Riverfront in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Eureka Dye Company
1915
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023
1. Eureka Dye Company Marker
Commercial building constructed for owners Charles Douglas Meyers (1868-1926), manager of Eureka Dye Works; and sister, Caroline Kelloch Meyers (1866-1956). In 1922, their company sustained heavy losses when a four-ton elephant named Topsy escaped from the Hagenback-Wallace Circus, busted into the building and hurled large quantities of dye, destroying clothing and expensive equipment. The company sued the circus for $5,000. The building remained in the family until 1942. The business continued as Eureka Cleaners until 1961.
Preservation Leadership since 1966
Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 9, 1922.
Location. 34° 14.05′ N, 77° 56.829′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in Riverfront. It is at the intersection of South 2nd Street and Dock Street, on the right when traveling
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Thomas the Apostle Church (within shouting distance of this marker); deRosset House (within shouting distance of this marker); General Benjamin Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Mahler Office (within shouting
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023
2. Eureka Dye Company Marker
Also see . . .
1. Topsy the elephant incident remembered 100 years later.
On Oct. 9th, 1922, the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus came to Wilmington. After the show, a four-ton Indian elephant named Topsy broke loose and headed toward downtown Wilmington. She traversed all over the city, stomping through downtown, wading into Greenfield Lake, and even swimming across the Cape Fear River. Topsy caused about $5,000 in damages, with the biggest mess occurring at Eureka Dye Works, a dry-cleaning company. Topsy walked through the closed doors, filled up her trunk with a tub of dye and sprayed it all over. It wasnt just sprayed on all the walls but on the clothes within the cleaners too, leaving people with ink-stained outfits. Prior to her escape in Wilmington, Topsy already had a track record of such behavior, including a nine-day(Submitted on June 21, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)escape in Florida.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 20233. Eureka Dye Company Building (northwest elevation)
2. HagenbeckWallace Circus.
The HagenbeckWallace Circus was a circus that traveled across America in the early part of the 20th century. At its peak, it was the second-largest circus in America next to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It was based in Peru, Indiana.(Submitted on June 21, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 21, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
