808 East Vance Street.

The one hundred ninety-fourth 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.

In the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, 808 and 810 East Vance Street are described as vacant lots.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 808 East Vance Street, teacher Rosa Foster, 42; children Carter, 16, Daily Times newsboy, and Naomi, 14; and two roomers Alice Jones, 36, and Mamie Key, 20, both teachers.

On 9 April 1932, Foster purchased the house from D.S. Boykin, a trustee.

When the federal census taker visited in 1940, Rosa P. Foster was operating her house at 808 East Vance Street as a teacherage. Her household included teachers Alice H. Jones, 46 (and her son James R., 23); Floreta J. Walson, 31; W. Arlene Gilmore, 30; Mary G. Harris, 33; and Mamie E. Whitehead, 33.

In 1940, Carter Washington Foster registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 15 January 1914 in Wilson; resided at 808 East Vance; worked as county farm agent at 559 1/2 East Nash Street; and was married to Estelle Duncan Foster.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 April 1947.

Rosa Foster died 7 October 1954 at her home at 808 East Vance Street. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 March 1888 in Nash County, N.C., to Allison Parker and Mary [maiden name not stated]; was a retired school teacher; and was widowed. Carter Foster was informant.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 September 1958.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.

Pettigrew Street exposé, part 2.

Within days, Wilson’s board of town commissioners began to explore an ordinance addressing “the repair or elimination of unfit housing and dangerous building conditions.” Stakeholders weighed in — the city’s postmaster, the Colored Ministers Alliance — and the board requested the public at large to weigh in.

(Also on the agenda, a request by East Nash Street businessmen for parking on both sides of the street and a report that a “large number of colored school children are passing under freight car and trains on their way to school.” They were headed, of course, to Sallie Barbour or Vick Elementary or Darden High Schools from Black neighborhoods west of the tracks, like Daniel Hill and New Grabneck.)

Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1950.

Lane Street Project: Odd Fellows in spring.

You can barely see them, which is my point. For the first time in decades of springs, wisteria does not choke the treetops of Odd Fellows Cemetery. (There are also many fewer treetops.) The war is not over, but many battles have been won, and I thank every volunteer who has helped Lane Street Project get this far.

With the Vick family plot cleared, visitors have been able to leave flowers and other tokens at graves.

Ignore for the moment that power pole desecrating Rountree Cemetery. Focus instead on the iconic headstones of Della Hines Barnes and Dave Barnes, gleaming in the March sun.

The bright interior of Odd Fellows, where we are focusing our attention this season. Won’t you help?

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2024.

The obituary of Annie P. Williams.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 March 1950.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 317 North Hackney Street, Annie Sauls, 30, laundress; father Will Odom, 50; and lodger Flora Terry, 30, and her son Rudolph Terry, newborn.

Annie Pearl Williams died 9 March 1950 at her home at 110 Ash Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 December 1910 in Georgia to Will Odom and Martha Bullock; was married; and was a factory worker. Roosevelt Williams was informant.

The obituary of Almeda Bynum Morgan.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 March 1949.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: lumber sawyer Charley Bynum, 41; wife Julia Ann, 43; and children Calvin, 21, Mary Jane, 18, Ameta, 16, Annie, 13, John C., 9, and Abraham, 1.

On 3 February 1904, Calvin Morgan, 23, of Wilson, married Almeter Bynum, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Charles Bynum, at Charles Bynum’s in Wilson. John Reid applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Peter Bynum, John Bynum, and F.B. Barnes.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Calvin Morgan, 39, tobacco factory worker; wife Alameda, 30; and children Willie, 15, butcher shop delivery boy, Calvin, 8, Surenda, 11, and Mayanna, 1.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Morgan Calvin (c; Almeda) lab h 102 Ashe

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 600 Stantonsburg Street, rented for $12/month, Calvin Morgan, 52, laborer at Colored High School; wife Almeta, 40; sons Willie, 23, tobacco factory laborer, Surrender, 21, radio company laborer, and Calvin Jr., 17, bellboy at Cherry hotel; Almeta Hannah Jr., 16; son Fred D. Morgan, 14; daughters Mary A., 9, Sarah J., 8, Rubie, 7, and Ninie L., 3; and son Lindberg, 2; daughter-in-law Eloise Morgan, 18; and son-in-law Lemore Hannah, 22, fertilizer factory laborer.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Calvin Morgan, 65; wife Almeta, 58; Calvin Jr., 28, tobacco factory laborer, Almeta, 26, housekeeper, Fred, 24, Baptist preacher, Mary, 20, tobacco factory laborer, Sarah, 19, tobacco factory laborer, Ruby, 18, housekeeper, Lindberg, 11, and Minie, 12.

In 1940, Calvin Morgan registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his draft registration card, he was born 25 January 1909 in Wilson; lived at 600 Stantonsburg Street, Wilson; his contact was Almeta Bynum Morgan; and he worked for Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Company, Wilson.

Almeter Morgan died 6 March 1949 at her home at 317 Stantonsburg Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 September 1893 in Wilson County to Charlie Bynum and Julia Davis; was widowed; and worked as a laborer. She was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Mary J. Lassiter was informant.

The obituary of Joe Henry Best.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1950.

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In the 1880 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: laborer Blunt J. Bess, 32; Sarah, 23; children William L., 9, Nellie J., 6, Joseph H., 4, and Ivory, 8 months; and sister-in-law Annie Barnes, 11.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Blount Best, 53; wife Sarah, 44; children Joe H., 24, John I., 20, Minnie, 18, Blount, 16, Iola, 14, Annie, 13, Mariah, 10, Ella, 8, Albert, 4, Sack, 3, Joshua, 1, and Leslie, newborn; and servant Mariah Bynum, 32.

On 17 May 1906, Joe Henry Best, 30, of Wilson, son of Blount and Sarah Best, married Minnie Moore, 18, of Edgecombe, daughter of Sam and Caroline Moore, at Cromwell Bullock’s house in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Plank Road, Joe H. Best, 35, farmer; wife Minnie, 20; daughter Nellie, 2; and boarders Lula Roundtree, 17, and Bettie Moore, 7.

In 1918, Joseph Henry Best registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 11 September 1875; lived at Route 1, Walstonburg, Wilson County; farmed for J.T. Williams; and his nearest relative was Minnie Best.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Plank Road, farmer J.H. Best, 45; wife Minnie, 33; children Nellie, 12, and Norman, 6; and cousin Gray Bynum, 17.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on North Carolina State Highway 91, farmer J.H. Best, 55; wife Minnie, 40; children Nellie, 19, Norman, 17, and Sylvester, 15.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Joe Henry Best, 65; wife Minnie, 50; son Norman, 26; daughter Lucille, 22; grandson Joe Lee, 5; granddaughter Vernice, 10 months; and brother Albert Best, 43.

In 1940, Norman Best registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his draft card, he was born 14 April 1911 in Wilson County; lived at Route 4, Wilson; his contact was father Joe Henry Best; and he worked for Lina Webb.

In 1942, Romon Manning registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his draft card, he was born 1 July 1922 in Nash County; lived at Route 4, Wilson; his contact was Joe Henry Best; and he worked for U.H. Mozart.

Joe Henry Best died 5 March 1950 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 September 1976 in Wilson County to Blunt Best and Sarah Applewhite; was a farmer; and was buried in Bullock Cemetery near Fountain, N.C. Albert Best was informant.

Where we worked: New Briggs Hotel.

The New Briggs Hotel replaced the old Briggs Hotel in the 200 block of East Nash Street in 1873. This O.V. Foust photograph, taken circa 1906, reveals the multiple storefronts on the hotel’s ground floor, which included a succession of barbershops owned in whole or part by Walter S. Hines. The hotel was demolished in 1955 to make way for P.H. Rose’s Department Store. Wilson Arts Center now occupies the site.

Wilson Daily Times, 16 August 1918.

Over its 80+ years of operation, the Briggs undoubtedly employed hundreds of African-Americans as bellmen, porters, cooks, and cleaners. This running list captures only a few.

  • Pearce Allen, bellman, 1928
  • John Arrington, porter in poolroom, 1916
  • John Artis, porter, 1917
  • Ed S. Atkinson, cook, 1912
  • Allison Atwalter, bellboy, 1918
  • Charles Barnes, 1916
  • Dave Barnes, porter, 1893
  • Pattie Battle, maid, 1912
  • George Batts, bellboy, 1917
  • Charles Blount, floor boy, 1912
  • Charles Bolden, bellboy, 1916
  • Charles Branch, bellman, 1912
  • Edna Brown, domestic, 1916
  • Henry Bryant, laborer, 1917
  • Albert R.L. Bullock, cook, 1917
  • Ernest Bullock, porter, 1917
  • Lizzie Bullock, domestic, 1916
  • Overly Bullock, dishwasher, 1916
  • Petrola Bullock, domestic, 1916
  • John Burke, bellman, 1928
  • Rose Carnes, domestic, 1916
  • Robert Carroll, cook, 1916
  • Jasper A. Coley, bellboy, 1916
  • E.D. Evans, 1918
  • James Fagan, bellman, 1928
  • Albert Gay, bellboy, 1916; chief bellman, 1920
  • Annie Graham, maid, 1924
  • Frank Griffin, porter, 1916
  • Lonnie Hall, bellboy, 1917
  • William S. Hines, bell boy, mid-1890s-1898
  • Charles C. Johnson, cook, 1916
  • Lavinia Pierce Johnson, maid, 1930
  • John H. Joyner, porter, 1917
  • David McPhail, porter, 1916
  • Ethel Mack, domestic, 1916
  • Benjamin Mincey Jr., cook, 1930
  • Amos Moore, bellman, 1928
  • Henry Reaves, bellhop, 1917
  • Furness Speight, bellboy, 1916
  • Joe Tutle, yardboy, 1917
  • Offie Tart, bellboy, 1916
  • Paul White, 1928
  • Henry C. Wilson, cook, 1917

Foust, O.V., New Briggs Hotel, Wilson, N.C., 1900-1920, Frank M. Wooten Jr. Papers, 0126-b36-fe-i78, East Carolina University Digital Collections.