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

Foster F. Burnett House

1919

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Foster F. Burnett House Marker

Inscription. Dutch Colonial Revival style house built for Foster Flavorial Burnett (1894-1945), physician, civic leader, and founder of Community Hospital; and wife, Gladys Eveline Gordon (1901-1928). Inherited by son, Foster Burnett, Jr. (1925-); daughter, Celeste Marie Burnett (1919-1972); and son-in-law, Hubert Arthur Eaton (1916-1991), physician and civil rights leader. Both doctors practiced medicine here.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Science & Medicine. 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 1919.

Location. 34° 14.467′ N, 77° 56.464′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is on North 7th Street north of Walnut Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 N 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: John Kay House (within shouting distance of this marker); Central Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Schnibben-Delta Sigma Theta Sorority House

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Telfair House (within shouting distance of this marker); Bowdoin-Moore House (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis-Telfair House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); McGhee House (about 400 feet away); Snipes-Taylor House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding Foster F. Burnett House. It is the headquarters of the Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation, founded in 2006, which operates an African-American history and culture museum in the house.

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 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Wilmington Historic District Boundary Expansion and Additional Documentation (PDF). National Register nomination

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. Foster F. Burnett House Marker

Marker is to the left of the front door.

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 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Community Hospital, Wilmington, NC: A Historical Account. Perhaps no single force has had as great an influence on the development of the Negro physician or a more significant historical impact on the quality of his services to the Negro population of the Port City of Wilmington, N. C. and the surrounding area than the founding of Community Hospital. (Hubert A. Eaton, M.D., Journal of the National Medical Association, January 1965; via National Library of Medicine at the National Center for Biotechnology Information) (Submitted on January 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

4. Burnett-Eaton Museum Foundation. Homepage for the foundation, which was founded by homeowner Islah Speller in 2006. (Submitted on January 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Dr. Foster F. Burnett image. Click for full size.

The Crisis magazine, February 1928; via Google Books (Public Domain), circa 1928

3. Dr. Foster F. Burnett

Dr. Hubert A. Eaton, Sr. image. Click for full size.

via NC African American Heritage Commission, unknown

4. Dr. Hubert A. Eaton, Sr.

He and his father-in-law both practiced out of a wing of the house. Besides his medical practice and civil rights activism, Eaton is also known for training pioneer African-American tennis player Althea Gibson.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on September 2, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.