American Legion

Fitch reelected commander of Henry Ellis Post 17.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 June 1949.

——

  • Milton F. Fitch Sr. 

In the 1930 census of New Haven, Connecticut: at 67 Charles Street, mail carrier Collins Fitch, 47; wife Lulu, 45; and children Collins, 25, theatre porter, William, 19, drugstore porter, Harrison, 17, Leroy, 15, George, 12, Milton, 9, Jerome, 7, and Althea, 4.

In the 1940 census of New Haven, Connecticut: Collins Fitch, 56; wife Lula, 54; and children Harrison, 35, club janitor, Leroy, 23, insurance company messenger, George, 21, ring boxer, Milton, 19, new worker, Jerome, 17, janitor in retail clothing store, and Althea, 14.

In 1941, Milton Frederick Fitch registered for the World War II draft in New Haven. Connecticut. Per his registration card, he was born 25 June 1920 in New Haven; lived at 183 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven; his contact was Mrs. Collins L. Fitch; and he worked as a porter at the Winchester Club House, New Haven. 

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 516 Lodge, letter carrier Milton Fitch, 30; wife Cora, 31; children Jerome, 7, Milton, 3, Patricia, 2, and Ernestine and Christine, born the previous December; father-in-law Walter Whitted, 58; and mother-in-law Helen Whitted, 56, 6th grade school teacher. 

Legionnaires hold a circus-dance.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 March 1933.

I had some questions about the American Legion’s circus, and I still do. However, this article shows that it was an annual event, and the white Post sponsored one, too. In 1933, the circus featured a basketball game between Wilson and Greenville’s Black high schools and a dance featuring the “reorganized” Carolina Stompers. 

If you are out of work.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 February 1932.

As the Great Depression deepened, Henry Ellis Post No. 17, American Legion, collected names of unemployed workers and sought employers willing to hire.

  • Thomas Cook — Per his World War I service card, Thomas Cook, 619 Stantonsburg Street, Wilson, was born 18 May 1894 in Wilson and inducted into military service on 19 July 1918. He served in Companies A and B of the 147th Labor Battalion and was discharged on 31 May 1919.
  • Nathan Haskins
  • J.W. Pitt — John W. Pitt (or Pitts) registered for the World War I draft in 1917 in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 4 August 1891 in Newberry, South Carolina; lived on Vance Street, Wilson; and worked as a carpenter in Wilson for “Mr. Lassiter of Rocky Mount.”
  • Dr. G.S. Butterfield — Dr. George K. Butterfield.
  • H.M. Fitts — Howard M. Fitts.
  • A.N. Darden — Arthur N. Darden.
  • Henry Ellis Post No. 17

North Carolina World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919, http://www.ancestry.com

A Memorial Day parade to the cemetery.

Memorial Day services at “the cemetery” — which might have been Rest Haven, but was probably what we now know as Vick and Odd Fellows Cemeteries — were a regular event in the early 20th century.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 May 1940.