Wilmingtonian Hugh Morton got involved and the goal was to raise the $250,000 it would cost to acquire the ship. In 1961, new Governor Terry Sanford and Hugh Morton came up with a plan to raise the funds. The North Carolina Navy was formed and a campaign devised to have school children donate their nickels and dimes for the effort.
An ad from the time showed a boy holding a model of the Nor tn Carolina saying "Let's Bring the Real USS North Carolina home."
Enough money was raised and in September 1961, the Navy turned the ship over to the state. The plan was to have the battleship off the mouth of the Cape Fear River in October 1st and then tow it to the newly-dredged out berth opposite downtown Wilmington, but bad weather forced a one day delay.
More to Come. --DaCoot
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