A bit of Washington, NC history | Eastern North Carolina Now

Christmas, long, long ago. This is Main and Market Streets looking east around the 1940's. There were several African American businesses on Main Street from the Civil War up until about 1920. By the 1940's only three remained. Willie Edward's Beauty Salon (she gave the first permanent wave in Washington!) Edmond Edward's Barber Shop and Herman Eason's Shoe Repair Service. Oh and about that bus....Washington had several bus lines from the depot that operated on Main Street across from the Louise Hotel that served as the Union Bus Station. Washington had a bus line to Engelhard and one to Oriental. There was also the Norfolk Southern Bus line, Seashore Transportation Bus Line and Southern Brothers Bus Line.

Source: I'm from Washington NC and nobody told me this!