New Hanover County Public Library Digital Archives

Find results with:

Search by date

To link to this object, paste this link in email, IM or document

To embed this object, paste this HTML in website

Harbor Island Auditorium.

View Description

Loading content ...

you wish to report:

Your comment:

Your Name:

Submit

Cancel

...

Title	Harbor Island Auditorium.
Subject	Harbor Island, Auditorium, Hammocks
Description	Designed by Henry E. Bonitz (1872-1921), a prominent turn-of-the-century Wilmington architect, the auditorium is bedecked in patriotic bunting to welcome the North Carolina Florist Association. Originally called, "The Hammocks" Harbor Island was an uninhabited low lying island of sand dunes, surrounded by marsh and Wrightsville Sound on the north and southwest, and Banks Channel on the east. There was a dense growth of knotted live oaks. In 1888, the Wilmington and Sea Coast Railroad Company built a steam railroad line from Wilmington to the Hammocks. Later the same year, the line was extended from the island via a trestle over Banks Channel to the beach. By the late 'teens, the Harbor Island Auditorium, designed by Henry E. Bonitz (1872-1921) was built to cater to large meetings, especially conventions. Development of the island began in earnest in the 1920s, when Shore Acres became its first residential community.
Source	Louis T. Moore Collection 877