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

The Sprunt Building

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. The Sprunt Building Marker

Inscription.
In constant occupancy since the pre-Civil War decade, the Sprunt Building was home of the Cape Fear Flour and Pearl Hominy Mill in 1884, the largest of its kind in the South. In 1919-1920, Alexander Sprunt & Sons rebuilt the structure to its current neoclassic revival style to house the thriving cotton export business. They shipped cotton to ports in Europe, England, and America. The Sprunt Building overlooked all the cotton compresses on the river and was, in actuality, a cotton exchange.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 34° 14.382′ N, 77° 56.959′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. Marker is on North Front Street just south of Walnut Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the east/front facade of the subject building, just to the left of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 North Front 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. Shrier Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vance Alley (about 600 feet away); The Bijou Theater (about 600 feet away); I. Shrier Lyceum Hall

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(about 700 feet away); Peterson & Rulfs Building (about 700 feet away); The Murchison National Bank Building (about 700 feet away); U.S. Post Office & Federal Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Mark’s (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding The Sprunt Building. Contributing Property, Wilmington Historic and Archeological District, National Register of Historic Places #74001364 & #03000344 (as Alexander Sprunt & Company).

From the National Register Nomination:
Designed by Henry Bonitz, the two-story brick building is a good example of an early Neoclassical Revival commercial building. The five bays are separated by terra cotta pilasters on stone base. Central entrance has broken pediment over lunette transom.

Also see . . .
1. Wilmington Historic and Archeological District. (Submitted on June 24, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Henry Emil Bonitz (1872-1921), Architect.
Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, of German parentage. Established an extraordinarily prolific practice as an architect
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

2. The Sprunt Building Marker
(marker is on left side of east/front entrance)
in Wilmington, with scores of projects in the port city and its environs, and many more in other towns and counties in North Carolina.
(Submitted on June 28, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. The Sprunt Building (east/front elevation)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

4. The Sprunt Building (northeast elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 90 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 24, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.