Oakdale cemetery

Cemeteries and baseball.

I showed you here a baseball diamond in Daniel Hill discovered in a 1940 aerial photograph of Wilson. Within a few hundred yards of the Sallie Barbour School, just below Cemetery Street, here’s another captured the same year. Home plate appears to be at the lower right corner, and a well-worn path cuts across center and left field.

Look just above the diamond. That mottled wedge. Is that a cemetery?

Here’s another look, with an adjacent area also highlighted. Are these what was left of Oakdale Cemetery right before the city moved its graves to Rest Haven in 1941?

A contemporaneous news article refers to “dozens” of graves being moved, which always struck me as a low count for a 12-acre cemetery that had opened in 1896. However, maybe the site was not popular with families, especially once Rountree (1897 and 1906), Masonic (1900), Odd Fellows (1908), and Vick cemeteries (1913) were established. There’s also mention that the city had condemned Oakdale cemetery’s land in order to “build several roads through it.” Had the city sold off the condemned land? Certainly, it quickly filled with housing. I’ll do some sleuthing next time I’m in Wilson.

Wilson_CSP_6B_12, U.S.D.A. Photograph Collection, State Archives of North Carolina. Big thanks to R.L. for pointing out this wedge of land.

The purchase of land for Elvie Street School, part 1.

We saw this 1923 plat map of Daniel C. Suggs‘ property here.

Plat Book 1, page 215.

The plat map below shows that most of Suggs’ property was purchased by W.E. Batts. In 1925, a Durham auction house prepared a new plat for the Batts property.

Plat Book 3, page 17.

Here’s a present-day view of the area. New Street kept its name, but a truncated Hines Street is now Blount Street at its west end, and Elvie School Drive at its east. This map makes clear that the south end of the old Oakdale Cemetery (“colored cemetery” on both plats) lay under the circular driveway and front law of Elvie Street School [later M.M. Daniels Learning Center.] Its graves (or some of them, anyway) were moved to Rest Haven in 1941.

In 1946, to assemble land on which to build a replacement for the Sallie Barbour School, the Board of Trustees of Wilson City Schools began to buy up parcels in the property, also known as Suggs Heights and adjacent lots, including these:

  • on 26 May 1946, from Leon Powell and wife Carrie Powell — lots 12, 13, 14, and part of 11 [Deed Book 335, page 291]
  • on 12 April 1947, from W.E. Batts Jr. and wife Mildred C. Batts — block B, lots 5, 6, 15, 16, 29-36; Block C, lots 33-60; and Block E, lots 25-34 [Deed Book 333, page 256]
  • on 12 June 1947, from Sam Dixon and Evelyn F. Dixon (who had bought the lots from Hubert and Viola McPhail) — lot 14 and half of lot 13 [Deed Book 337, page 12]
  • on 8 July 1947, from Robert Lee Melton and wife Birt Melton — lot 11 and 6 1/4 feet of lot 12 of block E, facing Elmer [Elvie] Street, which had been conveyed to the Meltons by Lula Wynn on 28 February 1945 per Deed Book 295, page 461 [Deed Book 337, page 291]
  • on 25 July 1947, from Frank Norman and wife Elizabeth Norman — lot 13 and part of lot 12 of block E, conveyed by Wynn per Deed Book 295, page 465 [Deed Book 337, page 370]
  • on 28 July 1947, from Maggie Stokes and husband Turner Stokes — lots 9 and 10 of block E, purchased by the Stokeses on 20 January 1933 per Deed Book 202, page 465 [Deed Book 337, page 370]

The establishment of Oakdale Cemetery, 1892-1896.

Wilson County Public Library’s local history room holds volumes of transcribed minutes of meetings of Wilson’s late nineteenth-century board of town commissioners. The fits and starts of the town’s initial efforts to establish a public cemetery for African-Americans can be found in these pages.

On 1 August 1892, “Chas. Battle and Danl. Vick were appointed a committee to see where and at what price they could buy a suitable piece of land for a Colored Cemetery and report at the next meeting of the Board.”

On 5 September 1892, “Chas. Battle and Danl. Vick, the committee on the Colored Cemetery made their report, recommending two places. It was moved and carried that a committee of three be appointed to examine the said places and recommend a purchase. D. Herring, W.T. Sanders and Dr. A. Anderson were appointed as said committee.”

Four months later, on 2 January 1893, “The Committee on the Colored Cemetery recommended the purchase of the Peacock land, to the extent of about six acres. It was moved and unanimously carried that the Committee be authorized to make the purchase.” This land was not purchased, and another year passed.

On 23 February 1894, “It was moved and carried that Dr. Anderson and E.N. Mercer be appointed a committee on the Colored Cemetery, with instructions to have the same completed as early as possible.”

Four months later, on 26 July 1894, yet another committee: “It was moved and carried that the Mayor appoint a Committee to look into the matter of securing a Cemetery for the Colored Citizens of the Town.”

A year later, on 28 June 1895: “The matter of a Colored Cemetery was discussed and on motion, the Mayor, Geo. Hackney, and P.B. Deans were appointed a  committee to cooperate with a Committee on the part of the Colored people, to look after the purchase of a site for said Cemetery, with power to act.”

On 1 August 1895, “The Committee on the Colored Cemetery reported progress and was continued.”

Again, on 29 August 1895, “The Committee on the Colored Cemetery reported progress and it was continued.”

Finally, on 16 September 1895, “The Committee on the Colored Cemetery reported the purchase of a plot of land at a cost of $597.50. The action of the Committee was ratified and it was instructed to make all necessary arrangement for closing of the matter.” [G.W. and Easter Suggs sold John F. Bruton, mayor of the Town of Wilson, an irregularly shaped parcel of land adjoining the lands of Charles Battle, G.W. Suggs, and D.C. Suggs and others and measuring an astonishing 12.2 acres, as well as a strip of land to be “dedicated to the public use as an avenue, street, or road …” Deed book 39, page 132, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office. This is more than one-and-a-half times the size of Vick Cemetery. What happened to it?]

On 26 September 1895, “The matter of a fence around the Colored Cemetery was taken up and an offer for building a wire fence around the same was made by R.J. Taylor as follows: [blank] On motion, the offer was accepted. On motion, the attorney who prepared the deed for G.W. Suggs; the preparing of the deed being a part of the consideration, was allowed.”

On 29 November 1895, “On motion the Colored Cemetery was named Oakdale Cemetery.”

On 26 December 1895, “G.W. Suggs and others came before the Board to protest against an appointment of Keeper of Oakdale Cemetery, made at a previous meeting. On motion, the matter of opening the Street near Oakdale Cemetery was referred to the Street Commissioner and the Chief of Police.” [This, perhaps, was what we know as Cemetery Street.]

On 31 January 1896, “The Committee on the street at Oakdale Cemetery was continued.”

On 26 June 1897,  the Town Ordinance was updated, effective 1 July 1897: “Ordinance VIII. CEMETERIES. Section 1 – That any person making an interment in the Town, other than in Maplewood or Oakdale Cemetery should be subject to a fine of Ten Dollars. Section 2 – That any person injuring or defacing the enclosures around Maplewood or Oakdale Cemetery or the tomb-stones or plucking the flowers or shrubbery therein or in any church yard, should be subject to a find of Five Dollars. Section 3 – That any person riding or driving a horse or vehicle within the cemeteries faster than a walk, should be subject to a fine of Two Dollars. Section 4 – That the use of the Avenues in the Cemeteries as a public thoroughfare is hereby prohibited under the penalty of Two Dollars for each offense. …”

On 30 November 1896, “W.T.H. Woodard was relected [sic] Keeper of Oakdale Cemetery without pay, he having the use of all vacant land in the same.” [Woodard was a Missionary Baptist minister. The keeper of Maplewood, by the way, was paid $20-25 per month.]

This detail from the 1904 topographical map of Wilson Quadrant shows the general area of Oakland Cemetery.

Less than 15 years later, the handwriting was on the wall for Oakland Cemetery:

Wilson Daily Times, 12 December 1911.

A little over a year later, the Town bought 7.84 acres from Samuel H. Vick for a new black cemetery — the one we now know as Vick.

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 13: Oakdale Cemetery.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

OAKDALE CEMETERY

Also known as Oakland or Oaklawn. City-owned African-American cemetery established c. 1895. Last burial in early 1920s. Nearby Cemetery Street named for site. In 1940, city disinterred graves and moved to newly opened Rest Haven Cemetery.

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I took this photo on New Street at the opening of an alley leading to an open field at the rear of former Elvie Street School. No evidence of Oakdale Cemetery remains on the site. The cemetery’s exact boundaries have not been determined, but evidence is strong that this area was within its territory. Wilson Cemetery Commission has no maps of Oakdale Cemetery or records of its burials. Nor are there records pertaining to the disinterment of bodies from Oakdale and reburial in Rest Haven. Read more about this forgotten burial ground here and here and here and here and here.

Berry Williams, cemetery keeper.

The 1908 Wilson city directory lists Berry Williams as the keeper of Oaklawn Cemetery. Oaklawn, also known Oakland and Oakdale, preceded Vick Cemetery as Wilson’s Black public burial ground. It lent its name to Cemetery Street.

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On 13 April 1890, Berry Williams, 33, of Wilson township, son of Gilly Batchelor, married Penina Campbell, 19, of Wilson township, daughter of Sidney and Maggie Campbell, at Walter Ward‘s in Wilson township. Free Will Baptist minister Crocket Best performed the ceremony in the presence of Anthney Vick, Ransom Ruffin, and Hardy Ellis.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Berry Williams, 49, and wife Penina, 29.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) keeper Oaklawn Cemetery h 146 Suggs

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Berry Williams, 51, and wife Penny, 39.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) carpenter h 146 Suggs [146 Suggs Street, later numbered 701, was at the corner of Suggs and Moore Streets, just north of the cemetery.]

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) farmer h 146 Suggs

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, Berry Williams, 65, and wife Penina, 42, tobacco factory worker.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) laborer h 147 Suggs

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) farmer h 701 Suggs

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c; Penina) farmer h 701 Suggs

Berry Williams died 19 November 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 74 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Gillie Batcher; was married to Pennie Williams; lived at 701 Suggs Street; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, in Rountree Cemetery, but possibly Oakdale.]

A committee to look for a burial ground.

Late local historian Hugh B. Johnston Jr.’s file contained this note, apparently copied from volumes of city commissioners or boards of aldermen meetings that cannot now be located:

“Dec. 17, 1888 Oakview Cemetery. Gray Farmer, [illegible] Robinson, and Washington Sugg were appt. a Committee to look for a burial ground for the colored people.”

This is the earliest reference to a public African-American cemetery in Wilson and appears to presage the establishment of Oakdale (also called Oaklawn, Oakland, Oakwood, and Oakview) Cemetery in the area of present-day Cemetery Street south to the former Elvie Street School. Sugg (or Suggs) owned extensive property in the area, and the deed for his first land purchase refers to a preexisting “graveyard lot” near his property. This lot may have been developed into a city cemetery.

However, an 1895 Wilson Daily Times article mentions that county commissioners had begun to search for a “suitable burying ground for the colored people.” What had happened (or not happened) in the previous seven years?

Oakdale Cemetery, which was active until about 1920, was the predecessor of Vick Cemetery.

Thanks to J. Robert Boykin for bringing this to my attention.

Ordinance IX. Cemeteries.

On 28 June 1901, Wilson’s Board of Commissioners enacted town ordinances, including IX, which governed cemeteries. Twelve years later, the city abandoned African-American Oakdale Cemetery in favor of Vick Cemetery, which in turn it proceeded to neglect.

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Section 1 — That any person making an interment in the Town other than in Maplewood or Oakdale Cemeteries should be subject to a fine of Ten Dollars.

Section 2 — That any one injuring or defacing the inclosures around Maplewood or Oakdale Cemeteries, or tombstones, or plucking the flowers shrubbery therein or in any Church yard, should be subject to a fine of Five Dollars.

Section 3 — That any person riding or driving a horse or vehicle within the Cemeteries faster than a walk should be subject to a fine of Five Dollars.

Section 4 — That the use of the avenues in the Cemeteries as public thoroughfares is hereby prohibited, under a penalty of Two Dollars for each offense.

Section 5 — That no dead body should be exhumed in the Cemeteries except by permission of the Mayor, under a penalty of Ten Dollars.

Section 6 — That it should be the duty of the Keeper of Cemeteries to keep all lots clean, keep all graves filled when caved and in good condition.

Section 7 — That the Keeper of Maplewood Cemetery should be and is hereby invested with full Police power and is denominated Cemetery Policeman.

Section 8 — That no Cemetery lots should be sold except for cash.

Fire at the cemetery.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 September 1932.

In this odd series of events, the “negro cemetery” appears to be the old Oakdale cemetery, located west of Stantonsburg Street (now Pender) and by 1932 abandoned.

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  • Frank Austin — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 318 South Lodge Street, Alas Austin, 65; son George Austin, 45; and grandchildren Pattie B., 20, Earnest, 19, Rose M., 17, Lorrine, 13, Katie B., 12, Virginia, 11, and Leroy Barnes, 10, and Frank Austin, 23. [The Barnes children were surely the children of India Alston Barnes, who was shot to death by their father Tip Barnes in 1921.]

Lane Street Project: historic cemetery registration.

Last week, I registered Rountree, Odd Fellows, Vick, and Oakdale Cemeteries as historic cemeteries with North Carolina’s Office of State Archaeology, Division of Archives and History. Registration does not offer protection per se, but does guarantee their placement on state maps of sites of archaeological interest.

As an example, the form for Vick Cemetery:

The map showing state archaelogical sites is not yet available on-line.