Activists urge Raleigh to honor city's urbanized 'Fourth Ward'

Raleigh's Fourth Ward was a predominantly Black neighborhood once home to hundreds of families, dozens of businesses and four churches.

Posted 8:00 p.m. Oct 13 — Updated 8:43 p.m. Oct 13

Shelle Jackson

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Activists and neighbors on Saturday will memorialize Raleigh's Fourth Ward, a predominantly Black neighborhood they say was lost in the urbanization of the city.

Many former residents of the Fourth Ward in downtown Raleigh say they have been pushed out over the past decades, but they are pressing the city to remember its history.

The Fourth Ward is just south of Oakwood Cemetery and incorporates Idlewild Avenue, College Park, St. Agnes Hospital and Tarboro Road. It was once home to hundreds of families, dozens of businesses and four churches.

In the 1960s, the once-vibrant community was slated for urban renewal by the Raleigh Redevelopment Commission.

"Fourth Ward goes from Washington Elementary School all the way over to South Street, and they wiped that area out," said Octavia Rainey, a community activist.

According to Raleigh city records, the area was a blight with narrow, dead-end streets and dilapidated structures with a "pressing need" for revitalization.

Families were relocated and businesses were torn down.

"I was born right there on South Street, where they're building that big building on the corner right now," said Clara Meekings, who grew up in the Fourth Ward. "It was a neighborhood of love ... everybody looked out for one another."

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"We had good times in the Fourth Ward," said Etty Frazier, another former resident. "I lived on McKey Street, and I can't even find McKey street now."

After 50 years of development and urbanization, the area looks significantly different.

"When you look at it now, developers are going crazy building," said Rainey, who believes the city of Raleigh needs to make amends.

"We want justice served," she said. "We want the Fourth Ward to be recognized."

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said she can't understand why urban renewal in the area was even an option.

"It's, first off, shameful what happened to begin with," Baldwin said.

Baldwin said the city is looking at ways to incorporate the story of the Fourth Ward into the area.

Activists support the recognition but said it's impossible to get back what was lost.

"We don't have any Black neighborhood to go back to in the inner city," Rainey said. "Those Black neighborhoods are gone."

PorchFest event on Saturday

On Saturday, Oct. 14, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., PorchFest, a celebration of the area's history, will be held at the Tarrboro Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro St.

Residents who lived in the area will tell their stories of life in the neighborhood, and attendees will learn the history of the Tuttle Community Center, St. Agnes Hospital, the O'Rourke Cemetery, St. Monica School and nearby churches.

The block party, which was moved indoors due to the threat of rain, will include food, music, games, dancing and more.

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