Skilled Trades

A&T alumni form electrical service company.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 13 August 1938.

Though Arnold Walker and Carl Hines were full-time high school teachers, and V.A. Burgess appears to have left Wilson before 1940, Walker Electric was in business at least eleven years.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 April 1946.

Wilson Daily Times, 8 October 1948.

In March 1949, Walker Electric filed letters of incorporation with the State of North Carolina. A.G. Walker, his wife Doris Vick Walker, and Sallie Steverson were stockholders.

Wilson Daily Times, 17 March 1949.

On 21 May 1949, the Journal and Guide ran another feature on the company in which we learn that Walker employed nine salesmen and electricians and had two trucks covering service routes.

Several months later, the company auctioned off a Westinghouse refrigerator in order to satisfy a laborer’s lien, i.e. a claim against the company’s property for unpaid wages.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 August 1949.

——

  • A.G. Walker — Arnold G. Walker. In 1940, Arnold George Walker registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 February 1907 in Columbus, Georgia; lived at 622 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Della Walker, Talledega, Alabama; and he was employed by the City Board of Education in Wilson.
  • Doris Vick Walker
  • Carl Hines
  • V.A. Burgess

A tribute to Henrietta Foster Mebane.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 1 July 1950.

Add the highly-accomplished Henrietta Foster Mebane to the top of the list of early twentieth-century Black registered nurses in Wilson.

——

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Walter Foster, 34, fireman at wagon factory; wife Nettie, 39; and children Henry E., 8, and Walter A., 5; plus boarder Arthur Broady, 22, laborer.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 707 Vance Street, Walter Foster, 46, fireman at wagon company; wife Rosa, 34; children Heneretta, 18, Carl, 6, and Naomi, 4; and sister-in-law Etta Parker, 32, a school teacher.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 308 North Hadley Street, Mary Shaw, 49, servant; adopted daughter Grace V. Shaw, 4; and lodger Henretta Foster, 28, trained nurse at hospital.

Walter Mebane was born and died 6 August 1931 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was the son of John A. Mebane of Rocky Mount and Henrietta Foster of Wilson and was buried in Nash County, N.C.

In the 1940 census of Tarboro, Edgecombe County, N.C.: church minister John A. Mebane, 54; wife Henrietta, 38, registered nurse; and children William A., 6, and Florence, 5.

Grace Mebane died 7 February 1940 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 April 1926 in Petersburg, Virginia, to John Mebane of Bertie County, N.C., and Henrietta Foster of Wilson County, and was buried in Wilson [probably in her grandparents’ plot in Odd Fellows Cemetery.]

In the 1950 census of Tarboro, Edgecombe County, N.C.: painter John A. Mebane, 64; wife Heneretta A., 48; public health nurse; and daughter Florence Y., 14.

Henrietta Alline Foster Mebane died 2 June 1950 at her home at 504 Bradley Avenue, Tarboro. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 August 1901 to Walter Foster and Nettie Young; was married to John A. Mebane; worked as a nurse; and was buried in Roundtree Cemetery “near Wilson, N.C.” [Henrietta Mebane’s grave likely lay near those of her parents near the old gates into Rountree. Her remains were later removed to Rest Haven Cemetery, where she was reinterred alongside her husband.]

Henrietta Alline Foster Mebane (1901-1950).

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user mebane714.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 34: Isaac J. Young’s blacksmith shop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Young Isaac J blacksmith 213 S Goldsboro h 427 Banks

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 315 Spring Street, horseshoer Isaac J. Young, 46; wife Laura, 27; children Cornelius, 12, and Robert, 9; and laborer Henry May, 5 [sic].

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Young Isaac J blksmith 213 S Goldsboro h 427 Banks

Also, in the 1912 directory:

Isic J. Young died 15 March 1913 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 May 1864 to Grandison Young and Nancy Cooper; was married; lived at 427 Banks; worked as a horseshoer; and was buried in Oxford, North Carolina. Laura Young was informant.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 33: Moses Parker, wood dealer.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Moses Parker was a carpenter and wood dealer whose woodyard today would lie under home plate of the Wilson Warbirds baseball stadium, seen under construction above.

Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory (1916).

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

Historic Black Business Series, no. 30: C.M. Wells’ blacksmith shop.

The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.

Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!

Charles Malachi “Mack” Wells‘ blacksmith shop stood on South Tarboro Street near the intersection of Kenan Street. Wells’ broad skill set went beyond blacksmithing to carpentry, wheelwright work, and, late in life, gunsmithing.

In February 1894, Wilson County reimbursed C.M. Wells $2.75 for repair work on a cart.

Wilson Mirror, 26 December 1894.

In September 1896, a man broke into “Mack” Wells’ “tool-chest” and stole some of his tools.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: wheelwright Mack Wells, 40; wife Cherry, 38; and children Bertha, 11, Willie, 9, Clifton, 5, Lillie, 4, and Mary, 2.

1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as owner of a blacksmith shop, and Clifton and William Wells as blacksmiths working for him.

A few years later, Wells moved his shop across the street. In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as owner of a blacksmith shop at 244 South Tarboro, and Clifton and Willie Wells as blacksmiths working for him.

When Clifton M. Wells’ registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he listed his occupation as blacksmith and machinist for C.M. Wells.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 624 Viola, blacksmith Mack Wells. 57; wife Cherry, 55, washing and ironing; children Clifton, 25, blacksmith, and Marie, 22, washing and ironing; and granddaughter Minnie Green, 8.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, C. Mack Wells is listed as a blacksmith at East Kenan near Tarboro. Clinton [sic] Wells is also listed as a blacksmith.

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, Charles M. Wells is listed as a blacksmith at 107 East Kenan.

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory; Wells C Malachi (c; Cherry) gunsmith h 615 Viola.

Charles Malacih [Malachi] Wells died 22 August 1939 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 October 1862 in Nash County to Dennis Wells of Nash and Nellie Adams of Nash; was married; resided at 615 Viola; and was a self-employed machinist at Wells Machinery. Informant was Clifton Wells, 700 Warren Street, Wilson.

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.