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

Evans-Mercer-Tusch House

1887; 1906

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Evans-Mercer-Tusch House Marker

Inscription. Originally a one-story cottage built for Henry C. Evans (1832-1896), shoe merchant, native of Brunswick County. In 1906 second story added by his nephew, John Bascom Mercer (1855- 1913), of the shoe firm Mercer & Evans, and wife Mary Lily (1869-1935), native of Albemarle, N.C. Purchased in 1944 by Julian Hurt Tusch and wife Katherine Hilburn.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. 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 1887.

Location. 34° 13.926′ N, 77° 56.812′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on South 2nd Street north of Ann Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 215 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,

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: Northrop-Oldham House (a few steps from this marker); Elliott-Brown House (within shouting distance of this marker); Whitehead-Smith House (within shouting distance of this

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker); Sloan-Powers House (within shouting distance of this marker); Sebrell House (within shouting distance of this marker); Davis-Warshauer House (within shouting distance of this marker); Wright-Murphy House (within shouting distance of this marker); Morse-Willard-Rhodes House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . .
1. Evans-Mercer-Tusch House (PDF). Application for historical plaque includes details about the property and its owners/occupants through the years. (New Hanover County Public Library) (Submitted on January 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. 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.)

3. Wilmington Historic District Boundary Expansion and Additional Documentation (PDF).

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. Evans-Mercer-Tusch House Marker

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.)

John Bascom Mercer and Mary Lilly Mercer image. Click for full size.

The Reeves, Mercer, Newkirk families, Lillian Reeves Wyatt (1956); via Internet Archive (Public Domain)

3. John Bascom Mercer and Mary Lilly Mercer

They met at the North Carolina Methodist Church's annual conference in 1884, and married six years later.

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 249 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 27, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on January 1, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.