When Redden S. Wilkins contracted Claudius Aycock to build him a house in 1897, Wilkins borrowed $206.50 from J.R. Uzzell and put up his Lodge Street lot as surety. The house was a tiny one, measuring 36 feet long by 21 feet wide with an 18-foot porch and a six-foot-wide passageway. (That seems like a lot of hall for such a narrow house.)
Deed book 45, page 53, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson, N.C.
Gizzards & Livers made the New York Times!
“Now living in Durham, N.C., [Kate] Medley, 42, has spent more than a decade collecting images for her book of photographs, ‘Thank You Please Come Again,’ which the digital magazine The Bitter Southerner published in December. The book began with a journalist’s curiosity, but ended up as a way for a daughter of the Deep South to make sense of the beautiful, brutal, complicated place she came from.”
To my dismay, the article didn’t identify the location of that iconic green building, so:
Anyway, even though Gizzards & Livers is not Black-owned (Palestinian-American, I’m told), I feature it here because:
(1) it sits at the corner of Hines and Lodge Streets, at the edge of a 125 year-old African-American neighborhood;
(2) it carries on the legacy of the little groceries and eating houses that fed working-class folk in Wilson’s tobacco warehouse district a hundred years ago; and
(3) that sign (which has since been freshened up) is classic Louis Thomas III! (Rest in peace.)
This triple-A cottage 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.
For much of the twentieth century, the house was owned and occupied by Oscar B. Green, his wives, and their descendants.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, Oscar Green, 35; wife Josie, 22; children Willie, 6 months, and Eva, 2; and sister-in-law Mattie Walls, 20.
In the 1922 and 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directories: Green Oscar (c) tobwkr h 606 S Lodge
Josephine Green died 21 October 1927 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 37 years old; was born in Henderson, N.C., to Joseph Ward and Francis Rawls; was married to Oscar Green; lived at 606 South Lodge; and worked as a day laborer at Export Tobacco Company.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Green Oscar (c; Essie M) lab h 606 S Lodge
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Green Oscar (c; Essie M) factorywkr h 606 S Lodge
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, tobacco cooper Oscar Green, 44; wife Essie M., 26; and children Eva L., 12, Willie O., 10, Hattie M., 6, and Lucile, 4; Mary Barnes, 48, dressmaker, and her children Alma, 20, servant, Elizabeth, 16, Lalla R., 12, and Elois, 8.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, Oscar Green, 53, redrying laborer at tobacco factory; wife Essie May, 36; and children Eva L., 22, Willie Oscar, 19, Charles B., 16, Hattie Margaret, 15, and Lucille, 14.
In 1940, Willie Oscar Green registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 June 1919 in Wilson; lived at 606 South Lodge Street; his contact was Beulah Sutton Green, 606 South Lodge; and he worked for R.P. Watson Tobacco Company, 410 South Street, Wilson.
Eva L. Green died 6 April 1941 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 15 May 1917 in Wilson to Oscar Green and Essie Winstead; was single; worked as a tobacco factory laborer; and lived at 606 South Lodge.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 606 South Lodge, Arthur [sic, Oscar] Green, 64, loads truck at tobacco company; wife Essa Mae, 40; daughter Lucy, 24; grandsons Dona Roy, 1, and Jessie, 3; son Willie, 30; granddaughter Marie, 8; grandson Willie M., 7; daughter Hattie M., 26; granddaughter Margaret, 4; and son Charlie, 26.
Essie Mae Green died 5 September 1953 in Wilson. She was born 1 July 1904 in Wilson to Junius Walker and Louise Hyman; lived at 606 South Lodge Street; worked as a laborer; and was married to Oscar Green.
Wilson Daily Times, 19 September 1953.
Carrie Coleman Green died 23 July 1972 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 December 1902 in Alabama; was married to Oscar Green; was retired; and lived at 606 South Lodge.
Oscar Bell Green died 26 September 1975 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 September 1897 to Nelson [Neverson] Green and Isabella Thorp; was a widower; lived at 606 South Lodge; and was a tobacco factory laborer. Lucille Tillery was informant.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, November 2022.
Wilson Daily Times, 22 July 1925.
William Knight is not listed in the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory, and I have not been able to identify his house more particularly.
Hominy Swamp arises in western Wilson County, flows southeast of downtown and empties into Contentnea Creek near the Evansdale community. Prone to severe flooding, the creek has been channeled at several points along its length; from just above Tarboro Street south its plain is largely industrial. Hominy Swamp traditionally served as a boundary between certain black and white neighborhoods — Daniel Hill and Hominy Heights, and Happy Hill and Five Points, for example.
Per the Wilson Daily Times, in December 1924, the city contracted with a Raleigh contractor to build bridges spanning Hominy Swamp at Lodge Street, Goldsboro Street, Mercer Street, Tarboro Street and Park Avenue at a cost of $65,000.
I crossed over the Lodge Street bridge Saturday. It would seem to be $15,000 well-spent.
Here, Hominy Swamp Canal looking east from the Lodge Street bridge. North of the creek (to the left here) for most of the 20th century was a largely African-American neighborhood centered at Lodge and Banks Streets. South, Five Points, which was a white neighborhood until late in the 20th century.
Three years later, Hominy Swamp jumped its banks, climbing high enough to nearly overtop the walls of the bridge. Homes at Lodge and Mercer Streets flooded, requiring the rescue of a disabled 80 year-old African American woman.
Wilson Daily Times, 18 September 1928.
This house 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 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 506 [sic] Lodge Street, cafe proprietor Jessie Strickland, 28, and wife Viola, 27, and roomers Mack Strickland, 18, transfer truck driver, and James Johnson, 20, guano company laborer.
In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Strickland Jesse (c; Viola) propr Strickland Cafe h 504 S Lodge
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 504 Lodge Street, owned and valued at $4000, Jesse Strickland, 46, and wife Viola, 37. Their occupations are listed as farm laborer and “manufacturing [illegible]/own plant.” However, it appears that entries are off by a line, and should read “manufacturing [illegible]/own plant” and cook for private family.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Strickland Jesse (c; Viola) 504 S Lodge
In a familiar tale of woe, the Stricklands defaulted on their mortgage, and Wilson Home & Loan Association advertised the property for auction.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 November 1930.
Jessie Strickland died 18 March 1932 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 40 years old; was born in Wilson to Mose Farmer and Hannah Strickland; was a clerk in a store; and lived at Spring Street. Informant was Viola Strickland, 504 South Lodge.
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Mable Annie (c) maid h 504 S Lodge
In the 1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Mable Annie (c) h 504 S Lodge
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2017.
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.
This house 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 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Lodge Street, house carpenter Neverson Green, 49; wife Ezabell, 45 and children Ada, 22, Viola, 19, Rosa, 16, William O., 14, Lula, 12, Henry, 8, Bessie, 6, and Eva, 2. Ada, Viola and Rosa were tobacco factory laborers; William worked in a box factory.
Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson showing 502 South Lodge Street in 1913.
Sanborn map showing two locations at which Neverson Green operated grocery stores, across from the Norfolk Southern tracks at 400 and 412 South Spring Street.
In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Green Neverson grocer 412 S Spring h 502 S Lodge
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: grocery merchant Neverson Green, 58, grocery merchant; wife Isabella, 54; daughters Lula, 21, Bessie, 16, and Eva, 12; and roomer Willie Ward, 19.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: grocery store merchant Nelson Green, 72; wife Isabella, 65; daughters Lula, 30, and Eva, 23; and grandchildren Lila R. Barnes, 12, and Lissa Strickland, 12.
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Green Nelson (c; Isabella) gro 400 Spring h 502 S Lodge
Neverson Green died 3 March 1936 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 March 1857 in Granville County, North Carolina, to Henry Green and Rosa Green; was a merchant storekeeper; resided at 504 [sic] Lodge; was married Isabella Green; informant was Viola Strickland, Wilson.
Isabella Green died 13 August 1936 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 13 March 1865 in Granville County to Haywood Thorpe and Rachel Thorpe; lived at 504 [sic] South Lodge; and was a widow. Ada Knight of Wilson was informant.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: brickmason Aaron Pittman, 38; wife Lucy, 37; daughters Helen, 18, and Lucy Gray, 17; and lodger Emmaline Hayes, 21.
In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Pittman Aaron (c; Lucy) brcklyr h 502 S Lodge
In 1941, Haron Pittman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 6 September 1901 in Robeson County, North Carolina; resided at 502 South Lodge Street; his nearest relative was Helen D. Ford, 502 Lodge; and he worked for Jones Brothers Contractors, Wilson.
Haron M. Pittman died 9 March 1949 at Albemarle Hospital, Pasquotank County, North Carolina, of a cervical vertebra fracture suffered in an auto accident on Highway 17 near Elizabeth City. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 September 1901 in Robeson County to Mack Pittman and Lummie Mitchell; was divorced; resided at 502 South Lodge Street, Wilson. Informant was Helen P. Ford, 502 South Lodge.
On 6 March 1957, Helen Pittman Ford and husband Quincy, Clara E. Pittman and Lucy Pittman Cunningham and husband Prince Cunningham borrowed $3000 from real estate developer George Stronach Jr. and Atlantic Building and Loan Association and gave a mortgage on the property at 520 South Lodge. The Pittman family defaulted.
The notice that ran in the Daily Times in March 1960 mentioned that Aaron Pittman had purchased the property in 1937, and Neverson Green well before that. (Though the exact date is not mentioned, deed book 42 dates to the 1890s.)
Wilson Daily Times, 10 March 1960.
It appears that members of Neverson and Isabella Green’s extended family regained the house at 520 South Lodge. Daughter Ada Green Knight died 3 March 1973 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in Virginia on 13 March 1887 to Nelson Green and Isabell Thorp; resided at 502 South Lodge Street; and was a retired laborer. Informant was Nancy Doris Lucas, 502 South Lodge.
Jesse Vernon Lucas and Nancy Doris Knight Lucas lived at 502 South Lodge Street until their deaths in 1986 and 2013, respectively.
Wilson Daily Times, 29 April 2013.
[A lost-and-found photo album belonging to Neverson and Isabella Thorpe Green’s granddaughter Etta Mae Barnes Taylor was the subject of a New York Times feature in early 2017.]
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2018.
This deed made this the 14th June 1875 by Charles Battle and wife Leah to Susan Mitchell all of the County of Wilson and State of North Carolina Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the said Charles Battle and wife Leah have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain sell alien and convey to Susan Mitchell and her heirs that certain piece parcel or lot of land in Wilson on the continuation of Lodge street beginning at Thomas Johnstons line running thence at right angles with said Lodge street and along said Johnstons line seventy yards to a stake thence a line parallel with Lodge street sixty five feet to a stake then a line at right angles with said Street seventy yds, thence with the Street sixty five feet to the beginning containing one third of one acre more or less to have and to hold the same together with the improvements privileges and appurtenances there unto belonging to the said Susan Mitchell and her heirs and the Charles Battle and wife Leah do for themselves their heirs executors administrators and assigns covenants to and with the said Susan Mitchell her heirs executors administrators and assigns to warrant the title herein made against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever. In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names and affixd our seals Charles (X) Battle, Leah (X) Battle
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State of North Carolina, Wilson County } In the Probate Court.
On this the 11th day of June in the year 1875 before me H.C. Moss Judge of Probate for said County, personally appeared Charles Battle and Leah Battle persons described in, and who signed the annexed conveyance, and severally acknowledged the due execution thereof for the purpose therein expressed. And thereupon the said Leah Battle being by me privately examined apart from her said husband touching her voluntary consent thereto acknowledged that she executed the same freely and without fear or compulsion of her said husband and do now voluntarily assent thereto and hereby relinquish her right of dower in said land. Thereupon let the said Deed and this certificate be registered. /s/ H.C. Moss, Probate Judge
Received & Registered June 19, 1875
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1880 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County.
Deed Book 11, page 35, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.