National Register of Historic Places

1306 East Nash Street, re-visited.

I surely passed Clarence B. Best‘s house-cum-atelier thousands of times in my child- and young adulthood, but I have no memory of this display of his wares in his front yard as shown in this 1980 photograph. In this era, Nash Street cut right in front of his house. 

Houses, 700-1407 E. Nash Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh.

701 East Green Street, revisited.

George and Cora Miller Washington built their large house at 701 East Green around 1920. George Washington‘s sister Annie was married to Samuel H. Vick and lived catercorner from the Washingtons at 622 East Green.

Within a decade of Historic Register designation in 1988, East Green Street had lost many of its gems, including the Washingtons’ house. The house below was built on the lot.

Upper photo, N.80-11-895, N.88.2.515-517, 701 E. Green St., Cora Washington House, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh. Lower photo taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, 2025.

611 and 613 East Nash Street.

The two hundred-tenth 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 611 and 613 East Nash as: “ca. 1908; shotgun with double-pile main block and kitchen wing.” They were built as rental housing, and occupants changed regularly. Both houses, and a third shotgun at 615, have been demolished.

Until about 1921, the houses were numbered 612 and 614. In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 612, Amos Johnson, 26, wagon factory laborer; wife Alice, 24; and daughter Elnora, 4.

The 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson shows houses crowding the north side of the 600 block of East Nash Street. All are gone.

In Hill’s 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

In Hill’s 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory:

Wilson Daily Times, 23 August 1939.

Approximate location of 611 and 613 East Nash Street today, via Google Maps.

N.87-12-919-921, E. Nash, N. Side, 400 Block, 601-619 E. Nash Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh.

622 East Nash Street.

The two hundred-ninth 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; 1 story; Dickerson Grocery; parapet-roofed grocery with one-bay facade and metal veneer.” The building has been demolished.

The building appears in the 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map with a shed extension that had been demolished long before the photo above was taken in 1987. It was not assigned a street number.

There is no listing for the location in the 1928 or 1930 Hill’s city directories of Wilson.

However, in the 1941 Hill’s city directory of Wilson: Jackson Jos S (c; Annie H) fruits 614 E Nash h 618 E Green

And in the 1947 Hill’s city directory of Wilson: Stevens & Ricks Gro (c; David L Stevens J L Ricks) gros 620 E Nash

The two-story brick Knights of Solomon building is visible at rear.

The last owner of the grocery, Margaret H. Dickerson, died in 2002.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 2002.

N.87-12-1030-1033, Dickerson Grocery, 622 E. Nash Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh.

1100 East Nash Street, revisited.

Known as the Sallie Barbour house, 1100 East Nash Street was demolished in the early 2000s.

Houses, 700-1497 E. Nash Street, East Wilson Historic District, Wilson, Wilson County, Survey and National Register Branch, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and Records, Raleigh.

1001 Washington Street.

The two hundred-eighth 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. 1930; 2 stories; gable-end apartment house with engaged porch; built by Barney Reid particularly to house teachers.”

However, in 1928, Bessie Wingate Matthews and her children lived in the house:

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

And on 22 July 1930, the Daily Times listed Eddie Wingate as delinquent for 1929 property taxes on the house:

In the 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Matthews Bessie (c) lndrs 1001 Washington

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1001 Washington, widow Bessie Matthews, 38, laundress; daughter Lula McNair, 23, and grandson Alton McNair, 7; daughter Edith Brooks, 18, and grandchildren Lucile, 9, Johnny, 5, and James Brooks, 2; and lodgers James, 26, oil mill laborer, and Harvey Craddle, 32, tobacco factory packer; James Floyd, 19, building painter; Walter Thomas, 32, barber; Essie Brooks, 29, tobacco factory stemmer; and Eddie McNair, 25, tobacco factory packer.

In the 1947 Wilson, N.C., city directory: James Herman (c; Mildred K) lab Hackney Wagon h 1001 Washington

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1001 Washington, downstairs, Herman James, 43, shop foreman at body company; wife Mildred, 41; children Willie, 20, Herman Jr., 19, Delores, 16, Alma, 12, Hilton, 11, Waddell, 10, Clyde, 8, and Mildred, infant; and mother Lucy Knight, 69, widow; and upstairs, Tom Speight, 37, making tobacco barrels, and wife Emma, 26, cook.

In 1968, N.E. Darden applied for permits to make repairs to 1001 Washington and 300 North Vick (Barney Reid’s former home).

Wilson Daily Times, 27 September 1968.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 1981.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2026.

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.