Wilson Daily Times, 18 December 1937.
Bess
Colored business district sponsors Christmas festivities.
Wilson Daily Times, __ December 1949.
“‘The East Nash street block between the railroad and Stantonsburg Street will be decorated for the first time in the last decade,’ Hartford Bess said.”
“The Darden High school band will parade in the main parade and play a few selections in front of the Wilson court house. After this it will march on down to Stantonsburg and East Nash streets where it will provide the music at [a lighting] ceremony.”
Handel’s Chorus performs in concert.
Wilson Daily Times, 5 March 1943.
Hartford E. Bess‘ Handel’s Chorus, comprised of teens and young adults, performed to standing-room-only crowds for decades. In 1943, its members included Clara B. Taylor, Pauline Farmer, Ernestine Floyd, Mattie Ford, Eunice McCall, Devera Jackson, Eunice Cooke, Dora Dickerson, Henrietta Hines, Matteele Floyd, Inez Dickerson, Deloris Haskins, Romaine Hagans, Doris Joyner, Herman Hines, Harding Thompson, Ambrose Towe, Thomas Dawson, John W. Jones, Arthur Brodie, and Rudolph Best. Unfortunately, the accompanying photograph is not available.
Handel’s Chorus, outstanding Negro musical organization.
Saint John choir presents a recital.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 November 1935.
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- Saint John A.M.E. Zion
- Elfreda Sandifer — Sandifer was a Gaston County native who migrated to New York City, where she worked as a music teacher.
- Hartford Bess
The Pettigrew Street post office.
Wilson Daily Times, 15 February 1950.
Not only did I not know there was ever a post office branch on Pettigrew Street, I cannot imagine where on Pettigrew Street it stood. Anyone know?
Woodard Station moved to 1318 East Nash Street in 1966 and operated until 2011. Since its closure, there has been no postal facility east of the tracks or from Wilson’s Main Branch east to Saratoga.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Georgia Burke is a Broadway star.
Wilson Daily Times, 23 May 1944.
Georgia Burke was not, of course, a “girl.” She was close to 50 years old in 1944. Burke was one of eleven African-American teachers who resigned to protest the slapping of teacher Mary C. Euell by school superintendent Charles L. Coon and the disrespect shown them by Colored Graded School principal J.D. Reid. With the others, Burke resumed teaching at the privately funded Wilson Normal and Industrial Institute, the institution referred to above as Wilson Training School for Negroes. For more about Burke, see here and here, and about the Normal and Industrial school, see here. For more about the talented Hartford C. Bess, see here.
Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.
Tribute to principal W.H.A. Howard.
Wilson Daily Times, 17 December 1932.
Hartford E. Bess, chairman of the High School Alumni Association, penned a rather overwrought tribute to William H.A. Howard, former principal of Darden High School, in 1932. As is hinted in the piece, the year before, Howard had left the school under a cloud of accusations of sexual harassment, mishandling funds and other charges.
The obituary of Rev. James C. Bess.
Wilson Daily Times, 1 April 2002.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: brickmason Clinton Bess, 37; wife Minnie, 26; and children Hampton, 7, Ruth G., 6, and James C., 4.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Pender Street, brickmason Clinton Bess, 40; wife Minnie, 30; children Glenwood, 5, Gladis, 15, and James, 12; and boarders Mary Reid, 21, and Martha Robinson, 25, teachers.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Pender Street, widow Minnie Best, 48; and children Hartford, 30, delivery boy for retail dry goods business; Ruth, 27, teacher at Williamston School; James, 23, janitor at Oettinger’s store; and Glenwood, 10, grocery delivery boy.
James Clinton Bess registered for the World War II draft in 1940 in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 9 November 1915 in Wilson County; lived at 208 Pender; his contact was mother Minnie Bess; and he worked for Oettinger’s Estate, Wilson.
[N.B.: “Wilson Training School” was another name for the Wilson Industrial and Normal School.]
Handel chorus and a cappella choir to perform.
Wilson Daily Times, 20 December 1940.
- Ritz Theatre
- Booker T. Washington High School — Rocky Mount, N.C.’s African-American high school.
- A. & T. A Cappella Choir — Warner Lawson Sr. would soon leave N.C. State A. & T. University for Howard University, where he reached his greatest acclaim as its Dean of Music.
- Handel Chorus — Hartford E. Bess.