Photographs

604 East Green Street.

The two hundred-second 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; 2 stories; Dr. William Michner [sic] house; L-plan Queen Anne structure with cutaway front-facing bay; Michner was a physician.”

Prior to Dr. William A. Mitchner’s purchase of this house, it was numbered 605. Primitive Baptist elder Jonah Williams likely built the house around 1910. His daughter, teacher Clarissa Williams, inherited it and lived there with her niece’s family.

Earnestine Ford died 10 November 1916 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was five months old; was born in Wilson to Curtis Ford of Dillon County, S.C., and Mamie Battle of Wayne County, N.C. Curtis Ford, 605 East Green Street, was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Clarcy Williams, 50; roomer Curtis Ford, 37, house carpenter; [niece] Mamie Ford, 24, and her children Lear L., 4, and Quincey B., 2.

Williams died in October 1921. Her estate consisted of a house and lot (at 605 East Green Street) worth about $3000 and an estimated $100 in personal property. Her heirs at law were her nieces and nephews Mamie Ford, Fanny Battle, Clinton Battle, and Glynn Battle.

In the 1925 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

In the 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 East Green, physician William Mincher [sic], 55, divorced; mother Lucy, 65, widow; and nephew Hubert, 30, tobacco factory laborer.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 East Green Street, Dr. W.A. Mitchner, 53, born Johnston County; wife Marie, 40, born Wake County; and mother Lucy Mitchner, 80, born in Johnston County.

Dr. Mitchner died in 1941, and his mother in 1946.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 November 1941.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 April 1946.

Marie Mitchner began to take lodgers into the large home, including members of her family.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 East Green, widow Marie R. Mitchner, 49, and lodgers Doris Raynor, 36, city social worker, and Mary A. Huggins, 24, elementary teacher in city schools.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 January 1956.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 April 1962.

Marie Mitchner died 30 April 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 December 1899 in Henry Person and Dora Radley; was a widow; lived at 604 East Green Street; and was a retired teacher.

604 East Green Street was converted into apartments after Mitchner’s death, and tenants cycled in and out well into the 1990s. In January 2003, Wilson City Council accepted donation of the property by its owner, Jean Tedder. It was later demolished.

N.87-12-274-278 [N.80.11.904], Dr. William Michner House, 604 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

Private Arthur Braswell, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

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In the 1930 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: George Braswell, 41; wife Lizzie, 35; and children Cornelius, 15, James, 13, Eloise, 10, Arthur, 8, Rena, 5, Ollin, 3, and Walter, 1.

In the 1940 census of Olds township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer George Braswell, 54; wife Lizzie, 42; children James, 23, Luther [sic], 18, Reaner, 16, Arland, 13, Walter, 12, Everlina, 8, and Julious, 4; and lodger Richard Sutton, 43. The family reported having lived in Wilson County in 1935.

In 1942, Arthur Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 21 October 1921 in Wilson County; lived at Route 3, Wilson; his contact was Dick Suggs; and he worked for Dick Suggs.

On 7 February 1952, Arthur Braswell, 29, of Sims, son of Lizzie Braswell, married Viola Ward, 19, of Sims, daughter of Moses and Rosetta Bynum Ward, in Wilson. 

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

603 East Green Street, updated.

We saw 603 East Green Street here and here.

Below are photos of the Washington Wilkins house taken circa the mid-1980s for the East Wilson Historic District nomination report.

603 East Green today.

N.87-12-360-362, Washington Wilkins House, 603 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office; photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2026.

601 East Green Street, part 2.

601 East Green is described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1950; 1 1/2 stories; stone-veneered cottage with Neo-Colonial motifs.”

This house, built for physician William C. Hines and his family in the late 1940s, was a latecomer to the 600 block of East Green. It was demolished more than 20 years ago.

601 East Green, today.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 June 1951.

Contact sheet frames from N.87-12-363-375, Dr. William Hines House, 601 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office; photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

The Fourth.

My conventional, performative patriotism probably hit peak when I was 12. I spent the Bicentennial summer in western Massachusetts, and who celebrated 1976 more fervently than small-town New England? Consensus builder Gerald Ford was president, the Reflecting Pool sparkled, and the U.S. was not (anymore) bombing anybody. Though I was called “ni**er” for the first time in my life that summer, the world — my world — seemed simpler, and I could uncritically, unselfconsciously, wave a tiny stars-and-stripes.

These days, I’m more likely to observe Independence Day with a rereading of Frederick Douglass’ astonishing, searing, stirring “What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July?” and a reflection on all that my people have done, in spite of, to make this country worth shooting fireworks over. Black Americans have believed in America, in American ideas and ideals, with an incandescent intensity. And yet here we are at the Semiquincentennial, ‘buked and scorned high and low.

I’ll take some time today to remember the ancestors, to vibe to our world-spanning culture, to acknowledge this country’s jaw-dropping natural beauty, and to demand better.

“For this is your home, my friend, do not be driven from it; great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become.” James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

Marchers in Alabama cross the horizon on the march from Selma to Montgomery on 21 March 1965. Matt Herron, photographer.

Happy birthday, America. Happy birthday.

A belated birthday visit with Mrs. Bell.

I sent Inez Dickerson Bell a card for her 101st birthday last month, but decided to pop in to see her, too. She was enjoying a little quiet time in her room, but was happy to see me, and we spent a pleasant half-hour or so chatting about the old neighborhood. She marveled at her great age (“That’s a lot of birthdays! I must have done something right”); spoke fondly of my parents (“Beverly is so pretty. And so sweet. She looks good, and she acts like she feels good.” “Rederick! We miss him! He wouldn’t ask for nothing, and next thing you know that garbage can is in the back. Who did it? Rederick! He was doing something good all the time. I’m a witness to that!”); praised me and my sister for our good comportment; reminisced about the Belette Women’s Club; shared tips (“The Bible says ‘do unto others!'”); and philosophied (“I’ve had a good life if I go ‘way from here tomorrow.”) Finally, as I stood to leave, she motioned to her side table: “Take one of these. Enjoy it! ‘Cause I’m gon enjoy mine!” 

As always, thank you so much, Mrs. Bell! See you next time!

Cockrell’s Grocery/Mary Chapel Church.

I visited the State Archives in Raleigh for the first time in a couple of years yesterday. The front desk person asked if I’d been before, and I thought back over the past 41 years and smiled — “yeah, about a million times.” 

I’ve been wanting to examine the photographs taken for the Historic Register nomination report for East Wilson, so I headed over to the State Historic Preservation Office while Archives staff pulled my records requests. A handful of photos were appended to the nomination document, and I knew there were more images available, but not hundreds more! A big shout-out to Renee Gledkill-Earley and Chandrea Burch for going out of their way to accommodate my drop-in visit. Next time, I’ll know to request files in advance. 

Most of the copies I made yesterday will be posted as follow-up to the house or business histories I’ve featured since the blog began, but some will warrant brand-new entries. I grew up seeing these buildings, but not paying any particular attention to them, and so many disappeared in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

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I’ve posted about Cockrell’s Grocery at the corner of East Green and Pettigrew several times. The building has housed churches for the past 40+ years, and its exterior is now heavily modified. These photos, however, show it when its original windows and recessed double doors were still exposed.

402 East Green Street.

N.87-12-250-252, 402 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

Lane Street Project: the monuments.

When I come home, my first stop is always my father’s grave and then around the corner to Odd Fellows and Vick Cemeteries. 

Today, there was something I had to see for myself.

This really is a handsome marker. Deeply incised. Solid. Substantial. 

One of the corner markers. Its careful placement, guided by archaeologists, starkly contrasts to the violence that attended the installation of the wooden power pole and the five guy wires that tether it and the adjacent steel pole. I recognize and appreciate the shifts in perspective and commitment among city leadership that brought us to this place. 

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2026.

Corporal Paul G. Arrington, stationed in Sicily.

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Paul Garfield Arrington registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 18 July 1920 in Sanford, Lee County, N.C.; lived at Route 2, Elm City; his contact was Ann Farmer; and he worked for B.H. High.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.