East Green Street

600 East Green Street, re-re-re-visited.

I’m not still not clear about the first owner of the lot at 600 [originally 601] East Green Street. However, the house mouldering there now is not the original.

Here is that house:

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory shows:

So we know the Reids owned and built on the lot prior to 1908. The 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map shows this two-story house at 601 East Green:

But here is the house in the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map. It has two stories, but does not resemble the one above. (However, it does match the house now onsite.)

What happened between 1913 and 1922?

Miss Summers entertains.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 5 February 1927.

Miss Phenon A. Summers? At “her home” at 600 East Green? Weren’t J.D. and Eleanor Reid there then?

The following month, Phenon Summers again welcomed a guest to 600 East Green Street.

Journal and Guide, 12 March 1927.

And in April she did a little visiting herself.

Journal and Guide, 30 April 1927.

Phenon Adel Summers French Brown Jones — who reverted to her maiden name in between and after her divorces — was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1895. I have found nothing to shed light on her brief time in Wilson, and by 1928 she had moved on to teach at the Henderson Institute in Henderson, North Carolina. My best guess is that she was a lodger with the Reids and a teacher at either Wilson Colored High School or the Sallie Barbour School (also known as the Colored Graded School). By the summer of 1929, Summers was back in Columbus and seems to have remained there until her death in 1976.

621 East Green Street.

The two hundred-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.

In the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, described as: “ca. 1913. 1 story. Frederick Davis house; double-pile, hip-roofed cottage with decorative millwork in porch gables; asphalt-sided; Davis was a minister with the Jackson Chapel Baptist Church. [Demolished 2/95.]”

On 1 August 1893, for $100, Samuel and Annie Vick sold F.M. Davis a lot next to Charles Thomas. The deed was registered 28 March 1896 in Deed Book 41, page 433.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 33, paper hanger; wife Diannon, 31; children Eva M., 6, Bertha E., 5, and Fred M., 17 months; plus mother Judith Davis, 50, laundress.

In the 1908 Wilson, N.C., city directory — Davis Frederick M, h 618 e Green

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 42, Baptist church minister; wife Dianah, 42; children Eva M., 16, Bertha, 15, Fred, 11, Ruth, 13, Addie L., 8, and William B., 5; and mother Jud., 60.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 50, church preacher; [second] wife Minnie, 39; children Fred Jr., 20, Berthia, 22, school teacher; Addie, 18, and William B., 16; and mother Judie, 76.

Wilson, N.C., city directory (1928).

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 621 East Green, owned and valued at $11,000, Baptist minister Fred M. Davis, 60; wife Minie, 49; daughter Addie Butterfield, 25, public school teacher; and son-in-law George Butterfield, 27, dentist.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 621 East Green Street, Rev. Fred M. Davis, 73, minister; wife Minnie J., 59; [son-in-law] Dr. G.K. Butterfield, 35, dentist; [daughter] Addie L. Butterfield, 34; son William B. Davis, 32, high school teacher; daughter-in-law Hazel M. Davis, 30, teacher; grandson William B. Davis, 4 months; and son Fred M. Davis, 40, home interior decorator.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 February 1942.

Fred M. Davis Jr. died 7 February 1949 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate he was born 15 October 1900 in Wilson to Fred M. Davis Sr. and Diana Dunston; was single; lived at 621 East Green Street; worked as an interior decorator/wallpaper hanger; was a veteran; and was buried in Rest haven Cemetery.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Fred M. Davis, 82; wife Minnie J., 69; son W.N.B., 40 “school teacher, principal city high school”; wife Hazel M., 35 “school teacher (junior hi), county school”; and grandchildren W.M.B., Jr, 10, Dianna M., 8, and Gloria J., 4.

N.87-12-338-341, Reverend Frederick Davis House, 621 East Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

623 East Green Street, revisited.

On 26 March 1898, for $100, Samuel and Annie Vick sold Samuel Gay a lot on Green Street adjoining the lands of Fred M. Davis and Samuel Vick. The deed was registered 11 August 1898 in Deed Book 50, page 73. This is the lot at what is now 623 East Green Street. Samuel Gay built a one-story house here that his son Albert Gay Sr. expanded to two stories. Another son, Charles Gay, built a house next door at 625 East Green.

When photographed for the East Wilson Historic District application, 623 East Green Street was still occupied by descendants of the Gay family, and its exterior appeared to be in fine condition.

Forty years later, the house is still in good condition and retains most of its most charming decorative features, such as the double porch pillars and curved brackets under the deep second-floor eaves. The sidelights framing the front door have been painted over and, unfortunately, the decorative ridge cresting disappeared when the shingle roof was replaced with a standing-seam metal roof. The portico has also been removed.

Albert Gay House, 623 East Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office; bottom photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2026.

619 East Green Street, revisited.

Here is 619 East Green Street, the Charlie Thomas house, in the 1980s when photographed for the National Register application for East Wilson. The small attached cinderblock building, Bea’s Flower Shop, was demolished a few years later.

I photographed the house in 2017 when I first featured it in this series. The photo below, taken in October 2025, shows the toll of eight more years.

Two months later, I photographed 619 again.

I do not begrudge a renovation that returns a decaying house to livable condition, and I understand the hard choices that must be made when updating and making efficient a house more than 100 years old, but I am saddened by the loss of architectural detail here. The original bracketed, turned porch posts replaced by plain four-by-fours are a particular loss, as are the reduced-size windows. 

N.88.2.505-507, Lewis Thomas House, 619 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

411 East Green Street.

The two hundred-sixth 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.

In the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District, described as: “ca. 1922; 2 stories; two-bay, side-hall, gable front house with intact turned porch posts.”

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Foster Hugh (c) carp h 411 E Green. Also: Foster Maggie (c) dom h 411 E Green

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Foster Hugh T (c) carp h 411 E Green

In the 1928 and 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Foster Hugh T (c; Mollie M) carp h 411 E Green

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 East Green Street, Hugh Foster, 31, carpenter,

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 East Green, Hallie Armstrong, 48, pool room operator; wife Julia, 29; and lodgers Annie M. Brown, 39, of Mooresville, Iredell County, hospital nurse; Jeanett M. Lee, 24, of Mount Olive, Wayne County, hospital nurse; and Lawrence Peacock, 27, of High Point, sewer project laborer.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 East Green, widow Julia Armstrong, 39, born in Kentucky, and lodgers Mary Rose, 29; Anne Everette, 2; Herbert Rose Jr., born in July; Edward Harris, 20, construction company bricklayer; McDonald Hayes, 33, electric power company laborer; Josephine Hayes, 28, cotton picker on farm; and Willie Mack Hayes, 15, cotton picker on farm.

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Wilson Daily Times, 23 February 1968.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2024.

611 East Green Street, revisited.

On 29 October 1892, Hardy Tate purchased for $700 from George D. and Ella M. Green a 1/3-acre lot on Green Street between Green and H.C. Phillips.

The first house Tate erected on this lot burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances shortly after completion in 1896. Tate replaced it with this house, whose number bounced from 610 to 612 before settling at 611.

Tate died in 1938. Undertaker Columbus E. Artis and his first wife, nurse Ada D. Artis, bought the house from the Tate family. In 1951, Artis remarried.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 July 1951.

It appears that C.E. and Ruby Barbour Artis began to take in roomers in the 1960s. Artis, photographed here in the driveway, owned the house until his death in 1973, and Ruby Artis remained for several years after.

Per the 12 April 1975 Daily Times, Ruby Artis was issued a permit to “alter boarding house 611 E. Green.”

This ad for apartments in the house ran in the Daily Times in the early 1980s.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 September 1981.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 April 1983.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 July 1983.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 November 1983.

The house was demolished in the early 2000s.

N.87-12-279-280, Hardy Tate House, 611 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

607 East Green Street.

The two hundred-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; Alonzo Phillips house; two-room, central-hall house with hip-roofed porch; Phillips was a house painter.” The house was originally numbered 608 (and may also have been referred to as 610). It has been demolished.

On 5 July 1923, H.A. [Hiram Abiff] Faulk filed a deed for sale of land to Roddrick Taylor and wife Mary J. Taylor, for $10 and valuable consideration, a house and lot on the north side of East Green Street and known as No. 607 (old city No. 608) E. Green, lot measuring 70′ x 120′.  The lot was bordered on either side by the properties of William Hargrave and Walter Hines.

Wilson, N.C., city directory (1928).

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 607 East Green, renting for $20/month, bricklayer Jessie Holden, 35; wife Beatrice, 38, private maid; and stepdaughter Jeroline Wood, 20.

But also in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: renting at $20/month, barber Roderick Taylor, 45, wife Mary J., 39, and children Edna G., 8, Mary J., 4, and Roderick Jr., 1. [In the 1920 census, laborer Robert Taylor, 36, and wife Mary G., 29, were also listed at 610. This was prior to Roderick and Mary J. Taylor’s purchase of the house, and the names are slightly off, but this appears to be them.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 607 East Green Street, barber Roderick Taylor, 58; wife Mary J., 50; and children Edna G., 18, a college bookstore clerk, Mary J., 14, and Roderick Jr., 12.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 August 1947.

Roderick Taylor Sr. died 4 August 1947 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 March 1882 in Wilson to Henry Taylor and Rachel Barnes and worked as a barber. Informant was Mary J. Taylor, 607 East Green St., City.

Wilson Daily Times, 12 September 1952.

N.87-12-351-353, Alonzo Phillips House, 607 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

606 East Green Street.

The two hundred-fourth 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. 1922. 2 stories. Catherine Clark house; gable front house with side hall and intact classical porch posts; Clark was a school teacher.”

The house was numbered 607 prior to 1922 and may have been built as early as about 1900 by Catherine Clark’s mother, Sarah Hill Clark.

On 3 January 1898, for $180, the Vicks sold Sarah Clark a lot on Green Street bordering Jonah Williams and Millie Bryant. The deed was registered 9 January 1899 in Deed Book 50, page 474. Sarah Clark and her husband Rhoden Clark, natives of Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina, were married at the time, but she bought this lot in her name only. Rhoden Clark died a few years later.

In the 1908 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Clark Sarah, h 607 e Green; also, Clark Catherine, dressmkr h 607 e Green

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Clark, 45, school teacher; daughters Catherine, 22, Letha, 19, and Bettie, 17; granddaughter Ruth Jenkins, 8; and servant Mary Jenkins, 26.

Wilson, N.C., city directory, 1912.

Wilson, N.C., city directory, 1916.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 607 Green, widow Sarah Clark, 28 [sic], and daughters Lena, 20, Bettie, 17, and Kathryn, 24, a teacher.

Sarah Hill Clark died 27 January 1927 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 64 years old; was born in Scotland Neck, N.C., to James Hill and Evelyn Barnes; lived at 606 East Green; and was buried in Rountrees Cemetery (probably, Vick Cemetery.) Catherine Clark was informant.

Wilson, N.C., city directory, 1930.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 607 Green, owned and valued at $8000, Katherine Clark, 30, teacher, and sister Aleatha Clark, 24, a seamstress. Both women died in the mid-1930s, and the house was converted to upstairs and downstairs apartments.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: undertaker Talmer Hunter, 29, and wife Naomie, 27 a nurse, renting for $24/month; laborer Sidney Tomlinson, 27, wife Luney, 26, and son Alton, 18 months, renting for $8/month; Randolph Hunter, 7; Ethel Baptist, 40; Shorty Baker, 27; and Thomas Pender, 14.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: (downstairs) widow Jane White, 48, laundry checker; son-in-lsw Bruce Sutton, 28; daughter Lucille, 20, and their sons William E., 2, and Bruce Jr., 1; (upstairs) Charlie K. Clark, 60, day work mowing lawns, and son Donald, 7.

N.88.2.466-467, Catherine Clark House, 606 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.

605 East Green Street.

The two hundred-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: “ca. 1908; 1 story; William Hargrove house; triple-A house with bracketed, chamfered porch posts and cut-out balustrade; asphalt shingled; Hargrove was a blacksmith.”

Originally numbered 606, the Hargrove house is second only to the Samuel H. and Annie M. Vick house in longevity on the block.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hargrove Wm blksmith 206 S Goldsboro h 606 E Green

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 Green, blacksmith William Hargrove, 43; wife Louvenia, 40; daughters Bessie, 17, and Willie L., 13; and boarder John Howard, 18.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hargrove Wm blksmith h 606 E Green

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

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 East Green, Luvenia Hargrove, 60, widow, and daughter Willie, 29, public school teacher.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 East Green, owned and valued at $1000, Louvenia Hargrove, 74, widow; son-in-law McDuffie Smith, 42, shoeshine parlor operator; and daughter Willie, 48, teacher.

In 1942, McDuffie Smith registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 July 1899 in Durham, N.C.; lived at 605 East Green; his contact was Luvenia Hargrove, 605 East Green; and he was self-employed.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 East Green, shoeshine parlor manager McDuffie Smith, 51; wife Willie H., 53, city grammar school teacher; and mother-in-law Luvenia Hargrove, 80, widow.

Luevenia Hargrove died 22 February 1958 in Wilson at her home at 605 East Green. Per her death certificate, she was born 27 February 1869 in Edgecombe County to Joshua Bulluck and Harriet Hines and was buried in Bulluck cemetery, Edgecombe County. Informant was Mrs. Willie Smith, 605 East Green.

McDuffie Smith of 605 East Green died 17 July 1971. Willie Hargrove Smith died 12 years later. Her nephew, William Hines Macklin, remained at 605 East Green.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 May 1983.

William H. Macklin died 13 March 1991 in Wilson.

On 7 November 1994, the Wilson Daily Times published a list of boarded-up houses that included 605 East Green, described as needing “minor repairs.”

The house was renovated and remains occupied today.

N.87-12-354-359, William Hargrove House, 605 E. Green Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office.