SITE DIRECTORY

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Kaleigh Hoyt 2/5/22 Kaleigh Hoyt 2/5/22

Odd Fellows Cemetery

ODD FELLOWS CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1890s

ADDITONAL NAMES: Rountree Cemetery, Rountree-Vick Cemetery

AFFILIATION(S):

African-American Cemetery Coalition

HISTORY:

Odd Fellows Cemetery is at the center of three adjoining historic African-American cemeteries, each founded around the turn of the 20th century. (Rountree Cemetery is easternmost. Vick Cemetery is westernmost. Colloquially, and confusingly, all three cemeteries are collectively known as “Rountree Cemetery.” The City of Wilson erroneously refers to Odd Fellows and Vick cemeteries jointly as “Rountree-Vick Cemetery.”) Established as a burial ground by members of Hannibal Lodge #1552, Odd Fellows was active into the 1950s, though most burials were before World War II. It holds the remains of many early 20th century businesspeople and artisans, including Samuel H. Vick, arguably the most powerful, politically connected, and certainly the wealthiest African-American in Wilson from about 1890-1930.

Odd Fellows was abandoned circa 1960. The local lodge is defunct. Three-quarters of the two-acre is completely overgrown. Lane Street Project began leading volunteer cleanups in December 2020.

BCN Contact Information:

Lane Street Project

lisayhenderson@gmail.com