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

Dr. Hubert Eaton House

1406 Orange Street/213 South 14th Street

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Dr. Hubert Eaton House Marker

Inscription. Designated as a Local Historic Landmark by the Wilmington City Council on September 20, 2022 in recognition of Dr. Eaton's contributions as a physician, civil rights activist, and tennis player. This location, which includes a regulation-sized tennis court, was central to Dr. Eaton's support and mentorship of International Tennis Hall of Fame member Ms. Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a Grand Slam title.

Erected by City of Wilmington, NC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Science & Medicine • Sports. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 2022.

Location. 34° 14.052′ N, 77° 55.854′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is on Orange Street east of South 14th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1406 Orange St, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s

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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: Eaton House (a few steps from this marker); Johnson Jones Hooper (approx. 0.2 miles away); Oakdale Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Holloway-Hunt House (approx. 0.2 miles away); John C. Wessell House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wilmington College (approx. 0.2 miles away); Strauss House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hutaff House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding Dr. Hubert Eaton House. Excerpt from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Westbrook-Ardmore Historic District, which includes this property:

Decover House – contributing – c. 1929
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

2. Dr. Hubert Eaton House Marker
One-story, side gable house has steeply pitched roof with engaged porch supported by paired posts on brick piers. The windows are tripartite. The house has large gabled additions at either side, near the rear. 1930 CD: Harry L. Decover, chief clerk SAL Railway. From 1946 to 1948, Althea Gibson, African-American world tennis champion, lived here with her guardian and tennis instructor, Dr. Hubert Eaton and his family, who owned the house and extensive property from 1946 to 2005.

Also see . . .
1. Hubert A. Eaton. Wikipedia entry on the African American physician, civil rights activist and renowned tennis player and coach. (Submitted on December 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Dr. Hubert A. Eaton, Sr. Private Papers, 1938-1991. The Eaton papers are both a window to a turbulent era in America's social history and a chronicle the life of one of Wilmington's most renowned citizens. The collection, containing correspondence, financial and legal documents, newspaper clippings, printed materials, photographs and publications, and some items of realia, illuminates the lives of

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southern African Americans during that period when the legalized structure of segregation was under attack and long established social relationships were in a period of great flux. (Patricia B. McGee, University of North Carolina, Wilmington Libraries, March 18, 1997) (Submitted on December 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Westbrook-Ardmore Historic District (PDF). National Register nomination for the district, which was listed in 2009. (Prepared by Ed Turberg and Janet Seapker; via Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.) (Submitted on December 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.