Historic District in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Second and Orange Street USO Club

1941

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. Second and Orange Street USO Club Marker

Inscription. Kahn & Jacobs Architects, New York City
Lt. Leslie N. Boney, Jr., Supervising Architect
A.R. Abrams Co., Atlanta, GA, Contractors
Federally-funded recreation center (Type A) built in the International style and leased to United Services Organizations, Inc. Hosted 2,388,000 members of Armed Services and civilians in WWII. Purchased by the city 1946 for a community center. Site of opening ceremony of the First Azalea Festival, 1948. Renamed 2005 for Hannah Solomon Block (1913-2009), member of City Council, Mayor Pro Tempore, civic leader and pioneer preservationist. Renovated 2007-2008, John Sawyer Architects, for public use.

James D. and Rosalie W. Carr Memorial Plaque
Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
Celebrating 50 Years in 2016

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Entertainment • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 34° 13.986′ N, 77° 56.839′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. Marker is on South 2nd Street just north of Orange Street

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, on the left when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the left/south of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. John's Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); Hogg-Anderson House (within shouting distance of this marker); Cowan House (within shouting distance of this marker); Fanning House (within shouting distance of this marker); William E. Worth House (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Anderson's Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Wright-Murphy House (within shouting distance of this marker); Adrian House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . .
1. Hannah Block Historic USO Building.

The Second and Orange USO Club was erected by the Army Corps of Engineers at a cost of $80,000. Along with an identical structure on Nixon Street for African-American servicemen, it opened in December 1941, the same month that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The club was run by four charitable agencies affiliated with the USO: the YMCA, YWCA, National Jewish Welfare Board, and National Travelers Aid Association. Volunteers kept the building open 24 hours
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

2. Second and Orange Street USO Club Marker
(marker is mounted on far left/south side of front entrance)
a day, seven days a week. At the height of the war, attendance reached 63,000 per month.

(Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. The USO Serving on the WWII Home Front in Wilmington, NC.

The main USO building opened in 1941 in downtown Wilmington at Second and Orange. This site was segregated. An African American USO building was constructed 15 blocks north (at Ninth and Nixon Street). The main USO building at Second and Orange now houses a museum and community arts events. Unfortunately, the African American USO building was demolished after the war. The main USO building at Hannah Block could house up to 600 service members in the converted dormitory basement.

(Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Wilmington, North Carolina - World War II Heritage City.

In September 2020, Wilmington, North Carolina was designated an American World War II Heritage City. The USO club in downtown Wilmington at Second and Orange became a popular off-duty site for hundreds of thousands of white service people stationed at bases in neighboring cities, such as Camp Davis, Camp Lejeune, and Fort Bragg. When it opened in 1941, volunteers at the club organized radio broadcasts, dances, theatre, childcare, and art exhibits for approximately 35,000 servicepeople per week.

National Register of Historic Places Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. National Register of Historic Places Marker

(mounted near northeast corner of building)
The Community Arts Center
(Wilmington U.S.O.)
built in 1941
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

(Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Wilmington Community Arts Center (<i>northeast corner</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

4. Wilmington Community Arts Center (northeast corner)

(National Register of Historic Places marker is mounted beneath windows on right)

Wilmington Community Arts Center (<i>northeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

5. Wilmington Community Arts Center (northeast elevation)

Wilmington Community Arts Center (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

6. Wilmington Community Arts Center (southeast elevation)

Wilmington Community Arts Center (<i>east/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

7. Wilmington Community Arts Center (east/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on June 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on June 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.