Lane Street Project

Lane Street Project: giant steps at Vick Cemetery.

I agree with Castonoble Hooks. A corner’s been turned. Before today’s work started, I took a brief call from a city official with a run of show — an unthinkable courtesy just months ago. By day’s end, a monument proclaiming the identify of this sacred space stood on high ground, visible on the street from both directions. Two smaller monuments were placed at the western end of the cemetery, and the marble vault unearthed and damaged in December was re-interred. The granite pillars flanking the parking lot — inaccurately labeled and encroaching on Odd Fellows — have been removed, and the third corner marker will be installed later. Additional ground-penetrating radar has been delayed, but remains in the plan.

My thanks to everyone who had a hand in today’s respectful work. Your care is deeply appreciated.

Lane Street Project: Ben Mincey’s cleanup work revisited.

Another gift from the Joneses: the aluminum offset printing plates for the 18 February 1989 edition of the Wilson Daily Times, which featured Ben Mincey‘s work to honor his parents at Odd Fellows Cemetery.

On closer look, I see that the photo below was taken in Vick Cemetery. Though the City later was struck by amnesia, the sign clearly states that the property was overseen (if not actually cared for) by “The City of Wilson Cemetery Commission.”

This photo was taken in Odd Fellows, but a very different-looking Odd Fellows than today. The two tall grave markers at center left are those of Della Hines Barnes and Dave Barnes. You’ll notice that, while today they stand in the open, they were then surrounded by trees. A car is visible inside the tree line, likely parked on one of the paths that were used to dump trash in the cemetery.

Below, Ben Mincey stands closer to what is now the Vick Cemetery parking lot (the Barnes markers behind him.) In the foreground, a large flanged metal pipe. In the back, Henry Tart‘s tilting monument.

Lane Street Project: the season’s last service day.

The workday’s shoutouts:

  • to the veterans who visited Odd Fellows Cemetery Saturday morning to place flags for Memorial Day;
  • to Will Kinsler, who came back with friends Haley of Fayetteville and Savannah and Dustin of greater Raleigh. They spent a full shift hacking new wisteria from trees and clearing the tree line to aid our mowing efforts; and
  • to the inimitable Senior Force — Castonoble Hooks, R. Briggs Sherwood, and William Hooks — our foot soldiers month in and month out.

Finally, a resounding thank you to everyone who came out to help this season. Each of you made a tremendous difference in the reclamation of Odd Fellows Cemetery, and we are honored that you chose to spend a Saturday morning with us when you could have been doing anything else.

Big things are coming, and we hope you’ll continue to support us as we put the generous gifts we’ve received to work. Though our official cleanup season has ended, we may call on you for specially scheduled service days this summer or fall related to upcoming projects. Thanks again!

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Lane Street Project: Rountree Cemetery on a May morning.

I don’t talk a whole whole lot about Rountree Cemetery proper, but it is never out of mind. Here it is, near its boundary with Odd Fellows. That’s the City of Wilson’s power pole, punched in in 1997. What you see, festooned in wisteria, effectively belongs to the City by virtue of a “perpetual easement of right-of-way” it obtained the same year. Behind the pole is a pile of headstones. 

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Lane Street Project: a grass-cutting appeal.

Oh! Look! Odd Fellows Cemetery awash in dandelions! Lovely, isn’t it?

Well. Not really.

Odd Fellows is a graveyard. Not a meadow. It’s overgrown. And our lawnmower has conked out. Until Friends of Lane Street Project (FoLSP) raises funds for a new one, won’t you consider stopping by to mow the front? Our last cleanup of the season in Saturday, May 23, but you can come whenever convenient. 

Thank you!

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Lane Street Project: creating the Vick Cemetery Advisory Committee.

A reminder — the City Manager’s recommendations to City Council concerning Vick Cemetery included this paragraph:

Yesterday, the City of Wilson posted a notice advising that City Council’s Nominating Committee will meet Thursday to discuss the organization of the Vick Cemetery Advisory Committee.

Cheers to the City as it continues to act upon its promises. I look forward to learning more about the Committee’s charge and composition.