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

McEachern-Divine House

1890

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. McEachern-Divine House Marker

Inscription. Queen Anne style house built for Duncan McEachern (1859-1925), naval stores and literage merchant; and wife, Mary Elizabeth Skipper (1859-1919). Purchased in 1911 by John Sidney Divine, Sr. (1862-1946), Atlantic Coast Line Railroad machinist; and wife, Melvina Hinton (1866-1942). In 1915 the original front porch was replaced with the current Craftsman style one. House remained in family for fifty-four years.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. 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 1890.

Location. 34° 14.053′ N, 77° 56.418′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on South 7th Street north of Orange Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 S 7th 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: Benjamin F. Penny House (a few steps from this marker); Goldie Stein House (within shouting distance of this marker); McLaurin House (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Powell-Graham House (within shouting distance of this marker); Sternberger-Small House (within shouting distance of this marker); Williams-Agostini House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fennell-Croom House (about 300 feet away); Captain Skinner House (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

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 23, 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 23, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. McEachern-Divine House Marker

Additional commentary.
1. Duncan McEachern (1859-1925)
Excerpt from A Biographical Dictionary of New Hanover County, NC Commissioners by the New Hanover County Public Library (2010):

A native of Wilmington, Duncan McEachern was born on 3 December 1859, the son of John S. McEachern and Emma Garrell McEachern. He was in the wholesale grocery business on North Water Street. After Gabriel Holmes' death in 1903, he purchased an interest in the Holmes Grocery Company on North Front Street. He had a naval stores business on Eagles Island and also owned several tug boats. Later, he moved to Castle Hayne where he was postmaster. He was a stockholder in the Hanover Land and Improvement Company, which owned a Castle Hayne farm that was leased by the State of North Carolina.

In 1880, he married Mary Eliza Skipper (1859-1919) and they had one son and four daughters. He was a member of First Baptist Church, St. John's Lodge, A.F. and A.M. He was an early lot owner at Carolina Beach and at one time had an interest in the New Hanover Transit Co., which developed the beach resort.

His service on the Board of County Commissioners began when he was appointed to the vacancy created when James C. Stevenson resigned in 1896. On 6 March 1899, he was again installed as a commissioner
A Biographical Dictionary of New Hanover County, NC Commissioners, New Hanover Co. Pub. Library (Public Domain)

3. Duncan McEachern (1859-1925)
and was elected Chairman of the Board when Roger Moore died in April 1900. He served in that capacity until December 1912. While on the Board, he was a promoter of good county roads and helped secure the bridge at Blossom's Ferry which spanned the northeast branch of the Cape Fear River at Castle Hayne. He was serving on the Board of Commissioners when the county purchased the privately owned Shell Road to Wrightsville Beach in 1901. He was president of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners from 1911 until 1913.

On 14 September 1925, McEachern died suddenly of a heart attack in his home in Castle Hayne. He is buried in Bellevue Cemetery.

— Submitted January 23, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 23, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.