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

Snipes-Taylor House

1911

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Snipes-Taylor House Marker

Inscription. Neoclassical Revival style house built for Elmer Burriss Snipes (1884-1949), native of South Carolina, independent ice company salesman; and wife, Catherine “Kate” Estelle Bell (1884-1941). Purchased in 1933 by Robert Robinson Taylor (1868-1942); and wife, Nellie Chestnutt (1878-1963). He was the first African American professionally trained architect in the United States. A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he forged a long career as primary architect at Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Institute. This was their retirement home. Remained in family until 1971. Purchased by the United Order of Tent's Royal Degree Chamber No. 9, who used house as their headquarters for 42 years.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 34° 14.415′ N, 77° 56.409′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is on McRae Street south of Walnut Street

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, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 313 McRae St, 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: John William King House (within shouting distance of this marker); John Kay House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Schnibben-Delta Sigma Theta Sorority House (about 400 feet away); Burns-Huggins House (about 400 feet away); Foster F. Burnett House (about 400 feet away); Polvogt Row Houses (about 500 feet away); Telfair House (about 500 feet away); Alderman-Johnson House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . .
1. Taylor, Robert R. (1868-1942). Robert R. (Robinson) Taylor (June 8, 1868-December 20, 1942), a native of Wilmington, N.C., was a pioneering black architect of national renown, regarded as the first academically trained black architect in the United States and the first black student to graduate from MIT. (Catherine W. Bishir and Ellen Weiss, The North Carolina Architects & Builders project, N.C. State University, 2018) (Submitted on December 21, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. From 'Tech' to Tuskegee: The Life of Robert Robinson Taylor, 1868-1942. Robert Taylor

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

2. Snipes-Taylor House Marker

arrived in Boston in September 1888. Despite skepticism on the part of friends and relatives back home in Wilmington, North Carolina, he was brimming with enthusiasm about the prospect of attending MIT. (Clarence G. Williams, Blacks at MIT History Project, Jan. 13, 1998; via Internet Archive, archived July 2, 2019) (Submitted on December 21, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Wilmington Historic District (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the district, which includes this property and was listed in 1974. (Prepared by Survey and Planning Unit, North Carolina Division of Archives and History; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on December 21, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

4. Wilmington Historic District Boundary Expansion and Additional Documentation (PDF). National Register nomination that expanded the district in 2003. (Prepared by Sherry Joines Wyatt and L. Robbie King; via North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office) (Submitted on December 21, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Robert Robinson Taylor (1868-1942) image. Click for full size.

via Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Public Domain), circa 1890

3. Robert Robinson Taylor (1868-1942)

Taylor while a student at MIT.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on December 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.