In post Civil War Raleigh, a community grew out of the land that that had once been the Cannon Plantation. Simple homes were built and rented to freedmen and became the Fourth Ward Neighborhood.  The Fourth Ward is long gone.  The community was razed in 1971 to build roads that provided a faster access out of town taking out homes, churches, and local commerce in the process. The plight of the community and efforts to permanently protect and honor its memory is recreated in this recent article by Josh Shaffer in the N&O. The story is told by the reminisences of former residents. The haunting black and white photos speak volumes themselves. I refer you here to the  article .  In addition, this week is a week of celebration in recognition and remembrance of the Fourth Ward.  The week-long schedule of events has been arranged by Octavia Rainey, a Raleigh Historian and leader of the effort for permanent recognition. Full details of the events and instructions to...

See all the details of the upcoming programs from The Wake County Historical Society at this link . Topics include- A Book Talk and Signing by Carmen Cauthen on the Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh NC - Sept. 11, free admission A Talk on the Historic Turner House by Cheryl Crooms Williams - Oct 10 Lessons from the Rosenwald Schools with Claudia Stack, Ed.M. & Richard T. Newkirk, Ed.D. - Nov 14 See all event details at this link . Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

This is a guest post from WCGS member and recording secretary, Linda Hames. This post originaly was published in the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter, v5.4, Summer 2022. “ The history of Method became a fascination for me in May, 2019, and I still have a long list of places and events yet to be explored.”   - Linda Hames Historic Method Community and Oak Grove Cemetery - Then and Now In 1865, virtually all of what is now Wake County was made up of farms or plantations, depending on the definitions used.   Before the war, in 1860, North Carolina had 331,159 persons who were “owned” by other persons.   Most of them were farm workers.   In 1865, they were freed, and they soon began to form Freeman’s Villages.   Those who could afford to do so, moved into the city where the population grew rapidly.  In the Raleigh 1870 census, out of a population of 7,790, there were 4,094 Blacks (53%). Maps and other records show us the location of at least 13 new Blac...

"Nestled in Oberlin Village sits a small patch of unassuming greenery currently used as a neighborhood park. Residents use it for morning yoga, community cookouts, and quiet evening walks. You'd never guess it used to be part of a university attended by men and women freed from slavery on Raleigh-area plantations. Reverend M.L. Latta House,  the heart of Latta University The last remnant of Latta University burned down in 2007, when the Latta House went up in flames. Rev. M.L. Latta was a slave on the Cameron Plantation, which comprised much of the land in and around the Cameron Village and Cameron Park areas of downtown Raleigh. When he was freed, he earned an education at Shaw University and established Latta University in Oberlin Village." - Heather Leah Follow this link to read the rest of Heather Leah's account of Latta University and its place in Oberlin Village. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |...