Riverfront in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Old Wilmington City Market
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024
1. Old Wilmington City Market Marker
Categorized by a reporter as one of the handsomest markets in the South in 1883, the Old Wilmington City Market at 120-124 S. Front St. was originally constructed in 1879. Once boasting a striking 3-story facade with twin-towers framing a City Market bell, the building was considered one of the architectural hallmarks of downtown Wilmington. It was an active city market for 40 years, and then served a variety of purposes as a city auditorium and intermittent produce market until 1960.
Having sat relatively vacant for more than 30 years, the City Market re-opened in March and is now a home for permanent retail stores as well as vendor stalls, and a snack bar.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 34° 14′ N, 77° 56.956′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in Riverfront. It is at the intersection of South Water Street and Market House Alley, on the left when traveling south on South Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 119 S Water St, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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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: City Market House 1882 (here, next to this marker); Underground Railroad Activity in Wilmington, N.C. (within shouting distance of this marker); What is the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom? (within shouting distance of this marker); William Benjamin Gould: A Brief Biography (within shouting distance of this marker); Seigler Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilmington Iron Works Machine Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Ofiesh-Plisco Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); J.W. Brooks Building (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Regarding Old Wilmington City Market. Excerpt from a 2021 city staff report on the building:
Built in 1879-80, with renovations in 1912, 1919, 1930, 1944-45, and 1960, the City Market building is currently a one-story, masonry building with three contemporary storefront bays and an open central passageway with an iron gate. The warehouse extends the full depth of the block from Front Street to Water Street, stepping down to Water Street in six bays divided equally by pilasters. The Water Street elevation features four equal bays with the two central bays later modified for a pedestrian entrance.
Accordingto an article published in the January 24, 1989 edition of the Wilmington Star, the building opened in 1880, and the city purchased it in October 1882. In 1919, the building was converted for use as an auditorium. During the 1920s, the building was used as a farmers market limited to female salespeople. In 1960, it was remodeled again into five separate offices.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 20242. Old Wilmington City Market MarkerThe marker is on the left wall inside the entrance alcove.
Archival data indicates the building has undergone at least three significant exterior renovations and looks vastly different than that of the original building constructed in the late 1880s. The 1910 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the first indication of a retail space along Water Street. The original Front Street elevation had five bays and two, three-story square towers flanking either end of the building with a central bay rising between them. The second story featured tall arched windows.
City of Wilmington Historic Preservation Commission (Public Domain), October 14, 2021
3. Wilmington City Market Then and Now
This composite image from a city staff report compares how the market's main entrance on South Front Street looked in 2021 (top) and in the 1890s (bottom). The city stripped the building of its historic status because its appearance has been changed so much.
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 366 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on December 22, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
