Marie Louise Taylor, honor graduate.

Washington Tribune, 30 June 1932.

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In the 1920 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: at 700 Green Street, preacher Henry [sic; Halley] Taylor, 40; wife Louise, 28; and children Bettie, 8, Louise, 6, Robert, 5, and Halley, 4.

In the 1930 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1715 First Street, minister Halley B. Taylor, 50; wife Marie L., 45; and children Bettie S., 19, M. Louise, 17, Robert E., 14, Halley B., Jr., 12, and Harold H., 1.

The Bison, Howard University yearbook (1932).

On 29 June 1938, Marie Louise Taylor married Walter Harvey Primas in Washington, D.C.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: Walter H. Primas, 29, Howard University postmaster, and wife Marie T., 27.

In 1940, Walter Harvey Primas registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 18 January 1911 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; lived at 815 – 2oth Street, N.E., Washington; his contact was wife Marie T. Primas; and he worked for Howard University.

In the 1950 census of Washington, D.C.: Walter H. Primas, 39, bookstore manager; wife Marie T., 37; and children Marie L., 9, Walter H. Jr., 8, William R., 5, Jewel Y., 4, and Elizabeth V., 1.

The Techite (1966), the yearbook of McKinley Technical High School, Washington, D.C.

Marie Taylor Primas died 5 August 2009 in Washington, D.C.

Lane Street Project: Vick Cemetery, one year later.

Today marks one year since the reconsecration of Vick Cemetery.

It’s 5 August 2024, and we still have no engagement with the descendant community, no interpretive signage, no plat map, no additional ground-penetrating radar, no explanation of how the power poles came to be placed, and no idea where the gravestones are.

I have submitted to the City a public records request for all documents reflecting any discussion of or action taken concerning Vick Cemetery since 1 September 2023. I’ll let you know what I get.

——

“Many of you know the old spiritual that cries out, ‘Do Lord, do Lord, do remember me.’ We must never forget the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers, known and unknown, who sleep an unpeaceful sleep in Vick. Today’s reconsecration ceremony is the first step in restoring recognition of Vick Cemetery as a sacred space. It cannot be the last step. As descendants of these dead, we seek transparency and accountability, and demand a voice in the future of Vick Cemetery. … Though we cannot change the past, together we can create a different, better future that honors our ancestors.”  — Lisa Y. Henderson, 5 August 2023, Wilson, North Carolina.

A young mother.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 August 1940.

Per their marriage license, both Earnest and Irene Richardson were older than the ages reported above, but other documents suggest Irene Richardson was born in 1926.

Ernest L. Richardson, 20, of Wilson, son of Harriett Richardson, married Irene Byrd, 16, of Wilson County, daughter of Wilbert and Flossie Byrd, on 21 March 1940 in Wilson. 

Map of June Artis subdivision.

Plat book 9, page 21, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

June Scott Artis began buying lots in the town of Stantonsburg in the early 1900s. This 1961 plat map shows the subdivision of a chunk of his land between Main and Travis Streets. Landowners included June Artis, his wife Ethel B. Artis, their son Edgar Artis, Hadie B. Ham, Oscar Ellis, Tom Braswell, James Ham, Will Harper, Minnie Best, Scott Ward, Arthur Winstead, Howard Daniel, and Oscar Edwards.

Google Maps aeriel view of June S. Artis’ former property.

Willie Hines has left home.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 August 1944.

  • Willie Eugene Hines

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: William Hines, 33; wife Eva, 31; and children Mercy, 15, Percy, 13, Willis, 11, George, 8, Foster, 6, Maggie, 3, and Wesley, 1.

Willie Eugene Hines registered for the draft in 1946. Per his registration card, he was born 28 November 1928 in Wilson County; lived at 410 East Vance Street, Wilson; worked for Farmers Cotton Oil Company; and his contact was Eva Hines, Route 2, Wilson.

On 6 April 1950, Willie Eugene Hines married Flora Carter in Washington, D.C.

In the 1950 census of Mount Pleasant, Fairfax County, Virginia: Will Hines, 23, pipe maker at concrete pipe company; wife Flora M., 18; and sister Madge, 13.

Willie E. Hines died 21 April 1996 in Boston, Massachusetts.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 10: the Elks Club.

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.

ELKS CLUB

Second location of Marshall Lodge, No. 297, I.B.P.O.E. Building erected in 1954; demolished in 2018. Lodge established in 1921; met originally at 541 East Nash Street.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2024.

Now look at Edgecombe County!

I’m super-excited to learn of this partnership between North Carolina Department of Transportation and North Carolina State University to map unmarked burial sites in Edgecombe County. 

Especially this part: “‘A part of Edgecombe County was absorbed by the formation of Wilson County in 1855, which demonstrates that neighboring areas are likely to be impacted by this research,’ [Tunya] Smith said. ‘Family histories are not confined to county lines. If you have roots in eastern North Carolina, you may find that you have a story to share with this project team.'” Indeed!

Assemble at the Colored Graded School?

Wilson Daily Times, 9 April 1918.

——

I knew Charlie Chaplin visited Wilson in 1918 — he was on tour selling war bonds. What I had not noticed was the timing of his appearance. The same day this article appeared in the Daily Times, Mary C. Euell and the other teachers of the Colored Graded School tendered their resignations to the school board and parents launched a boycott. Thus, when (or if) the children of the two dozen or so African-American county schools assembled with their banners, they found the Colored Graded School closed.

(What a visual though: hundreds of children in their Sunday best parading down Nash Street in the Liberty Loan parade. Minshew School! Brooks School! Turner School! Mitchell School! Whistles! Cheers!)