Historic Wilmington Foundation
2011 Most Threatened Historic Places List
2011 Most Threatened Historic Places List
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Market Street Majestic Tree Canopy, Market Street
between 17th and 21st streets, Wilmington, NC- New
addition - Throughout living memory, visitors approaching
the Port City from the north and west have been greeted by
an imposing arboreal entrance which contributes
significantly to the community’s charm and sense of place.
The beloved octogenarian oaks lining Market Street,
however, have suffered over the decades from traffic
injuries and organic threats including heart rot. As the
remaining living landmarks reach the limits of their expected
life, their benefits will be lost unless the community is
proactive in planning and planting enduring replacements. Stewarding the deciduous canopy along this stretch
of Market Street will also contribute to the integrity of significant abutting resources including the National
Cemetery, Wallace Park, Burnt Mill Creek, the Mansion District, the Carolina Place District, Westbrook
Ardmore District, and the Carolina Heights District.
Rosenwald Schools, Pender Co. – Over the last year
public awareness of the region’s Rosenwald Schools has
grown dramatically because of the hard work of Claudia
Stack and other activists. However, these structures, built
as forums for African American education at the beginning
of the twentieth-century, continue to be threatened by
neglect, deterioration, and expanding development.
Unless dramatic action is taken, these important
reminders of our state’s history of inequitable education
will disappear.
Historic Wooden Windows, Lower Cape Fear Region – A building’s character is often
determined by its windows. Frequently, however, historic windows are improperly
removed when a structure is repaired or rehabilitated and replaced with inappropriate
modern glazing. In most cases, wooden windows can be repaired and upgraded in an
environmentally friendly manner while retaining historic integrity.
Historic Wilmington Foundation
2011 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28403--910-762-2511
www.historicwilmington.org
Historic Wilmington Foundation
2011 Most Threatened Historic Places List
Affordable Historic Small Houses, Wilmington, NC - Modest domestic
structures located throughout the city’s neighborhoods, including bungalows,
cottages, and shotgun houses, provide quality living spaces for working
people while simultaneously serving as the foundation of the community’s
historic identity. Increased awareness of these often-overlooked structures
may protect them from adverse governmental action and assist in alleviating
the region’s crisis in affordable housing. More than 400 of these small houses
have been lost to demolition over the last 40 years.
Wooden Markers, Cemeteries, Brunswick County, NC - Some of Brunswick County’s
cemeteries are graced by rare, wooden grave markers. These extant examples of a
regional mourning tradition are threatened by neglect and lack of proper attention.
Brick and Stone Walls and Granite Curbs, Downtown
Wilmington - Historic brick and stone walls and granite curbs
comprise a significant aspect of our fair city’s historic landscape.
These masonry features function to define property boundaries,
protect privacy, and hold embankments in place, but also
contribute to the community’s charm and sense of place. When
they are lost to neglect, damage, or new construction, the
character of the city is diminished.
Former Topsail High School, Rte. 17, Hampstead, NC - New Status Built in the
early decades of the twentieth century, this structure is a reminder of the
importance of education to our region. Located in an expanding commercial
corridor, this historic building is currently unutilized by Pender County. The
increasing value of the land upon which it sits could make this building a likely
candidate for demolition. This school doubtless touched the lives of thousands of
people, today we need them to speak out for the building.
Historic Wilmington Foundation
2011 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28403--910-762-2511
www.historicwilmington.org
Historic Wilmington Foundation
2011 Most Threatened Historic Places List
Watch list:
Penderlea Hosiery Mill, NC Hwy. 11, Pender County, NC New
Addition - Holt Hosiery, the former occupants of the building,
put it on the market soon after it closed. The current owner
has cooperated with the Penderlea Homestead Museum,
allowing the museum to store artifacts in the mill. However
there has been discussion about demolition or the possibility
of a sale to a party unsympathetic to the historic significance
of the building and its role in this farm community. This
building should again play a vital role in this rural community.
The surrounding area has been reviewed and determined
eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places
and the survey work is currently underway.
St. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, St.
Helena Pender Co. - Built to serve a community of
Russian Orthodox immigrants in Pender County, this
church with its picturesque golden onion dome has
long been threatened by a shrinking congregation.
Members of the church are concerned about preserving
this community structure into the future.
Historic Wilmington Foundation
2011 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28403--910-762-2511
www.historicwilmington.org