William Arthur Snow-- Part 2: World War I Service and Engineering

World War I:  Engineer with American Expeditionary  Force and wounded.

1926-1930:  District engineer at Wilmington, North Carolina.

1930: Major and living in Harnett,  North Carolina.

1930-1935:   District and division engineer in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lieutenant Colonel:   September 25, 1940.

Died at Washington, D.C..

About William A. Snow (Snow's Cut)-- Part 3: How It Came to be Named That

Following the war, Major Snowserved in the Army Corps of Engineers in Kansas after which he obtained a BS in Civil Engineering at M.I.T..  For the next two years he was in Washington, D.C., as an assistant to the Chief Engineer in that district.

In July 1926, he was assigned to Wilmington, N.C., as the Chief Engineer of the Wilmington District.  he was 32 years old at the time.  His assignment was to complete the 93 miles continuation of the Intercoastal Waterway from Beaufort, N.C., to the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

There was only parcel of land to be cut in that stretch and that was what we now call Snow's Cut.  This would be to connect Masonboro Sound with the Cape Fear River.  

This cut was completed in 1920 and transformed Federal Point Peninsula into an island requiring a bridge to cross over.

The cut and bridge have been known ever since as Snow's Cut, named for the young Army Corps engineer.

--CooterCut

About Major William A. Snow (of Snow's Cut)-- Part 1: (How You Know You've Arrived at Carolina Beach, NC)

From the May 2017 Federal Point Historic Preservation Society Newsletter.

If you're driving on U.S. Highway 421 south of Wilmington, North Carolina, heading to the beaches on what is now referred to as Pleasure Island, you may notice crossing a pretty big bridge over some water.  That is the Snow's Cut Bridge.

That bridge always excited me growing up because that meant I got my first glimpse of the ocean and my favorite beach of all time, Carolina Beach.  The old heart started going pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat.  We have ARRIVED.  Hot Dog!!

Of course,  speaking of hot dogs, we already would have stopped at Paul's Place in Rocky Point for their famous hot dogs (with that sauce!!).  Just part of the going to the beach thing.

Well, that stretch of water that the bridge crosses has a name.  It is Snow's Cut.  It took its name from the man who engineered it, Major William A. Snow, a World War I veteran.  That water the bridge crossed is part of the Intercoastal Waterway and connects the Cape Fear River on the west side to sounds on the east side.

--Cooter

Wilmington, North Carolina's Revolutionary Anniversaries Upcoming in 2021: The American Revolution

From the December 21, 2020, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington  Ten among major  2021 anniversaries" by Hunter Ingram.

Okay, 2020 has not been such a wonderful year, but there are some interesting and noteworthy  anniversaries that took place in Wilmington, N.C., coming up next year.

These are ones dealing with the American Revolution:

JANUARY:  

The 240th anniversary of the British capturing Wilmington during the American Revolution.  In April, one of the region's leading Patriots, Cornelius Harnett, would die on his birthday after being held in a roofless prison by the British in downtown Wilmington.

****************************

FEBRUARY:

The 255th anniversary of the Stamp Act Rebellion at Brunswick Town:  One of the earliest acts of rebellion in the colonies against the British crown.  The rebellion, which started with protests the preceding fall, saw Patriots holding future Royal Governor William Tyron under house arrest until he met their demands to stop the Stamp Act, which was a new tax on the colonists.

****************************

FEBRUARY:

The 245th anniversary of the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on Feb. 27, 1776:  The swift battle  saw the clash between North Carolina Patriot and Loyalist militias.  The Loyalist militia was aided by the Scottish Highlanders.  This took place in present-day Pender County.

The Patriot victory kept the British from invading the South for three years.  Today, the site is today the Moore's Creek U.S. National Military Park.

--Cooter

Claude R. Pfaff-- Part 6: Carolina Beach During World War II

Often during World War II, the Pfaff family ended up sharing their small cottage at Carolina Beach, "The Lullaby" with a family of strangers.  because of the shortage of housing in Wilmington area, property owners were required to rent out their houses in order to provide the families of the enlisted men due to ship out soon a place to spend a week at the beach before they separated.

Only office space was exempt, so Atha designated one room as an office.

--Cooter

New Hanover County (NC) in World War II-- Part 6: The Wilmington Memorial

Wilmington, North Carolina's Wold War I Memorial was originally in the middle of Market Street outside of New Hanover High School.  It stayed there until the 1970s when it was moved closer to the school.

In 2014, it was moved to the Wilmington Water front where it today is near the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence.

--Cooter

New Hanover County in World War I-- Part 5: World War I Deaths

After the war, there were some homecoming parades for the veterans.  There were also reunions.  The Old Hickory Association of the 30th Division was one of these organizations.  (Old Hickory Division was the nickname of the division.)

A lot of artifacts from Wilmington's World War I soldiers were shown on a power point presentation.

During the fighting, 629 North Carolinians were killed and 37 of them were from Wilmington.  One of those was Arthur Blumenthal and the Cape Fear Museum has the telegram announcing his death.

--Cooter

New Hanover County's Role in World War II-- Part 4: The 30th Division

Many New Hanover County soldiers went into the 119th regiment, 30th Division of the U.S. Army.

Regiments were segregated and it was expected that Blacks would not have to fight.  Lt. Thomas J. Bulloch was a black officer.

One third of those drafted did not have to go into the military.

Flu killed a lot of the soldiers.

Two million American soldiers were sent overseas.

North Carolina whites served in the 30th Division. The division arrived in France in May 1918.  The commander of the U.S. forces, General Pershing did not want his soldiers serving under British or French officers.

The 30th was involved in the battle that led to the fall of the Hindenburg Line and the Meusse-Argonne.

--Cooter

New Hanover County's Role in World War I-- Part 3: Camp Jackson, South Carolina

There were also many men drafted into military service from New Hanover County, North Carolina.  Robert Sanders, a black man, was one of them.

Cleveland Van Buren was sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina.  My grandfather also was sent to this camp for training.

There were four classes of recruits.  Class 1 meant you were immediately available for service.  Only Class 1 was called up for service.

Blacks were also drafted.  More Blacks than Whites were drafted.

There were a total of 32 training camps for America's World War I servicemen.  Some existed before the war and others were built during it.

--Cooter

New Hanover County's Role in World War I-- Part 2: Women

There was shipbuilding going on in Wilmington during the war.  (I didn't know this, but sure knew about the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company during World War II.)

Wilmington women were mobilized into the work force.

Four Liberty Bonds were floated to finance the war.

Paul Cantwell enlisted in 1903 and served during the war.

Most men from Wilmington were volunteers.

Arthur Bluethenthal was an aviator.

Rachel Loman volunteered for nursing as did a lot of women.  She joined in 1918, one of 22,000 women who did so.  The Cape Fear Museum has a lot of items of hers.

--Cooter

New Hanover County's Role in World War I-- Part 1

As I mentioned in the last post, I was able to attend the Federal Point Preservation Society's January meeting in Carolina Beach, N.C., at their History Center.

Dr. Jan Davidson of the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington, N.C., gave the presentation "Service, Sacrifice & Memorialization: New Hanover County Residents in World War I."

The Society plans to have an exhibit at the museum for the 100th anniversary of World War I and plan to have it up by April.  The group was looking for someone to make a presentation on the war and couldn't have done any better as Dr. Davidson got her PhD on World War I.

Fort Caswell, by Southport, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, was actually an  military base in World War I.

There was a World War I Memorial honoring New Hanover High School students who fought in the war located in front of the high school which has now been moved to Wilmington's Riverfront.

--Cooter

World War I the Subject of the January Federal Point Historic Preservation Society

From the January Newsletter.

January Meeting, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.

All meetings held at 7:30 p.m.., at the Federal Point History Center at 1121-A North Lake Park Boulevard, adjacent to the Carolina Beach, N.C., Town Hall.

The speaker was Jan Davidson, historian at the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington.  She discussed World War I and New Hanover County's role in the fight.  She concentrated on the impact on men and women and the items her museum has from them.

She has been at the Cape Fear Museum for 11 years and has been involved in a wide variety of research projects.  Lately she has been working on the history of World War I because of its upcoming centennial anniversary for the United States' involvement.

She has a PhD and has previously worked at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

I was lucky enough to attend this presentation.

--DaCoot

Wilmington Historic Sites Weathering Hurricane Matthew

From the October 24, 2016, Wilmington (NC) Star-News " Cape Fear  historical landmarks weather the storm" by Hanna Dela Court.

MOORE CREEK NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD  --Pender County.

Closed October 7, before Matthew struck and is still closed because much of the park is still under water.  However, the water has dropped about 3 1/2 feet over the last couple days.    Even so, about 2/3 remains flooded.

The park has six monuments and five are still under water.  Some of the lowest spots are believed to be under eight feet of water.

The park is expected to be closed for awhile.

BRUNSWICK TOWN/ FORT ANDERSON STATE HISTORIC SITE, Brunswick County.

Flooding was minimal and has been open normal hours since October 11.  It lost a few feet of waterfront.

--Cooter

Wrestling Returned to Wilmington (N.C.) and Wrightsville Beach Has No Drownings in 1956

From the September 5, 2016, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Looking Back" by Scott Nunn.

September 2, 1956--  Wrestling returned to the area for the first time since the beginning of the war.  Three hundred attended the "All Gal" card at Carolina Beach Town hall.  In January there was a night of wrestling in Thalian Hall in Wilmington.

**  September 9, 1956--  Wrightsville Beach got through the official summer season with no drownings.  They had 14 life guards on the beach.

--Cooter

Back Then: Giant Sea Turtle and South Vietnam

From the July 3, 2015, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Back Then" by Scott Nunn.

I always love it when he writes one of these from news from the paper in the past.  Unfortunately it is no longer done on a monthly basis.

JUNE 19, 1915:  From Wrightsville Beach--  "A jumbo turtle weighing something like 500 pounds is on exhibit at the Oceanic hotel.  It will be kept on exhibit until tomorrow afternoon when it will be butchered by a skilled turtle butcher.

"It is expected there will be between 200 and 500 eggs in the turtle, which was caught in the surf by two experienced anglers from New York, who also caught several large drum."

You sure wouldn't be exhibiting a sea turtle and especially not killing it today.

JUNE 11, 1965:  Maxwell D. Taylor, U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that there was no plan for a dramatic increase in U.S. ground troops there.  He said there was no truth to the rumor that troop levels would be going from 53,000 to 250,000.

According to the U.S. department of Defense, in 1964 there were 23,300 there and 184,300 by the end of 1965.  The number peaked at 536,100 in 1968.)

Liar.  --Cooter

Wilmington Area in 1962: Planned Ferry at Fort Fisher and Full-Scale Military Maneuver

From the October 2, 2012, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Back Then."

SEPTEMBER 27, 1962:  A delegation from Southeastern North Carolina met with Governor Terry Sanford to ask his endorsement of a proposed Fort Fisher to Southport ferry. (It did come to pass and today is a great, scenic way to get from the Pleasure Island Peninsula across the Cape Fear River to Southport instead of going the fifty or so miles back to Wilmington to cross and then go to Southport.)

SEPTEMBER 11, 1964:  The Army Transportation Corps planned to land 1200 troops on Bald Head Island in a full-scale military maneuver.  Thirty-one vessels were used in the exercise which was headquartered at Sunny Point Army Ammunition Terminal.

Storming Ashore Like at Fort Fisher.  --Cooter

Filming in Wilmington, North Carolina

From the Jukly 30, 2014, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Film".

Some folks don't know it, but Wilmington is and has been a major center for filming of both movies and TV shows in  the country.  Part of this is due to some very nice monetary incentives offered by the state.

In 2013, the film industry spent $244 million in North Carolina with more than 30 qualifying productions receiving just over $61 million from the incentive program.  The year before the numbers were $334 million and $83 million in tax credits.

This year, the new budget calls for just $10 million tax credit for the first six months of 2015 because of budgetary problems.

I found this list of interest showing some productions filmed around the Wilmington area in recent years, how much they spent (first) and how much in tax credits (second) they received:

FILM PRODUCTIONS

Iron Man 3: $81 million/ $20 million
We're the Millers:  $21 million/ 5.2 million
The Conjuring:  $16 million/ $4.2 million
Tammy:  $14 million/  $3.6 million

TV PRODUCTIONS

Sleepy Hollow (pilot episode):  $7 million/  $1.8 million
Under the Dome (season one):  $33 million/  $8.3 million
Eastbound and Down (final season):  $20 million/  $5.2 million
Revolution:  (season one):  $57 million/  $14.2 million

Keep the Film Rolling.  --Cooter

Wilmington, NC, Celebrates 275th Anniversary

From the Feb. 20, 2014, Port City Daily "275 years: Wilmington marks big birthday, lots of history" by Ben Brown. //// The city marked February 20th as its official 275th birthday. On that date, Col. William Bartram filed a bill with the North Carolina General Assembly (while still a colony of England) to establish the city. //// It was signed into law by Royal Governor Gabriel Johnston five days later. Johnston named the city after his patron, Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington. //// The city also had had the names Watson, New Town and New Carghage before this date. //// The Mitchell-Anderson House at 102 Orange Street dates to back then, 1732. //// Some other Wilmington dates: 1663: William Hilton and company entered the Cape Fear River. 1748: Spanish ships came into the Cape Fear River and invaded Brunswick Town. 1754: Jeremy Vail's city plan was accepted and still in use today. //// Mighty Old City. --Cooter

Some More On Heart of Wilmington Motel

Information from the CardCow postcard: 60 rooms, pool, meeting room, 24-hour telephone service. Walking distance to business, finacial and shopping districts. Telephone 743-0121. Featuring the Boucan Restaurant. I did find a site mentioning a Boucan Room at 311 N. 3rd Street at one time. Again, I do not believe the motel is still there. //// --DaCoot

Back Then, 1962: Wilmington, NC-- Heart of Wilmington Motel and Cable TV

From the April 24, 2012, Wilmington (NC) Star-News. //// APRIL 15, 1962: Construction on the Heart of Wilmington Motel expected to start in June. It was downtown Wilmington's first motel. The rooms had acccess from the outside. It is planned for the area of Third and Grace streets. I found a picture of it on the CardCow site and it was quite impressive looking. I am not sure if it is still there. ///// APRIL 15TH, 1962: Cable TV coming to Wilmington. The Cable Television Company, based at 7 South Second Street bragged that residents would now have access to as many channels as viewers in New York City and Los Angeles. They would now have FIVE channels: WRAL in Raleigh, WECT in Wilmington, WITN in Washington (NC), WNCT in Greenville and WTVD in Durham. //// Wow! Five Channels. A Different Time Indeed. --Cooter