Houses

Downtown Wilson aerial, 1925.

The reverse side of this aerial photograph of downtown Wilson reveals that it was taken by the United States Army Air Service, 20th Photo Section. In the bottom left corner of the image there appears to be a date: 8-3-25. Tested against the construction of dates of the former Atlantic Coastal Line passenger station, completed in 1924 and visible here; the Wilson County Courthouse, completed in 1925 and visible here; and the former United States Post Office and former First National Bank building on Nash Street, both completed in 1927 but not even under construction here, 1925 can be confirmed.

In its lower right corner, the photo offers a rare glimpse of Wilson’s primary Black business block at, arguably, its prime in the decade before the Great Depression. 

Identifiable buildings include:

  1. First Missionary Baptist Church
  2. Saint John A.M.E. Zion Church
  3. Calvary Presbyterian Church
  4. Wilson Hospital and Tubercular Home [later Mercy Hospital]
  5. Baxter & Company Grocery
  6. Orange Hotel
  7. Odd Fellows Lodge hall, with Globe Theatre on second floor
  8. Whitley Hotel (earlier known as Union Hotel)
  9. Charles H. Darden house, 111 North Pender
  10. Lee A. Moore house, 106 North Pender
  11. Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church
  12. “old” First Baptist church building
  13. apartment building
  14. C.E. Artis funeral home

921 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-ninth 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. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne Cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing, intact turned-post porch; good example of the type.”

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlanta, rented for $20/month, Jasper Turner, 42, sawmill sawyer; wife Mary, 37; and children Isodel, 17, Ruth, 16, Floyd, 12, and Therman, 10.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlantic, farmer Weslie Swinson, 59; wife Addie, 53, tobacco factory stemmer; and children John H., 35, Contentnea Guano laborer, Willis, 30, “Darden Funeral-tobacco factory,” Iola, 20, tobacco factory stemmer, Odessa, 18, tobacco factory stemmer, and Doris, 15.

In 1940, Willie Lee Swinson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 August 1907 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at 921 Atlantic; his contact was wife Isadell Swinson, 804 East Green Street; and he worked for Boyd Clark at Carolina Warehouse on Tarboro Street. 

In the Hill’s 1941 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Swinson Wesley (c; Addie) h 921 Atlantic av

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Wesley Swinson, 67; wife Addie B., 62; and son Willie, 41, chauffeur for local tobacco buyer.

Wesley Swinson died 3 August 1953 at his home at 921 Atlantic Street. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 November 1883 in Greene County to Aaron Swinson and Sarah Taylor; was married to Addie Swinson; lived at 921 Atlantic; and worked as a laborer. 

Wilson Daily Times, 3 August 1953.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

903 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-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. 1935; 1 story; modernized clipped-gable bungalow.”

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: David Robt G (c; Elizabeth) barber h 903 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: David Robt G (c; Eliz) barber 903 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 903 Atlantic, owned and valued at $500, Fred Pender, 33, furniture store laborer, and wife Ezzie M., 30.

In 1940, Fred Pender registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 June 1905 in Wilson; lived at 903 Atlantic Street; his contact was wife Ezzie Mae Pender; and he worked for R.E. Quinn Company, 137 South Goldsboro Street.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pender Fred (c; Ezzie M) linoleum layer R E Quinn & Co of Wilson h 903 Atlantic av

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ellis Brown Jr., 47; wife Margaret, 45; and son Ellis Jr., 29, history teacher at local city school.

919 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1930; 1 1/2 stories; Donnie Hargrove house; bungalow with clipped-gable roof and matching dormer, engaged porch; partial brick veneer; Hargrove was a barber; builder was brick mason Jeff Russell; contributing garage”

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In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hobbs Hadie (c; Elsie) attndt Smith’s Filling Sta h 919 Atlanta 

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Russell Jefferson E (c; Julia) brklyr h 919 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 919 Atlantic Avenue, owned and valued at $3000, Donna Hargroves, 35, barber shop at pool room; wife Flora, 31; and daughter Geraldine, 15.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hargrove John (c; Flora; 2; Manhattan Billiard Parlor) barber 421 E Nash h 919 Atlantic av

In 1942, John Hargrove registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 20 October 1902 in Wilson; lived at 919 Atlantic Street; his contact was Vina Hargrove, 1110 Carolina Street, Wilson; and was a self-employed barber at 421 East Nash Street.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 919 Atlantic, barber John Hargrove, 45, barber; wife Mae B., 34, beautician; and daughter Dorothy, 20. 

104 North East Street.

The one hundred ninety-sixth 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; 1 story; two-room house with bungalow traits; late example of the type in the district; built as a rental property by black merchant Rufus Hilliard.”

——

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dillard Henry (c; Mary L) lab h 104 (100) N East

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 101 East Street, rented for $10/month, Velma McCormick, 27, tobacco factory hanger.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McCormick Velma (c) maid h 104 N East

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2024.

917 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-fifth 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. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing; remodeled with aluminum siding and metal porch posts.”

——

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Turner Jasper (c; Madie) mill hd h 917 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bynum Dudley (c; Olie) barber h 917 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 917 Atlantic, barber Dudley Bynum, 49, and wife Ola, 45, laundress at Hotel Cherry.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bynum Dudley (c; Oleona) barber Wm Hines h 917 Atlantic

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Oleona R. Bynum, 55; husband Dudley Bynum, 59; and lodger Cora Parker, 51, widow.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 October 1959.

Oleonia Brooks Bynum died 21 October 1959 in Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 June 1893 to Dennis Brooks and Mary Ann Helms; was married to Dudley Bynum; and lived at 917 Atlantic Street, Wilson.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 July 1962.

Dudley Bynum died 19 July 1962 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born August 1889 in Wilson County to Berry Bynum and Loddie [no maiden name]; lived at 917 Atlantic Street; was a widower; was a barber; and was buried in Masonic Cemetery. Lydia B. Knight, 311 Manchester Street, was informant.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 August 1962.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2024.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 14: Camillus L. Darden House.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

DARDEN HOUSE.

1925. Black brickmason John M. Barnes built this Charles Benton-designed house for undertaker Camillus L. Darden and wife Norma. Now home to local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

A legacy repurposed.

Restoration of the platform canopy of Wilson’s historic railway station began in May of this year. The ornamental ridge cap and copper gutters will be faithfully restored, as will the slate roof. These lustrous, deep gray shingles might look familiar to the keenly observant eye — they were sourced from the recently replaced roof of the Samuel H. Vick house!

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

Where we lived: tenant farmhouse.

By mid-twentieth century, as prosperous white farmers moved into town or built modern brick homes on their land, tenant farmers and sharecroppers moved into the wooden dwellings they left behind. By the end of the century, with the disappearance of this way of life, these houses were abandoned, and most have been torn down. 

A chance post on Facebook alerted me to this house off London Church Road. Though now ramshackle, the dwelling and several of its outbuildings still stand. African-American families lived in this house for decades, including that of Sarah Lizzie Woodard Cooper Ward, who was a great-granddaughter of Primitive Baptist preacher London Woodard.

The house, with its broad shed-roof porch.

The rear addition.

The interior — plaster walls with exposed laths.

Outbuildings.

The capped well that supplied water to the farm.

Many thanks to Rodney Richardson for bringing this house to my attention, and Anthony E. Reid Sr. for information on its London Woodard connection.