In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historic markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.
We been here.
SAINT MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By 1886, Rev. John W. Perry of Tarboro, N.C., built a chapel at South and Lodge Streets in Little Washington community for Grace Mission. Later renamed Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church. Chapel rebuilt after fire in 1896. Adjoining parochial school operated for several decades. Church relocated to present location at 106 Reid Street SE in 1935.
Deed book 68, page 10, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson, N.C.
In December 1903, Orren and Hancy Best sold, for the nominal sum of five dollars, a lot on Nash Road to William J. Moore, Henry C. Phillips, John T. Tarboro, G. Albert Wood, and Byron D. McIver, trustees of Saint Stephen’s A.M.E. Zion Church. The 1200 square-foot lot bordered parcels owned by the Bests and Orren Best’s brother, Noah Best.
The deed of sale carried a restriction that the “premises shall be kept, used, maintained and disposed of as a place of worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America.” It’s not clear if a church were ever constructed on the site (or in fact, exactly where on West Nash Street the lot was, though we know it was in Grabneck and roughly in today’s 1000 or 1100 block.)
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- Henry C. Phillips
- John T. Tarboro — in the 1910 census of Plant City, Hillsborough County, Florida: preacher John T. Tarbor, 50, and wife Elberta, 20, laundress. In the 1920 census of Lincolnton, Lincoln County, N.C.: clergyman John T. Tarboro, 64, and wife Alberta, 29.
- Byron D. McIver — in the 1910 census of Hookerton township, Greene County, N.C.: clergyman Byron D. McIver, 44; wife Amanda, 29; and daughters Laura, 16, Minnie, 11, Katie, 6, Sarah, 3, and Bettie, 2. Byron David McIver died 25 September 1926 in Wilmington, N.C. and was buried in Snow Hill, Greene County.
When Redden S. Wilkins contracted Claudius Ayco*ck 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.
Wilson Daily Times, 17 May 1937.
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- Shorty Best
- James Best
- Loraine Bynum
Braswell R. Winstead once owned the lot at the southeast corner of Green and Pender Streets on which J.D. and Eleanor P. Reid later built their two-story house. In May 1897, Winstead sold a 15 by 64 1/2 strip of land at the rear of the property to George D. Green. A note at the bottom of the deed of sale states “The Piece of land deeded hereby is now enclosed in lot held by the Brinkley family.”
Deed book 45, page 62, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson, N.C.
The Brinkley family was probably: in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Dick Brinkley, 65; wife Charolott, 49, cook; son Hilliard, 29; and daughters Nancy, 27, schoolteacher, and Bettie, 23, nurse.
Lane Street Project’s Senior Force scheduled a special workday yesterday to welcome middle and high schoolers from Lucama’s Little Rock Original Free Will Baptist Church. The kids were welcomed by Castonoble Hooks and Briggs Sherwood, and Cass introduced them to history of Vick and Odd Fellows Cemeteries. Lane Street Project is grateful for the opportunity to partner with community churches, to educate young people, and to receive help from every willing hand!
Cass Hooks explains the historical significance of the cemeteries, who is buried there, and why it’s important that we take care of this legacy.
Kids working near the Wiley Oates monument. As you can see, the wisteria is trying to stage a comeback.
Odd Fellows gets a much-needed mowing. Without timely intervention, the feathery dog fennel you see near the lawnmower will soon be as tall as our heads. (By the way, the ditches are in the public right-of-way and therefore are the City’s responsibility. They are in serious need of mowing.)
Kids using a tarp to drag vine cuttings and small limbs to the curb for disposal.
Thank you, Jenn Ferguson and Little Rock youth! We hope you’ll tell others what you learned here and bring them back with you on a future work day!
Photos courtesy of Jenn Ferguson.
In October 1897, Joe Barnes of Toisnot, now Elm City, bought a buggy and harness from Hackney Brothers for fifty dollars at six percent interest.
Deed book 48, page 50, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson, North Carolina.
- Joe Barnes
The 500 block of East Nash Street is justly remembered as the 20th century epicenter of Wilson’s African-American-owned businesses. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Black entrepreneurs and tradespeople also operated across the tracks. As Wilson’s downtown experiences a resurgence, let’s rediscover and celebrate these pioneering men and women.
Check in each Sunday for the latest in the Historic Black Business Series!
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Though they spent most of the careers working for Walter S. Hines, David H. Coley and Roderick Taylor Sr. briefly joined forces to open their own barbershop in the mid-1920s. They set up at 105 South Goldsboro Street, as shown in the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory. By 1928, however, the partnership had dissolved.
1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory.
I have lived a lot of places, but Wilson is home, and there is nothing quite like being recognized and honored by your home folk.
Tonight, I received a Community Service Award from the Wilson Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. at the organization’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
The evening included a special tribute to the late Frank D. and Bobbie D. Jones.
The magnificent Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II delivered personal anecdotes about the Joneses’ lives and work and a homily for the perilous times we live in. We face dangers seen and unseen, so what will you do with the time you have — whether six minutes or six hours or six days or six months or ….?
It was great to see two of the Joneses’ children, Bobbie and Freddie. We both lost fathers in 2022 and at the time reached out to remind each other of the blessing of being raised by such incredible men. (By the way, that’s Dante Pittman sitting at our table. I spotted him looking around and invited him to join us. If you live in Wilson, take some time to get to know this man.)
Thank the Lord I said my little bit before 95 year-old Samuel Caswell Lathan, legendary musician and my friend, was recognized. He brought the house down with a rendition of “What a Wonderful World,” followed by remarks that began “I was born in 1929 — and you don’t have to tell me nothing” about perils and rose to “I’m gon tell you some things — and I don’t care if you carry it back.” In other words, he delivered a word, too.
Harry B. Harris readies the Jones family for reflections on the night’s events.
The indefatigable William E. Myers. (He is 91, y’all. NINETY-ONE.) For the last 60+ years, a banquet in Wilson ain’t a banquet, a wedding ain’t a wedding, a funeral ain’t a funeral without this treasured musician live on sax or keyboards.)
Me and my lovely sister, Karla Henderson-Jackson.
Thank you.
Wilson Daily Times, 8 May 1947.
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In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Amos Daniel, 44; wife Olive, 25; and children Willy, 14, and Zana, 12.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, Edward [Edmond] Moore, 23; wife Zana, 22; and daughter Mary, 3.
In the 1900 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina: on Thomas Street, Edmon Moore, 43, farmer; wife Zanie, 45; and children Mary, 22, Susa, 19, Edgar, 18, Wiley, 15, Matilda, 13, and Fred, 5.
In the 1910 census of Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina: Edmond Moore, 55, farmer, and wife Zany, 50.
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Moore Edward (c; Zanie) lab h 904 Atlanta [Atlantic]
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 904 Atlantic, Edward Moore, 70; wife Zannie, 60, laundress; and lodgers Blanch Guilford, 16, Julia Williams, 16, Ruth Donald, 17, private nurse, and Edner Donald, 15.
Zannie Moore died 6 May 1947 at Saint Agnes Hospital, Raleigh, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was 91 years old; was born in Wilson County to Amos Daniel and Ollie Jenkins; was the widow of Edmond Moore; worked as a farmer; and was buried in William Chapel church cemetery.
