Atlantic Street

907 Atlantic Street.

The two hundred-second 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District:”ca. 1910; 1 story; Macedonia Church of Christ; brick-veneered gable-front church.”

Atlantic Street was not captured on Sanborn fire insurance maps of Wilson until 1922, when this building was home to a Seventh Day Adventist church. 

In 1956, Daniel McKeithan placed an ad in the Wilson Daily Times advertising the building for sale, as “the members are building new church.” (Mount Hebron Seventh-Day Adventist Church still meets at 700 South Pender Street.)

Wilson Daily Times, 20 September 1956.

Macedonia Church of Christ Disciples of Christ bought the building and moved in in 1959. 

Wilson Daily Times, 13 June 1959.

Macedonia met at 907 Atlantic until some time in the 1990s, and Miracle Temple Full Gospel Church moved circa 1998. The building is now occupied by Amazing Grace Original Free Will Baptist Church.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2025.

921 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-ninth 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne Cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing, intact turned-post porch; good example of the type.”

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlanta, rented for $20/month, Jasper Turner, 42, sawmill sawyer; wife Mary, 37; and children Isodel, 17, Ruth, 16, Floyd, 12, and Therman, 10.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlantic, farmer Weslie Swinson, 59; wife Addie, 53, tobacco factory stemmer; and children John H., 35, Contentnea Guano laborer, Willis, 30, “Darden Funeral-tobacco factory,” Iola, 20, tobacco factory stemmer, Odessa, 18, tobacco factory stemmer, and Doris, 15.

In 1940, Willie Lee Swinson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 August 1907 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at 921 Atlantic; his contact was wife Isadell Swinson, 804 East Green Street; and he worked for Boyd Clark at Carolina Warehouse on Tarboro Street. 

In the Hill’s 1941 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Swinson Wesley (c; Addie) h 921 Atlantic av

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Wesley Swinson, 67; wife Addie B., 62; and son Willie, 41, chauffeur for local tobacco buyer.

Wesley Swinson died 3 August 1953 at his home at 921 Atlantic Street. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 November 1883 in Greene County to Aaron Swinson and Sarah Taylor; was married to Addie Swinson; lived at 921 Atlantic; and worked as a laborer. 

Wilson Daily Times, 3 August 1953.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

903 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-eighth 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1935; 1 story; modernized clipped-gable bungalow.”

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: David Robt G (c; Elizabeth) barber h 903 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: David Robt G (c; Eliz) barber 903 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 903 Atlantic, owned and valued at $500, Fred Pender, 33, furniture store laborer, and wife Ezzie M., 30.

In 1940, Fred Pender registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 June 1905 in Wilson; lived at 903 Atlantic Street; his contact was wife Ezzie Mae Pender; and he worked for R.E. Quinn Company, 137 South Goldsboro Street.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pender Fred (c; Ezzie M) linoleum layer R E Quinn & Co of Wilson h 903 Atlantic av

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ellis Brown Jr., 47; wife Margaret, 45; and son Ellis Jr., 29, history teacher at local city school.

919 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-seventh 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1930; 1 1/2 stories; Donnie Hargrove house; bungalow with clipped-gable roof and matching dormer, engaged porch; partial brick veneer; Hargrove was a barber; builder was brick mason Jeff Russell; contributing garage”

——

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hobbs Hadie (c; Elsie) attndt Smith’s Filling Sta h 919 Atlanta 

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Russell Jefferson E (c; Julia) brklyr h 919 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 919 Atlantic Avenue, owned and valued at $3000, Donna Hargroves, 35, barber shop at pool room; wife Flora, 31; and daughter Geraldine, 15.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hargrove John (c; Flora; 2; Manhattan Billiard Parlor) barber 421 E Nash h 919 Atlantic av

In 1942, John Hargrove registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 20 October 1902 in Wilson; lived at 919 Atlantic Street; his contact was Vina Hargrove, 1110 Carolina Street, Wilson; and was a self-employed barber at 421 East Nash Street.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 919 Atlantic, barber John Hargrove, 45, barber; wife Mae B., 34, beautician; and daughter Dorothy, 20. 

917 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-fifth 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing; remodeled with aluminum siding and metal porch posts.”

——

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Turner Jasper (c; Madie) mill hd h 917 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bynum Dudley (c; Olie) barber h 917 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 917 Atlantic, barber Dudley Bynum, 49, and wife Ola, 45, laundress at Hotel Cherry.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bynum Dudley (c; Oleona) barber Wm Hines h 917 Atlantic

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Oleona R. Bynum, 55; husband Dudley Bynum, 59; and lodger Cora Parker, 51, widow.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 October 1959.

Oleonia Brooks Bynum died 21 October 1959 in Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 June 1893 to Dennis Brooks and Mary Ann Helms; was married to Dudley Bynum; and lived at 917 Atlantic Street, Wilson.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 July 1962.

Dudley Bynum died 19 July 1962 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born August 1889 in Wilson County to Berry Bynum and Loddie [no maiden name]; lived at 917 Atlantic Street; was a widower; was a barber; and was buried in Masonic Cemetery. Lydia B. Knight, 311 Manchester Street, was informant.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 August 1962.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2024.

1004 Washington Street, revisited.

The James and Lizzie Whitfield house at 1004 Washington Street is in a bad way and apparently is set to be demolished using American Rescue Plan Act funds. Eligible uses of such funds for vacant or abandoned properties include rehab costs, acquisition and marketing costs, environmental remediation costs, demolition, and converting such properties to affordable housing. 

Guidelines for the funds warn that demolition is not to be undertaken where it would create a “net reduction in occupiable housing units for low- and moderate-income individuals” in areas in which the need for such housing exceeds available supply. (It’s hard to imagine that demolition of this house won’t have just such a result, but it is also clear from a peak through that gap by the porch pillar that it is in deplorable condition.) Nor should low-income housing be converted to housing units “unaffordable to current residents in the community.” (Such as the $250,000 renovation two blocks away on Atlantic Street.)

There’s some irony here. James A. Whitfield was the first African-American member, and later chair, of the Wilson Housing Authority. The Whitfield Homes housing project is named for him.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 November 1960.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2022.

1010 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred sixty-eighth 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing, and several intact turned porch posts.” [The house is misnumbered as #1008 in the nomination form.]

——

In the 1928 Wilson city directory: Jones Lee C (c; Sadie L), dentist 559 1/2 E Nash h 1010 Atlanta

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1010 Atlantic Street, seamstress Sadie Jones, 32, and sons Emery L., 7, Clarance and Clinton, 3; and lodgers Catherine Joyner, 14, James Coley, 9, and Elaine Coley, 15. [Sadie Jones was described as “single” and presumably was divorced.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: owned and valued at $1500, Robert Lee, 27; wife Elaine, 25; and son Robert Jr., 3.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Lee Robt E (c; Elaine L; 1) tchr h 1010 Atlantic av

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Lee Robt E (c; Elaine ) tchr h 1010 Atlantic av

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, April 2022.

1111 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred-fifty-third 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1940; 1 story; bungalow with low hip roof, engaged porch, and distinctive block-stone facade.”

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1111 Atlantic Avenue, rented for $16/month, construction carpenter Matthew Barnes, 44; wife Ossie Mae, 30, presser for Fidelity Cleaners; mother Erma Grady, 66, widow, tobacco factory hanger.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barnes Matthew (c; Ossie) carp h 1111 Atlantic Av

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barnes Matthew (c; Ossie) carp h 1111 Atlantic Av

1105 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred-forty-ninth 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.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, this building is: “ca. 1922; 1 story; bungalow with gable-end form and subsidiary gable-end porch.”

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Joyner Lee J (c; Sarah) plstr h 1105 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McCall Oscar (c; Flora) truck driver h 1105 Atlantic

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1105 Atlantic Street, taxi chauffeur Oscar McCall, 27; wife Flora, 22; and children Louise, 6, Louis, 5, Willie F., 3, and H.B., 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1105 Atlantic Avenue, butler Ola Dupree, 44; wife Georgia, 32; and roomers Florence Atkinson, 24, and her husband William Atkinson, 26, a medical doctor.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dupree Otis (c; Georgia) cook h 1105 Atlantic

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dupree Ola (c; Georgia A; Silver Boot Grill) h 1105 Atlantic

Wilson Daily Times, 12 April 1980.

Wilson Daily Times, 23 November 1985.