Lane Street Project: a response concerning the future land use map and 2043 Comprehensive Plan.

This morning, I followed up my email to Councilmember Gillettia Morgan with an email to all of council, the mayor, and city manager. The email included the graphics contained in my March 3 post and this explanation of my query:

It is my understanding that the Planning and Development Committee passed the Plan (and this map) as is. Per the Wilson Times: “All the cemeteries were put into the open space and environmental overlay,” Planning and Community Development Manager John Moore said. “They’re all recognized on the map. The land use classification of them is not changing. They’re not open for redevelopment or anything like that. We didn’t think they were appropriate to classify in the residential, commercial or base zone. That’s why they’re in the open space category. They’re certainly recognized as cemeteries. Nothing is changing to them.” 

I have asked Mr. Morck [not Moore] to clarify this apparent discrepancy, as all cemeteries are NOT recognized on the map. I also ask that, in your consideration of approval of the Plan, you require proper designation of Vick Cemetery (and Odd Fellows and Rountree Cemeteries, which create one contiguous cemetery space) as Open Space.

Within hours, I had this email from Assistant City Manager Rodger Lentz:

I appreciate the Assistant City Manager’s prompt response and detailed explanation and am glad to know the Future Land Use Map will be recalibrated in response to issues raised at the public hearing.

Thanks again to Castonoble Hooks, R. Briggs Sherwood, and Lisa Benoy Gamble for showing up and advocating passionately for our cemeteries. This is how we save sacred spaces.

Dunn struck and killed while riding bicycle.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 March 1950.

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In the 1920 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Rosette Dunn, 42; son Joe, 19; daughter-in-law Bettie; sons Clarence, 17, and Paul, 13; daughter Caroline, 11; and grandson Jesse Lee, 8 months.

In the 1930 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Joe Dunn, 28; wife Bettie, 26; children Jesse L., 10, Lenora, 9, T[illegible] E., 5, and Elisha, 1; brother Paul, 24; and boarder Niza Williams, 20.

In 1940, Jesse Lee Dunn registered for the World War II draft in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Per his registration card, he was born in 1919 in Wilson County; lived at Route 2, Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County; his contact was friend Anna Hines, Rocky Mount; and he worked for Eugene Bone.

On 6 February 1946, Jesse Lee Dunn, 25, son of Joe and Bettie Dunn, married Annie McDowell, 19, daughter of Charlie and Ethel McDowell, in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Jessie Lee Dunn died 18 March 1950 in Black Creek, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 March 1919 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Joe Dunn and Bettie Dunn; was married; and worked in farming. Henry Fobbs was informant.

Lane Street Project: WTVD ABC-11 reports on Vick Cemetery.

The struggle continues. Eight months after City Manager Grant Goings announced at a council meeting that he would soon introduce his recommendations for Vick Cemetery, and five months after our meeting with the Mayor and Councilmember Gillettia Morgan to discuss Lane Street Project’s vision for next steps, the City has not made one move toward redemption.

ABC-11’s report on Vick aired today and reminds us all of the stakes here. Can’t stop, won’t stop.


View reporter Akilah Davis’ report here:

https://abc11.com/black-cemetery-vick-destroyed-missing-headstones/14501270/

My thanks to Levolyre Farmer Pitt for sharing her thoughts about the state of Vick Cemetery and to Akilah Davis for her dogged pursuit of the truth.

Thank you, M.E. Barnes!

Where we worked: Sam Vick’s employees.

A running tally of the men who worked in Samuel H. Vick‘s multiple enterprises, their job title, and the year for which I have found evidence of their employment:

  • Johnie Best, laborer, 1917
  • Jacob Bowen, farmer, 1918
  • George Brown, auto garage employee, 1917
  • Leon Bryant, carpenter, 1917
  • Alfred Dew, common laborer, 1925
  • Stacy Edwards, carpenter, 1917
  • Robert Hill Sheridan, farm laborer, 1918

  • Dave McPhail, auto driver, 1917
  • Buck Claude Reid, carpenter, 1917
  • Louis Thomas, carpenter, 1917
  • Daniel L. Vick, wage employee, 1917
  • William Wells, laborer, 1917; auto mechanic, Vick’s Garage, 1920, 1922
  • Lawyer Whitley, transfer driver, 1917

The obituary of Florence Loftin, who was highly esteemed.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 March 1935.

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In the 1910 census of Brogden township, Wayne County: farmer Robert Lofton, 66; wife Eveline, 66; daughters Emma J. Lofton, 37, Alice A. Wilson, 35, and Mary, 24, Bettie, 19, Florence, 19, and Jessie Lofton, 14, plus granddaughters Donnie, 4, Mable, 3, and Marie, 2 months.

In the 1925 and 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Lofton Florence (c) cook h 600 W Nash [the home of Fannie Shepherd Harriss.]

Florence Loftin executed a will on 2 April 1927. She divided her property in even thirds between her sister Mary Hinnant and nieces Donnie Hinnant and Marie Jones.

Florence Lofton died 5 March 1935 at Saint Agnes Hospital, Raleigh, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 44 years old; was born in Wayne County, N.C., to Barber Lofton and Evelyn Hards of Duplin County N.C.; lived at 600 West Nash Street; and did domestic work. She was buried in Wilson, N.C.

Lane Street Project: future land use?, follow-up.

Lane Street Project representatives attended last night’s public hearing about the 2043 Comprehensive Plan to express concerns about the future land use designations for the LSP cemeteries. The city’s presenters were receptive to questions, and, while some members of the planning board were sympathetic to our concerns, the board passed the Plan for consideration by Wilson City Council.

One thing that has been clarified since my original post: the map included in the Times‘ March 2 article about the hearing (and reproduced in my post) was not the 2043 future land use map, as labeled. Rather, it was the City’s 2030 land use map. The Times has since corrected the cutline in their online edition.

On the actual 2043 future land use map, the term “Vacant” has been replaced with “Open Space.” Here’s how the Plan defines Parks and Open Spaces:

Here is the portion of the 2043 future land use map that shows Bishop L.N. Forbes Street. (I added the labels for clarity.) Notice that Rest Haven, Masonic, and Hamilton Cemeteries and the run of Sandy Creek are hatched in green — the Parks and Open Space Overlay. Rest Haven, of course, is a public cemetery. Masonic and Hamilton are private, but neither is larger than ten acres. Also notice that neither Vick, Odd Fellows, nor Rountree Cemetery is designated as Open Space, despite the fact that Vick is a public cemetery. (And, collectively, the three cemeteries are 10+ acres.) Rather, they are shaded the maize of Medium-High Density Residential, like all the neighborhoods around them.

If this sounds familiar, that’s because I complained about this oversight in a blogpost back on September 17. Masonic, Hamilton, and Rest Haven were “fixed,” but the Lane Street Project cemeteries remain in future-use limbo.

How can the Parks and Open Spaces overlay be correctly applied to Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries before the 2043 Comprehensive Plan is approved by Council?

Studio shots, no. 237: William B. Battle Jr.

William B. Battle (1913-1961).

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 609 East Green Street, William Battle, 43; wife Nora, 30; and children Ester, 12, Jessie, 9, William Jr., 7, Aurtha L., 4, and Walter E., 1; and roomers William, 57, widower, and Mary Christmas, 24.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: Wm. Battle, 28, porter at the Times-Herald, was a lodger in the household of Jessie C. Wormsley at 1501 R Street.

William Blackwell Battle registered for the World War II draft in Washington, D.C., in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 26 February 1913 in Wilson; lived at 2009 – 13th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.; his contact was friend Rose Lofon; and he worked at the Times-Herald Building, 1319 H Street, N.W., Washington.

In the 1950 census of Washington, D.C.: William B. Battle, 37, newspaper paper handler, was a lodger in the household of Rosa B. Lawson, 35, beautician.

William B. Battle died in August 1961.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user PHILLYEVANS44.

Women’s History Month: celebrating the teachers of the Wilson Normal & Industrial School!

The Colored Graded School teachers who walked off their jobs in 1918 to protest abuse were Mary C. Euell, Georgia Burke, Sallie Roberta Battle, L.B. Wayland, M.L. Garrett, S.D. Wiseman, M.A. Davis, Mary M. Jennings, J.B. Pride, Glace [Grace] M. Battle, Sarah D. Hines, and Elba Vick.

Several of the teachers went to work at the community-funded Wilson Normal and Industrial Institute (also known as the Training School, the Independent School, the Normal School, and the Industrial School) when it opened later that year. The school lasted about ten years. Mary M. Jennings was listed as principal of the new school in the 1920 city directory, and I have found these additional teachers:

  • Wilhelmina Gaston, teacher, Wilson Training School, 1925

The “Armena Crawford” listed in the 1920 Wilson city directory is likely the same person. Willie Mena Gaston died 5 June 1929 in Wilson of pulmonary tuberculosis contracted “in the North.” She was 26 years old; was born in Wilson to Daniel Crawford of Alamance County, N.C., and Annie Whitted of Orange County, N.C.; was married to Augusta Gaston; was a housewife; lived at 605 South Spring Street; and was buried in Wilson [most likely Vick Cemetery.]

  • Willie Hargrove, teacher, Wilson Training School, 1925

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 East Green, Luvenia Hargrove, 40, widow, and daughter Willie, 20, public school teacher.

  • Hattie Langley, teacher, Wilson Training School, 1925

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Jarot Langley, 40, blacksmith at wagon factory; wife Lydia, 38; and children Hattie, 15, Thedore, 14, Marie, 12, Carnell, 7, Ruline, 6, Alcestus, 4, and Oris, 2.