Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 October 1936.
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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.
EAST NASH STREET MONUMENT COMPANY
Clarence B. Best began cutting marble and granite headstones in 1914 and in 1946 established his own monument company in his backyard at 1306 East Nash St. Known for his distinctive font, deep cuts, stylized plant motifs, and use of recycled material, thousands of Best’s headstones can be found in Wilson and surrounding counties.
Wilson Daily Times, 13 October 1945.
This photo, taken circa the 1930s, depicts nurses standing in front of Mercy Hospital.
Photo courtesy of Verona B. True.
Baltimore Sun, 6 October 1941.
Henry Green migrated temporarily to Maryland to work at a dairy. Tragically, he did not come home.
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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Grace Street, public service laborer Henry Green, 47; wife Lottie, 40, cook; and children Cora, 12, Fred, 9, Henry Jr., 7, Edward, 2, and James, no age given.
Many young men traveled north for seasonal work at resort hotels in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Pennsylvania Poconos.
Hotel Strand, Atlantic City, N.J. Image courtesy of westjersyhistory.org.
Assembly Lodge, Pocono Pines, Pa. Image courtesy of mrlocalhistory.org.
It’s hard to read, but “Wilson N C” is written in the cotton plants just below the four women and five children. The reverse of the postcard is labeled “Foust’s Ground Floor Studio, Wilson, N.C.” and carries a Wilson postmark with a partially illegible date — MAR 10 190_.”
Copy courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Chicago Defender, 30 July 1938.
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Perhaps, in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 116 Pender Street, Clara Davis, 19, tobacco factory stemmer; Charles Davis, 22, cook at Bill’s Quick Lunch; Jack Ellis, 36, tobacco factory redryer; Beulah Ellis, 21, cook; and Ollie M. Ferguson, 33, tobacco factory grader. [All were relatively recent arrivals to Wilson from towns across eastern North Carolina and from Tennessee.]
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 16 September 1944.
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In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McGirt Archie (c; Archie) lab 821 Stantonsburg
In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Archie McGirt, 35; wife Pearl, 28; children John, 13, Lillian, 11, and Belton, 7; and roomer Georgia Souther, 29.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Archie McGirt, 52, fertilizer plant laborer; wife Pearl, 47, tobacco factory laborer; son John, 23, fertilizer plant laborer; daughter Lillian Simms, 21, tobacco factory laborer; son Belton [McGirt], 19, delivery boy for grocery store; [grandson] Walter, 5; and son-in-law Allen Simms, 25, cement finisher for contractor.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Archie McGirt, 58; wife Pearl P., 54; and son James, 15; and grandchildren Loretta, 8, and Bobby, newborn.
Pearlette McGirt died 19 July 1970 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 25 October 1902 to Ace Patterson and Dora McCray; was married to Archie McGirt; and lived at 803 South Ward Boulevard. Informant was Lillian McGirt Simms, 901 Stantonsburg Street.
