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

Mary Jane Langdon House

1870

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. Mary Jane Langdon House Marker

Inscription. E. W. Brown, Architect
Alfred Howe, Builder
Italianate style house built for Mary Jane Halsey Langdon (1799-1883), widow of Samuel Langdon (1786-1832), merchant, to replace residence that burned. Inherited by granddaughter Jane Young (1849-1930), and husband, Thomas D. Meares, C.S.A., (1848-1927), City Clerk and Treasurer; Supreme Master of Exchequer of the Knights of Pythias. House remained in family until 1958.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 34° 14.131′ N, 77° 56.653′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on Market Street (Business U.S. 17) east of South 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the right of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 408 Market 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: Temple of Israel (a few steps from this marker); Martin-Huggins House

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(a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Temple of Israel (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilmington Coup (within shouting distance of this marker); Baldwin House (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic First Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Huggins House (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilmington Light Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding Mary Jane Langdon House. Contributing Property, Wilmington Historic and Archeological District, National Register of Historic Places #74001364.

From the National Register Nomination:
Two-story house built after first house burned in 1866 fire. Six over six windows have molding with rounded comers. Low pitched hip roof; frieze with brackets and attic vents; small entrance porch with arches between square posts; transom and sidelights.

Also see . . .
1. Mary Jane Langdon House.

As quoted by Tony P. Wrenn,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

2. Mary Jane Langdon House Marker
(marker is on right side of front entrance)
Wilmington, North Carolina: An Architectural and Historical Portrait (1984), the specifications by Howe explained that the porch was to be “of neat and handsome appearance, with proper shaped roof, with gutter formed in the cornice and supported by four tasteful & ornamental pillars or columns in frant, and half antae in the rear; to have neat siderails with turned balusters, and to have entrance steps in front of easy ascent, supported or flanked by neat side buttresses.”

(Submitted on June 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Howe Family.

The Howe Family of Wilmington, North Carolina, encompassed at least four generations of men of color active in the city’s building trades. Alfred Augustus Howe attained the greatest prominence of three carpenter brothers. He served on the board of alderman and in other civic offices, and in 1869-1871 he superintended several small civic construction jobs at the courthouse and jail. His best documented surviving work is the prominent and handsomely finished Mary Jane Langdon House of 1870. Located on a prestigious site on Market Street, the 2-story Italianate residence was designed by one E. W. Brown, architect, but according to historian Tony P. Wrenn, the 26-page contract, including detailed specifications, was drawn
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. Mary Jane Langdon House (northwest elevation)
up and signed by Alfred Howe.

(Submitted on June 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

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

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 392 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.