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

Polley House

1860

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, 9

1. Polley House Marker

Inscription. Greek Revival style house built for Hiram Nelson Polley (1817-1874), native of Middletown, CT, Confederate veteran, gunsmith and tinsmith; and wife, Mary Jane Currie (1818-1875), native of Bladen County, NC. Sold in 1882 and utilized as investment property until 1950. Purchased in 1976 by Murchison, Fox & Newton and used as law offices for forty years. Returned to residential use in 2022.

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 1860.

Location. 34° 14.2′ N, 77° 56.595′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on North 5th Avenue south of Princess Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18 N 5th Ave, 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: Knohl House (a few steps from this marker); W. Lincoln Smith House (within shouting distance of this marker); Conoley House (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Von Glahn House (within shouting distance of this marker); Bellamy Mansion Negro House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bellamy Mansion & Slave Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Bowden-Boykin House (within shouting distance of this marker); Bellamy Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding Polley House. Hiram Polley and his brother, Stephen P. Polley, moved to Wilmington in the 1840s. They, along with Levi A. Hart of Southington, Conn., established a machine shop and metals manufacturing company called Polley & Hart. Just before the Civil War, Hart bought the brothers' interest in the firm and took on E.P. Bailey as a new partner. Under the leadership of Bailey and later partner H.A. Burr, the business grew to become the Wilmington Iron Works, one of the largest foundries and metalworks in the Southeast.

Also see . . .
1. Wilmington Historic District (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the district, which includes

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. Polley House Marker

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 16, 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 16, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 390 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.