This duplex is not within the bounds of East Wilson Historic District. However, South Lodge Street — below the warehouse district — has been an African-American residential area since the turn of the twentieth century.

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Luvie (c) lab 612 S Lodge

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Case Benton (c; Beatrice) lab h 612 S Lodge

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: at 612 South Lodge, rented for $20/month, street sweeper Bynum Case, 38, and wife Beatrice, 35, laundress.

In 1931, realtor D.S. Boykin advertised the sale of 612 South Lodge, with its “one, four-room dwelling” on a 55′ x 100′ lot, pursuant to Louvie Williams’ default on a mortgage he obtained just two years earlier (before the collapse of the American economy that signaled the Great Depression.)

Wilson Daily Times, 4 March 1931.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 612 Lodge, two families renting at $8/month each, lumber mill laborer James Simpson, 33, wife Frances, 32, and son James Lewis, 11, and building construction laborer Henry Romey McQuen, 39, wife Pearlina, 31, and daughter Lee Winstead McQuen, 10. The McQueens were born in South Carolina.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: McQueen Henry R (c; Pearline L; 1) tob wkr h 612 S Lodge

In 1942, Henry Rommie McQueen registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 June 1901 in Robeson County, North Carolina; he lived on 612 South Lodge Street; his contact was Mrs. Henry McQueen; and he worked for T.A. Loving, Cherry Point, N.C.

In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Jones Leona (c) tob wkr h 612 S Lodge and Dawson Eliz (c) tob h 612 S Lodge

Eighteen years later, the address was home to Joseph Hall, who died 3 May 1965.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 May 1965.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2018.