By John Cofield

After the Civil War, freed black families started walking into town from county farms and began to settle in Freedman Town.

As time passed the easiest way on foot to the Square was to enter downtown through Boles Wiley Alley. Named for Boles Shoe Shop, then later Wiley’s Shoe Shop, the owners, Robert Boles, and his son-in-law, Herbert Wiley, are well remembered in the town’s history as well as the smell and vibe of their shops.