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

Cowan House

c. 1840

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. Cowan House Marker

Inscription.
Believed to have been constructed by Jane Cowan, 2nd wife of Governor Edward B. Dudley and remained in Cowan family until 1871. Purchased in 1871 by Captain W.P. Oldham (1836-1918), commission merchant, grist mill owner, clerk of the Board of Audit and Finances of the County Commissioners, and manager of Interstate Telephone and Telegraph Company; purchased in 1903 by Nathan Schloss, (1855-1914), grist mill and livery stable owner; sold in 1924 to his partner Sigmond Bear; purchased in 1945 by Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church; acquired in 1979 by St. John’s Gallery for studio.

Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
Preservation leadership since 1966

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 34° 13.953′ N, 77° 56.835′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on South 2nd Street just south of Orange Street, on the right when

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the left of the east/front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208 South 2nd Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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,

and in the Tidewater.

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: Wright-Murphy House (a few steps from this marker); Sebrell House (within shouting distance of this marker); St. John's Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); Davis-Warshauer House (within shouting distance of this marker); Whitehead-Smith House (within shouting distance of this marker); Sloan-Powers House (within shouting distance of this marker); Northrop-Oldham House (within shouting distance of this marker); Elliott-Brown House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding Cowan House. Contributing Property, Wilmington Historic and Archeological District, National Register of Historic Places #74001364 (as Burch-Cowan House).

From the National Register Nomination:
Simple two-story Greek Revival house with scored stucco, hip roof front porch, and transomed central entry. In 1832 house was used as Free School by the Ladies of Wilmington.

Also see . . . Wilmington Historic and Archeological District. (Submitted on June 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

2. Cowan House Marker

(marker is on left side of east/front entrance)

Cowan House (<i>northeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. Cowan House (northeast elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 467 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.