Houses

1306 East Nash Street.

The two hundred-eleventh in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located at Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Clarence Best house; L-plan cottage with intact turned-post porch and balustrade; Best was a marble worker and operated monument works.”

The house apparently was unnumbered until the 1930s, when it was assigned 1302, then, around 1942, 1306.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on East Nash Street, marble works polisher Clearance Best, 37, wife Geneva, 37, and son Clearance, 11.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: marble dresser Clarence Best, 46, wife Geneva, 46, and son Clarence H. Best, 21, tobacco stemmer, plus nephew Frank Brake, 14.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Best Clarence B (c; Geneva) hlpr Wilson Marble & Granite Co h 1302 E Nash

In 1943, Clarence Herman Best registered for the World War II draft. He reported his home address as 1306 East Nash Street, Wilson; his date of birth as 3 October 1918; and his closest relative as Clarence Benjamin Best, his father. His employer was Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 November 1946.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 August 1947.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Best Clarence B (c; Eva; East Nash Street Monument Co) h 1302 E Nash

Wilson Daily Times, 5 April 1948.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 September 1949.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1306 East Nash, monument plant proprietor Clarence Best, 56; wife Geneva, 56; and lodger George Williams, 38, hotel bellhop.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 November 1980.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson.

611 and 613 East Nash Street.

The two hundred-tenth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

In the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, described 611 and 613 East Nash as: “ca. 1908; shotgun with double-pile main block and kitchen wing.” They were built as rental housing, and occupants changed regularly. Both houses, and a third shotgun at 615, have been demolished.

Until about 1921, the houses were numbered 612 and 614. In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 612, Amos Johnson, 26, wagon factory laborer; wife Alice, 24; and daughter Elnora, 4.

The 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson shows houses crowding the north side of the 600 block of East Nash Street. All are gone.

In Hill’s 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

In Hill’s 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

Wilson Daily Times, 23 August 1939.

Approximate location of 611 and 613 East Nash Street today, via Google Maps.

N.87-12-919-921, E. Nash, N. Side, 400 Block, 601-619 E. Nash Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh.

1100 East Nash Street, revisited.

Known as the Sallie Barbour house, 1100 East Nash Street was demolished in the early 2000s.

Houses, 700-1497 E. Nash Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh.

600 East Green Street, re-re-re-visited.

I’m not still not clear about the first owner of the lot at 600 [originally 601] East Green Street. However, the house mouldering there now is not the original.

Here is that house:

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory shows:

So we know the Reids owned and built on the lot prior to 1908. The 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map shows this two-story house at 601 East Green:

But here is the house in the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map. It has two stories, but does not resemble the one above. (However, it does match the house now onsite.)

What happened between 1913 and 1922?

1001 Washington Street.

The two hundred-eighth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1930; 2 stories; gable-end apartment house with engaged porch; built by Barney Reid particularly to house teachers.”

However, in 1928, Bessie Wingate Matthews and her children lived in the house:

Wilson, N.C., city directory (1928).

And on 22 July 1930, the Daily Times listed Eddie Wingate as delinquent for 1929 property taxes on the house:

In the 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Matthews Bessie (c) lndrs 1001 Washington

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1001 Washington, widow Bessie Matthews, 38, laundress; daughter Lula McNair, 23, and grandson Alton McNair, 7; daughter Edith Brooks, 18, and grandchildren Lucile, 9, Johnny, 5, and James Brooks, 2; and lodgers James, 26, oil mill laborer, and Harvey Craddle, 32, tobacco factory packer; James Floyd, 19, building painter; Walter Thomas, 32, barber; Essie Brooks, 29, tobacco factory stemmer; and Eddie McNair, 25, tobacco factory packer.

In the 1947 Wilson, N.C., city directory: James Herman (c; Mildred K) lab Hackney Wagon h 1001 Washington

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1001 Washington, downstairs, Herman James, 43, shop foreman at body company; wife Mildred, 41; children Willie, 20, Herman Jr., 19, Delores, 16, Alma, 12, Hilton, 11, Waddell, 10, Clyde, 8, and Mildred, infant; and mother Lucy Knight, 69, widow; and upstairs, Tom Speight, 37, making tobacco barrels, and wife Emma, 26, cook.

In 1968, N.E. Darden applied for permits to make repairs to 1001 Washington and 300 North Vick (Barney Reid’s former home).

Wilson Daily Times, 27 September 1968.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 1981.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2026.

621 East Green Street.

The two hundred-seventh in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

In the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, described as: “ca. 1913. 1 story. Frederick Davis house; double-pile, hip-roofed cottage with decorative millwork in porch gables; asphalt-sided; Davis was a minister with the Jackson Chapel Baptist Church. [Demolished 2/95.]”

On 1 August 1893, for $100, Samuel and Annie Vick sold F.M. Davis a lot next to Charles Thomas. The deed was registered 28 March 1896 in Deed Book 41, page 433.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 33, paper hanger; wife Diannon, 31; children Eva M., 6, Bertha E., 5, and Fred M., 17 months; plus mother Judith Davis, 50, laundress.

In the 1908 Wilson, N.C., city directory — Davis Frederick M, h 618 e Green

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 42, Baptist church minister; wife Dianah, 42; children Eva M., 16, Bertha, 15, Fred, 11, Ruth, 13, Addie L., 8, and William B., 5; and mother Jud., 60.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 50, church preacher; [second] wife Minnie, 39; children Fred Jr., 20, Berthia, 22, school teacher; Addie, 18, and William B., 16; and mother Judie, 76.

Wilson, N.C., city directory (1928).

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 621 East Green, owned and valued at $11,000, Baptist minister Fred M. Davis, 60; wife Minie, 49; daughter Addie Butterfield, 25, public school teacher; and son-in-law George Butterfield, 27, dentist.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 621 East Green Street, Rev. Fred M. Davis, 73, minister; wife Minnie J., 59; [son-in-law] Dr. G.K. Butterfield, 35, dentist; [daughter] Addie L. Butterfield, 34; son William B. Davis, 32, high school teacher; daughter-in-law Hazel M. Davis, 30, teacher; grandson William B. Davis, 4 months; and son Fred M. Davis, 40, home interior decorator.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 February 1942.

Fred M. Davis Jr. died 7 February 1949 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate he was born 15 October 1900 in Wilson to Fred M. Davis Sr. and Diana Dunston; was single; lived at 621 East Green Street; worked as an interior decorator/wallpaper hanger; was a veteran; and was buried in Rest haven Cemetery.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 82; wife Minnie J., 69; son W.N.B., 40 “school teacher, principal city high school”; wife Hazel M., 35 “school teacher (junior hi), county school”; and grandchildren W.M.B., Jr, 10, Dianna M., 8, and Gloria J., 4.

N.87-12-338-341, Reverend Frederick Davis House, 621 East Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

The Sanchas-Bowden family fights to save their house.

On 22 September 1924, John Sanchas, his wife Mary Adams Bowden Sanchas, and her sons Timothy and Willie Bowden mortgaged their house on Finch Street to secure payment of a $150 loan from William Adams. The Sanchas-Bowden family paid off the loan, the mortgage deed was void. If they defaulted, the house would be sold at public auction.

The Sanchas-Bowden house at 210 Finch Street, as shown in the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson.

A note stamped across the document noted that the mortgage and note had been satisfied as of November 1925.

Deed book 155, page 24, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

In March 1928, John and Mary Sanchas took out another mortgage on their house. This time, however, they defaulted, and trustee D.S. Boykin advertised a public sale in March 1931. However, as late as 1937, Sanchas appears in published tax lists as owner of a lot on Finch Street.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 March 1931.

310 North Reid Street, revisited.

310 North Reid Street has seen decline since I photographed it in 2019. 

On a recent visit to the block, I paid closer attention to the squat pillars flanking the front walk. The stone masonry features prominently raised beaded mortar pointing.

And then I noticed this concrete bench with tiny tile insets.

Was this Nestus Freeman‘s work?

623 East Green Street, revisited.

On 26 March 1898, for $100, Samuel and Annie Vick sold Samuel Gay a lot on Green Street adjoining the lands of Fred M. Davis and Samuel Vick. The deed was registered 11 August 1898 in Deed Book 50, page 73. This is the lot at what is now 623 East Green Street. Samuel Gay built a one-story house here that his son Albert Gay Sr. expanded to two stories. Another son, Charles Gay, built a house next door at 625 East Green.

When photographed for the East Wilson Historic District application, 623 East Green Street was still occupied by descendants of the Gay family, and its exterior appeared to be in fine condition.

Forty years later, the house is still in good condition and retains most of its most charming decorative features, such as the double porch pillars and curved brackets under the deep second-floor eaves. The sidelights framing the front door have been painted over and, unfortunately, the decorative ridge cresting disappeared when the shingle roof was replaced with a standing-seam metal roof. The portico has also been removed.

Albert Gay House, 623 East Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office; bottom photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2026.

D.C. Suggs’ building permits.

Daniel C. Suggs filed for several building permits in Greensboro, North Carolina, in August 1915:

Greensboro Record, 9 August 1915.

Greensboro Record, 17 August 1915.

Greensboro Record, 1 September 1915.

Suggs’ projects included:

  • a one-story store on East Market Street for $1000
  • a one-story house on Macon Street for $1000
  • a one-story house on Gaston Street for $400