The legendary steamer, Wilmington, was owned by John W. Harper (1856-1917), who was also her captain. Capt. Harper began taking passengers down the Cape Fear River from Wilmington to Southport about 1887. He owned two boats - the Passport and the...
North Carolina, New Hanover County, highway 421, Atlantic, industry
This is the ocean intake for the Ethyl Dow Chemical Co. which closed in 1945. The plant took bromine out of the seawater to use in making anti-knock gasoline. Years later the LaQue Center set up their corrosion testing operation at this location...
Lewis Davis and William Simms beat out a rhythmic sound as they drive spikes into a new section of track at the state port. Watching is supervisor Guy Williams. The workers were setting the "frog," a 4000 lbs piece of the switching mechanism that...
Built in 1859-1860 by the shipbuilders Pusey & Jones of Wilmington, DE, the "Hurt" served as a troop transport for the Confederacy during the Civil War and a passenger and freight boat later, making trips between Wilmington and Fayetteville along...
St. James Episcopal Church, Cemetery, Graves, Fourth Street
On the left side is St. James Episcopal Church Graveyard, the site of a 1787 duel between Samuel Swann and John Bradley. Note that the street’s paving material is brick.
Southwest corner of Fourth and Market streets. Located on the southwest...
The "Rocks", built between 1875 and 1881, by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, is properly called New Inlet Dam. The inlet was opened in 1761 by a strong hurricane and was the easiest and best entrance into the Cape Fear River and avoided the dangerous...
Fort Fisher, Civil War, Federal Point, Battery Buchanan, The Rocks
"Battery Buchanan" and "The Rocks," below Fort Fisher.
A Confederate stronghold, Fort Fisher is located about twenty miles from Wilmington on the tip of the Federal Point peninsula. The fort protected the Port of Wilmington, which was the last...
Ferry landing/office and causeway road, looking east towards Wilmington. Coopering or barrel making building is at right. In the center is a Wilmington Chamber of Commerce sign.
Naval Stores, Rosin, Resin, Turpentine, Tar, Eagles Island
Since colonial times, naval stores were an important industry for not only southeastern North Carolina, but the nation as well. World commerce depended on ships with wooden hulls, tarred riggings and sails, making pitch, tar, turpentine and rosin...
Laborer's houses for lumber or naval stores industries.
Since colonial times, naval stores were an important industry for not only southeastern North Carolina, but the nation as well. World commerce depended on ships with wooden hulls, tarred...
Turpentine distillery at an unknown site.
Since colonial times, naval stores were an important industry for not only southeastern North Carolina, but the nation as well. World commerce depended on ships with wooden hulls, tarred riggings and...
Wrightsville Beach. Atlantic surf and jetty.
Wrightsville Beach was named for Joshua Grainger Wright (1758-1811) who owned a vast amount of acreage along the sounds and the coast. The beach is a part of the North Carolina Banks, a chain of barrier...
Southwest corner of Fourth and Market streets. Located on the southwest corner of Fourth and Market streets (Block 154), the earliest mention of St. James' Graveyard was in 1781, during the British occupation of Wilmington, although a portion of...
Five children in bathing suits pose at the beach near Lumina. Note the movie screen in the water at left.
In 1901, the beach car line from Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach was sold by the Wilmington and Seacoast Railroad to the Consolidated...
Wrightsville Beach, Beaches, Summer Festival, Banks Channel
Summer Festival - Banks Channel Bridge with boy swimmers racing.
Wrightsville Beach was named for Joshua Grainger Wright (1758-1811) who owned a vast amount of acreage along the sounds and the coast. The beach is a part of the North Carolina...
U.S. Coast Guard provides life-saving training in surf boats.
Wrightsville Beach was named for Joshua Grainger Wright (1758-1811) who owned a vast amount of acreage along the sounds and the coast. The beach is a part of the North Carolina Banks, a...
Wrightsville Beach, Beaches, Tarrymore, Oceanic, Hotels
View of the Atlantic Ocean at Station One. Large building on left is the back of the Oceanic Hotel.
Wrightsville Beach was named for Joshua Grainger Wright (1758-1811) who owned a vast amount of acreage along the sounds and the coast. The beach is...