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

McRae House

circa 1850

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. McRae House Marker

Inscription. Built by John McRae. Has been referred to in the past as the Chair House. In 1905, T.D. Love family renovated house as their residence.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. 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 1850.

Location. 34° 13.884′ N, 77° 56.797′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on South 2nd Street south of Ann Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 S 2nd 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,

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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: Darby-Munson House (a few steps from this marker); Munson-Bessellieu (within shouting distance of this marker); Gooding-Lawton-Grant House (within shouting distance of this marker); Louis J. Poisson House (within shouting distance of this marker); Gwyer-Walker (within shouting distance of this marker); Gause-Burr House (within shouting distance of this marker); Morse-Willard-Rhodes House (within shouting distance of this marker); George Parsley House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding McRae House. The original owner, John McRae (1806-1883), was a prominent business and political figure in Wilmington in the mid-1800s. He was the city's mayor in 1855, president of the Bank of Wilmington for a decade and held stakes in a variety of businesses, including

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. McRae House Marker

a sawmill, railroad, insurance company, shipping company and gas works. Thaddeus Delavo Love, Jr. (1874-1942) and his wife, Lucy Alice Love (1871-1956) renovated the house in the Craftsman style that was popular at the turn of the 20th century.

Also see . . .
1. 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 January 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. 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 January 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 199 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 27, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.