Photographs

The roots of many Wilson County Artises, no. 6: Richard Artis.

I wrote here of Vicey Artis, a free woman of color, and Solomon Williams, an enslaved man, whose marriage in Greene (or perhaps Wayne) County, North Carolina, produced eleven children. Though only one — the busy Primitive Baptist elder Jonah Williams — actually lived in Wilson, descendants of several others are in Wilson County even today.

Richard Artis was the youngest of Vicey and Solomon’s sons. He married Susannah Yelverton Hall Yelverton, and their children were Lucinda, Emma, Ivory L., Louisa, Richard Jr., Susan A., Jonah, Charity, Cora P., Frances, John Henry, and Walter C. Artis. Richard Artis and his children lived primarily in Wayne and Greene Counties — except Emma Artis Dawson Reid, who lived in the Black Creek area for a few years — but many of their children moved (permanently or temporarily) into Wilson County. These included Susan Artis Cooper’s sons James Elijah Cooper (1907-1995) and John Hardy Cooper (1909-1979); Jonah Artis’ sons Milford Odell Artis (1918-2001) and Jonah Artis Jr. (1927-2015); Cora Artis Exum’s son Herven P. Exum (1921-2013); and Ivory L. Artis’ son Claude Artis (1917-1979).

Photo courtesy of Teresa C. Artis.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 16: Heritage Cemetery.

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.

HERITAGE CEMETERY

Formerly Elm City Colored Cemetery. Founded 1896 by local African-American community, which was denied access to Elm City’s public cemetery. Still active.

——

Read about Elm City Colored Cemetery here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2024.

Lane Street Project: the response to the August 5 request, part 1.

Today I received the City’s response to my August 5 public records request for all documents reflecting any discussion of or action taken concerning Vick Cemetery since 1 September 2023. It contained 270 documents, most of which appear to be multiple duplicates of the same record. As always, I will share with you those records that raised my eyebrow.

Part 1: City Manager Grant Goings’ gratuitous slaps at me, Lane Street Project, and all the volunteers who work so hard to reclaim Odd Fellows Cemetery. “Look! Vick and Rest Haven look better than Odd Fellows!” is a strange flex. My annotations, per usual, in red.

 

 

 

[Let me know if you want “receipts” for my annotations. I’ve got a whole blog-full.]

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”

——

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.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 15: Saint Alphonsus Catholic School.

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.

SAINT ALPHONSUS SCHOOL

Second location of Black Catholic school, 1948-1968, staffed by sisters of Oblate Sisters of Providence. Succeeded by co-op kindergarten Kiddie Kollege of Knowledge.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

Pine Tree.

This marker on N.C. Highway 42 has long mystified me.

PINE TREE. Original center of Gardners township. Established by John Gardner. December 22, 1848.

Hugh B. Johnston Jr. described Pine Tree as the “community around John Gardner’s store about 20 years before and after the Civil War. On the Tarboro Highway about 6 1/2 miles E. of Wilson and 1 1/2 miles W. of Wilbanks.” 

The records of Gardner’s 1857 estate, which was beset with claims and bad accounts receivable, do not note any enslaved property, but in the 1840 census of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, Gardner claimed one male aged 10-24, a female aged 10-24, and a female under age ten. In the 1850 slave schedule of Edgecombe County, John A. Gardner claimed ten enslaved people: women aged 50, 40, and 39; men aged 41, 23, 18, and 18; a boy aged 4; and girls aged 2 and 12. 

Beyond these men and women, Gardner and Pine Tree would have been well known to enslaved people throughout what is now northeastern Wilson County. 

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.

Lane Street Project: “my heart cries for all.”

I went home to celebrate my father with my mother and sister and to learn and share at the African American Cemeteries and Their Communities symposium in Durham. I thought the weekend had already filled me to the brim, but then I stopped by Vick Cemetery on my way to the airport. I placed a new “We remember” placard to signal our care for this space and wandered over to assess the condition of our fence-cum-signboard. It could stand a bit of tidying, and I stooped to look more closely at an unfamiliar ziplock bag affixed to the chain link. Inside, a single sheet of paper, damp and mildew-spotted, with neat, block lettering, faded but mostly legible.

Sunday March 9th 2024

I have never been in Wilson N.C. before but felt compelled to visit since reading about Vicks Cemetery. There is no reason that is acceptable and can explain how grave marking or head stones are removed from a persons final resting place. I do not know anyone from Wilson now or ever so my heart cries for all laid to rest and all the families who no longer know where their loved one lies. The people who make these dreadful decisions should pray that they never feel this anguish of not knowing where their loved ones lie.

We travelled from Greensboro to honor all who lie here in Vicks’ Cemetery and may they rest in peace.  

The note is signed, but I will preserve its author’s privacy. I am sorry that six months passed before I saw her note, and I appreciate the care she took to protect it from the elements just in case. I am most grateful that she was moved to drive hours to visit Vick Cemetery. I hope she reads Black Wide-Awake regularly and will see this belated, but heartfelt, acknowledgment of the honor she paid to the thousands interred here. The violence done to our dead reverberates beyond their descendants. Thank you, M.C.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2024.

Where we worked: Carolina Laundry.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 November 1915.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 April 1919.

Carolina Laundry employed dozens of African-American men and women during its decades of trade at the corner of Tarboro and Kenan Streets.

Ad from Hill’s Wilson, N.C., City Directory (1928).

  • Helen Branch, 1928
  • Mildred Branch, 1928
  • Julia Burden, 1928
  • Arthur Cobb, laundryman, 1928
  • Morton Crawford, 1928, laundryman, 1930
  • David Curry, 1928
  • James Debose, 1928
  • Maggie Dupree, 1928
  • Addie Edwards, 1928
  • John Gilmore, 1928
  • Elizabeth Hamilton, 1928
  • Benjamin Melton, presser, 1928
  • Harriet Myers, 1928
  • John Phillips, 1928
  • Cammie Richardson, 1928
  • William Richardson, helper, 1928
  • Maggy Rountree, 1928
  • George Sutton, 1928
  • Bessie Swift, 1928
  • Flossie Walker, 1928
  • Helen White, 1928
  • Edward Williams, cleaner, 1928

From “Facts about Wilson, North Carolina,” published by Wilson Chamber of Commerce (1934).