fundraising

Junior Elks plan fundraising.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 April 1949.

Many of the Junior Elks were members of Darden High School’s classes of 1949. The “herd band” presumably was the Junior Elks’ band?

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The Independent School thrives!

Just months after it opened, the Independent School was thriving.

In January 1919, enrollment had climbed over 500 pupils and, at a meeting at Saint John A.M.E. Zion, supporters donated $677.84 (about $13,300 in today’s money.)

Wilson Daily Times, 21 January 1919.

In March 1919, a fundraiser at First Baptist Church netted $1020.23 (about $19,000 today), and almost half came through the efforts of teachers and students like Lillian Wilson. We learn something else about the Independent School here — in the tradition of Fisk University, it fielded a corps of jubilee singers!

Wilson Daily Times, 25 March 1919.

In May 1919, the anticipated crowd for the school’s first commencement exercises was so large that organizers had to go to Goldsboro to secure a 1500-person tent. (Per the 1920 census, the population of the whole town of Wilson was only 10,612, and black people constituted about 40% of that total.)

Wilson Daily Times, 27 May 1919.

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Though nearly 20 years old, Lillian Wilson was an eighth-grade graduate of the Independent School — formally, Wilson Normal and Industrial Institute — in 1919. Her journey was common. Whether because of health challenges or need to work to help support their families, few students started school at age 6 or completed eight grades in eight years.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Newbern Street, William Wilson, 52, livery stable groomer; wife Sarah, 48; and daughters Ellen, 23, and Lillian, 21, both tobacco factory laborers.

In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Wilson Lillian (c) dom 1010 Woodard av

On 28 September 1923, Rufus Wooten, 22, of Wilson, son of Arthur and Susie Wooten, married Lillian Wilson, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Will and Sarah Wilson, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister George Cooper performed the ceremony in the presence of George W. Barnes, L.G. Harvey, and R.L. Harvey.

A “pounding” for Mercy Hospital.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 April 1930.

A “pounding” is Christian tradition in which a congregation gives its new pastor welcoming gifts, i.e. a pound of coffee, sugar, or flour. In April 1930, the community participated in a pounding for Mercy Hospital, supplying much needed food staples, linens, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. 

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

They really want to help along their own education.

BOTH WHITE AND COLORED PEOPLE ARE TAKING A LIVELY INTEREST IN THEIR SCHOOLS; NEARLY $2,000 RAISED

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During October and November the following amounts have been raised and paid in to supplement the district funds of colored schools in Wilson County.

WILLIAMSON (Spring Hill)

The people have raised $300 to aid in building a new school house and to put cooking and sewing in their school.

ROCKY BRANCH (Spring Hill)

The people raised $200 in October to improve their school house and buy 20 new patent desks.

JONES HILL (Old Fields)

The people of this neighborhood raised $120 during October to improve their school house and buy 15 patent desks. They raised more than fifty dollars last spring for the same purpose.

LOVER’S LANE (Wilson)

This district has raised $50 to improve their school house.

EVANSDALE

This district has raised $400.62 for building a new house and buying desks.

POWELL’S (Cross Roads)

The people have raised $25 to get a good well and to put a pump in it.

LANE’S (Wilson)

This school has raised $75 with which to repair their school house and put in 15 new patent desks.

LUCAMA

The people have raised $100. They have installed 20 new patent desks and expect to add another school room later.

HOWARD’S (Taylor’s)

The people at Howard’s have raised $60. They ceiled their school house and have bought 15 new patent desks.

STANTONSBURG

This people of this district have raised $250. They have painted the school house, bought $100 worth of new patent desks, cleaned up the yard, put electric lights in the school house, and have secured a cook stove and a sewing machine.

SARATOGA

The people here have raised $7. They mean to increase this amount soon.

The above amounts total $1387.62. Other colored districts are now engaged in raising money to improve their school house. The results will be reported later on. The interest of the colored people in improving their school facilities has been greatly stimulated by the intelligent and untiring work of J.D. Reid, who has led in raising the amounts of money referred to above. For the first time in the history of the county the colored people have this fall made more voluntary contributions to their schools than the white people. Who can gain say the statement that the above amounts and the many others which will be reported later on show that our colored people really want to help along their own education?

I am sure it will pay handsomely to encourage this spirit of self-help on the part of our colored citizens. Those who show the interest in the welfare of their children indicated by the above sums of money deserve our thanks. I am certain all right thinking people appreciate the spirit which has prompted these donations.  CHARLES L. COON. January 1, 1917.

— Wilson Daily Times, 2 January 1917.

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[Note: the white people, at 12 schools, raised less than half as much — $537.35. — LYH]