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

Sadgwar House

c. 1877; 1910

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 23, 2024

1. Sadgwar House Marker

Inscription. Built by Frederick Cutlar Sadgwar, Jr., (1843-1925), black carpenter-builder and civic leader; and wife, Caroline Huggins (1845-1932). He and daughter, Felice, were the first Bahá'ís in North Carolina, enrolled c.1923. The original one-story house was enlarged in the Neo-classical Revival style in 1910 and it remained in family until 1988 when it was willed to the Bahá'í faith.

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. 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 1877.

Location. 34° 14.21′ N, 77° 56.377′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is on North 8th Street south of Princess Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 N 8th 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: James F. Shober (within shouting distance of this marker); John Allan Taylor House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John N. Maffitt

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(about 300 feet away); Wright-Meares House (about 400 feet away); Col. Walker Taylor House (about 400 feet away); John Hall House (about 400 feet away); The Von Oesen House (about 400 feet away); Robert R. Taylor (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Regarding Sadgwar House. Sadgwar was a free person of color, and considered a leader of Wilmington's African-American community. As such, he was among 30 “colored citizens” called upon to meet with a “committee” of white citizens to discuss “a matter of grave consequence to the negroes of Wilmington” on November 9, 1898. At that meeting, the white group issued an ultimatum: the closure of a “vile” Black newspaper and banishment of its “contemptible” editor for an editorial that suggested white women could be attracted to Black men. (The angry reaction was actually a pretext used by a white supremacist campaign aimed at wresting political power from the “inferior race”). The whites also gave a 12-hour deadline for a response. Although the African-American group later agreed to the demands, its response was dropped in the mail and not delivered

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 24, 2024

2. Sadgwar House Marker

by the deadline. As a result, armed white mobs rampaged through Black neighborhoods, destroying homes and businesses, killing an untold number of African Americans, and causing others to permanently flee the city in terror. White supremacists also overthrew the duly elected multiracial city government, the only coup d'état to occur in the U.S. Despite that day's violence and the Jim Crow laws that followed, Sadgwar remained and continued working in Wilmington.

Also see . . .
1. Sadgwar House. Frederick Sadgwar was a carpenter he was trained by his father David Sadgwar and there is some documentation of him also working at the Bellamy mansion. His father David Sadgwar put a lot of emphasis on education so Fredrick went to Lincoln University in Pennsylvanian. Additionally to his education and training from his father in carpentry he was a very notable figure in his community. (Taylor Meadows, "Beyond the Plaque" project, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, 2024) (Submitted on January 26, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Sadgwar Family. The Sadgwar family of Wilmington, N. C., including David Elias Sadgwar (1819-1889) and his sons, Frederick Cutlar (Cutler) Sadgwar, Sr.(1843-1925), James Sampson Sadgwar (1850-1922), and others, as well as some of David’s grandsons, were house carpenters active in the city

Frederick Cutlar Sadgwar (1843-1925) image. Click for full size.

via Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts (Public Domain)

3. Frederick Cutlar Sadgwar (1843-1925)

He was among the builders of Bellamy Mansion. His carpentry skills were so renowned that the federal government hired him to repair the U.S. Marine Hospital in Wilmington.

for many years. (Catherine W. Bishir, North Carolina Architects & Builders project, North Carolina State University, 2021) (Submitted on January 26, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. 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 26, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

4. 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 26, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 296 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 26, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.