Lenora Taylor; worked as an assistant cook at River View Cafe, Raleigh.

Nashville Graphic, 23 September 1954.

Rocky Mount Telegram, 12 October 1954.

Lenora Taylor died 23 August 1959 in a car accident near Elm City, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 May 1887 in the West Indies to Laura Phshee; was a widow; lived near Elm City; and was buried in Elm City Cemetery. Willie Taylor, Richmond, Virginia, was informant.

The shoe shine contest.

This photograph posted yesterday to the Instagram account @blackarchives.co, and my inbox blew up. Here’s the back story.

Back in September 2013, a couple of years before Black Wide-Awake launched, Will Robinson posted this to Wilson County Public Library’s local history and genealogy blog:

I jumped on it:

Suddenly:

… which led to an email exchange:

… which led to Will Robinson finding this 23 February 1952 Daily Times article about the event, which took place at Reid Street Community Center:

… which led to this September 2014 WUNC article that includes a dozen contest photos and short video featuring contest winner Curtis Phillips (and my cousin Otis Sherrod talking about his brother Earnest Sherrod, who’s the boy at far left.) 

Wilson County Public Library later exhibited the prints Linda Zimmerman donated, and she graciously extended me the opportunity to purchase a print of the photo @blackarchives.co posted yesterday. Almost exactly ten years after I first saw John Zimmerman’s work, I’m delighted to these priceless images find a wider audience. 

A first look at the Reid Street pool.

Every once in a while, we step outside Black Wide-Awake‘s period of focus to highlight an especially interesting document.

Reid Street Community Center opened in 1939 as, of course, a segregated facility. Long-time plans to build a state-of-the-art “community center building for the whites” (as it was called in a 11 August 1954 Daily Times editorial, and thus the moniker “White Rec,” as it was known for decades and maybe still is) screeched to a halt in early 1954 after the United States Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that “separate but equal” standards of racial segregation were unconstitutional.

Opined the Daily Times editorialist:

The exhortations worked, and voters (who were largely white) elected to fund both community centers. Architectural sketches of the proposed new (or renewed) buildings dropped in March 1955, and here’s the proposed updated facility at Reid Street with its big new pool.

A few features were pared away before final construction, but anyone, like me, who learned to swim at Reid Street as late as the 1980s will immediately recognize the high and low diving boards and the lifeguard’s chair. The overhang shown shading the exit from the locker rooms, where you turned in your wire clothes basket and received an enormous numbered safety pin, didn’t make the final cut. Nor did the tennis courts, the large wading pool, or the landscaping.

Courtesy of Google Maps, here’s an aerial rear view of Reid Street Community Center shot when the pool was closed during the pandemic. It’s looking a little worse for the 68 years of wear since 1955, and the $1.9 million overhaul recently announced is long overdue.

The obituary of Edgar Mitchell.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 May 1950. 

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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Tillman’s Road, Allen Mitchell, 54; wife Eliza, 44; and children Frank, 20, James, 16, Junius, 13, Allen, 11, Floyd, 9, Earnest, 7, Pearlie, 5, Edgar, 3, and Madie, 2.

On 25 December 1925, Edgar Mitchell, 22, of Greene County, son of Allen and Eliza Mitchell, married Gertrude Joyner, 19, of Greene County, daughter of Walter and Clora Joyner, in Speights Bridge township, Greene County, North Carolina.

In the 1930 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: farmer Edgar L. Mitchell, 26; wife Gertrude, 25; and son Edgar, 3; boarders Thomas Wood, 23, and Edward McKinley, 21; and Ethel Pope, 20.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on New Bern Street, fertilizer plant laborer Edgar Mitchell, 31; wife Gertrude, 27, tobacco factory laborer; and son Edgar L., 13.

In 1940, Edgar Mitchell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 October 1906 in Wilson; lived on Hadley Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Gertrude Joyner Mitchell; and he worked for Contentnea Fertilizer Company.

Edgar Mitchell died 24 May 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 September 1905 in Wilson County to Allen Mitchell and Eliza Williams; was married; lived at 1009 Stantonsburg Street; worked as an oil mill laborer; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. Pearl Barnes, 1013 Woodard Avenue, was informant.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 May 1950.

The obituary of Ella Ward.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 June 1950.

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In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Abraham Bynum, 47, a widower, and children Annie, 19, Addie, 18, Walter, 16, Oscar, 15, John, 12, Willie, 11, Hattie, 9, Ella, 7, Arthur, 1, and Harley, 5.

On 15 November 1913, Albert Ward, 26, of Saratoga, married Ella Bynum, 20, of Saratoga, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: cropper Albert Ward, 30; wife Ella, 25, and children Willie, 4, and Robert, 11 months.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Albert Ward, 48, hired laborer in ditching; wife Ella, 42; son Robert Lee, 21, saw mill worker; and daughter Naomi, 19.

In 1940, Robert Lee Ward registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 7 January 1919 in Greene County, N.C.; lived in Saratoga, Wilson County; his contact was mother Ella Ward; and he worked for M.A. Tyson, Stantonsburg.

Ella Ward died 1 June 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 November 1893 in Wilson County to Abraham Bynum and Jane Atkinson; was a widow; lived near Saratoga, Wilson County; and had worked in farming. Columbus Ward was informant.

Naomi Artis died 3 November 1963 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 9 May 1920 in Wilson County to Albert Ward and Ella Bynum; was married Frank Artis Jr.; and was a laborer. Martha Kay Artis was informant.

Columbus Ward died 2 April 1964 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 October 1916 in Wilson County to Albert Ward and Ella Bynum; was married to Helen Marie Ward; lived at 809 Mercer Street; and worked as a laborer.

Robert Lee Ward died 31 January 1971 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 February 1919 to Albert Ward and Ella Bynum; was married to Florine Artis; lived in Stantonsburg; and worked as a farm and sawmill laborer.

The obituary of Turner Stokes, carpenter.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 June 1950.

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In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County: farmer Simon Morgan, 62; wife Moriah, 41; and children Glindora, 14, Charles, 9, Turner, 8, Isadora, 7, and David, 5. [Mariah’s maiden name was Stokes, and at least two of her children with Simon Morgan — Turner and John — used her name as adults.]

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Stokes Turner (c) lab h 535 E Nash

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Nash Street, carpenter Turner Stokes, 41, and wife Nellie, 45, restaurant cook.

On 26 November 1916, Turner Stokes, 46, of Wilson, son of Simon and Mariah Stokes, married Nora Peacock, 35, daughter of Martha Haskins, at Mrs. Peacock’s. Missionary Baptist minister N.H. Arrington performed the ceremony in the presence of Johnny Bess, 

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 535 Nash Street, Turner Stokes, 50, carpenter; wife Morah, 39; mother-in-law Martha Pitt, 83; and boarders Isac Shade, 44, drugstore manager; wife Estella, 38; and children Kenneth, 13, and Sarah, 9. 

Nora Stokes died 26 December 1927 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 16 May 1882 in Wilson County to Martha Ann Haskins; was married to Turner Stokes; and lived at 530 East Nash.

On 3 June 1928, Turner Stokes, 57, of Wilson, son of Simon and Mariah Stokes, married Mattie Hinnant, 40, daughter of John and Margaret Renfrow, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Charles T. Jones performed the ceremony in the presence of W.L. Jones, Martha Jones, and Alice Swinson.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 530 East Nash Street, Turner Stokes, 60, building carpenter; wife Mattie, 38, laundress; and roomers Mary Barnes, 16, and Lillian Dedman, 17.

On 3 October 1937, Turner Stokes, 65, married Maggie Parker, 60, in Wilson County.

In the 1941 Wilson, N.C, city directory: Stokes Turner (c; Maggie) carpenter h 104 Ashe.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 104 Ash Street, Maggie Stokes, 60; husband Turner, 82; daughter Jennie Curbo, 32, city elementary school teacher; grandsons Carlisle, 15, and James Parker, 9; and lodger Audrey A. Ellis, 5.

Turner Stokes died 29 June 1950 at his home at 104 Ash Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1868 in Nash County, N.C., to Simon Stokes and Mariah [maiden name unknown]; was married; worked as a carpenter; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Jennie Kerbo was informant. [Stokes may have been buried in Rountree Missionary Baptist’s cemetery proper, or may have been buried in nearby Vick Cemetery, which was colloquially referred to as Rountree.]