Want to own a historic Wilmington home? These three streets have multiple options.
Love history? Want to own a historic Wilmington home? There are three streets in downtown Wilmington that currently have multiple options on the market. The homes, which all have Historic Wilmington Foundation (HWF) plaques noting their significance, were built in the 1800s and 1900s and feature Italianate architectural styles to Dutch Colonial.
Here is some history of these six homes provided by HWF and New Hanover County Public Library Digital Collections.
508 S. Front St.
The Wessel-Harper House, a Greek Revival style built in 1846 by Jacob Wessel (1814-1887), is located at 508 S. Front St. in downtown Wilmington. The house was later owned by Captain James Thomas Harper in 1895 and was inherited by son Charles T. Harper, M.D (1904-1913) and his daughter Mary Harper Darby (1913-1957). It was preserved by the Housing Authority of the city of Wilmington in 1971.
401 S. Front St.
The Parker-Saunders House, located at 401 S. Front St., is a Greek Revival style home built in 1844 for John A. Parker (1819-1875), a house, sign and ship painter; and wife M.A. Alway (1826-1861). It was later owned by Charles H. Robinson (1831-1917), commission merchant; and wife, Elizabeth White (1837-1903) from 1871-1904. Woodrow Wilson is reputed to have been a guest in the Robinson house while on vacation from Davidson College. Marcellus G. Saunders (1872-1951), a traveling salesman, purchased it in 1904 with his wife, Annie Hankins (1878-1941). The Italianate style house remained in the family until 1948.
Another on the market: A look inside a historic Wilmington 'mansion' for sale
1801 Chestnut St.
The 1921 Cherry-Halterman House, a Dutch Colonial style, is located at 1801 Chestnut St. and was built for insurance agent Luther H. Cherry and wife Hattie E. OHenry. The house was purchased in 1939 by William Kimry Stewart Jr. (1910-1999), a mortician, and was sold in 1968 to Lawton H. Halterman (1920-2013), native of West Virginia and owner of a wheel alignment shop, and wife, Mable Bass (1926-2015), native of Sampson County.
1920 Chestnut St.
Hinton-Nixon House, at 1920 Chestnut St., is a 1923 Dutch Colonial Revival style house built for Edgar Latimer Hinton (1868-1936), businessman and owner of the Seashore Hotel at Wrightsville Beach; and wife, Mamie E. Lively (born 1882), native of Birmingham, Alabama. From 1941-1991 it was owned by the Nixon sisters, Anne Irene (1884-1973), teacher; Nora Vestal (1888-1983), secretary; and Cora Lee (1888-1991), teacher.
More: As a Wilmington landmark avoids demolition, here are five historic buildings being restored
224 S. Third St.
The 1857 Italianate style Parsley House, house built by Oscar G. Parsley (1806-1885) of Onslow County; and wife, Anna McKay (1814-1889), is located at 224 S. Third St. Parsley, who owned the Hilton Saw Mills, was president of Wilmington and Manchester Railroad and mayor of the city in 1856, 1857 and 1863. The house remained in the family until 1955.
218 S. Third St.
The Latimer-Waddell House, located at 218 S. Third St., was built for William Latimer (1852-1923), an industrialist. In 1886 it was deeded to Ellen Savage (1842-1898), second wife of Alfred Moore Waddell (1834-1912), U. S. Congressman, Mayor of Wilmington, orator and historian. The house was purchased in 1925 by Albert T. Summey, real estate agent for Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, who lived here until 1964. The rear section of the building was enlarged and bricked in 1975. The 1885 Italianate style house could be off the market soon as it was recently listed as contingent.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Where to buy historic homes in Wilmington NC
