Wilmingtonian aims to Wilmingtonian Goals of New Hanover to become a historical landmark – Port City Daily

New Hanover County – a resident of Wilmington and real estate, who has lobby for various causes in his hometown for decades, takes on a new billing: preserving a high school in the area currently undergoing renovation.

Read more: Commissioners approve more funding for NHHS, although they assume that this is a pit for money

Also: NHC Commissioners play with the idea of ​​destroying NHHS, approve of funding to research facility

Jean Merit has applied to the Historical Storage Commission for the city of Wilmington for the New Hanover High School to be considered for the list for the study of historical storage. This preliminary step is to assess whether the building meets the eligibility indicators in order to become a local landmark in the national register of historical places.

He graduated from NHHS in 1962, Merrit said that after talking to local architects and thoughts about Wilmington’s landscape, he considers the school’s landmark.

“Let’s just look at the definition of Landmark,” he told Port City Daily Daily on Wednesday. “This is the characteristic of a landscape or a city, something that can be recognized from a distance. I would say that New Hanover High fits this description. “

The application of Merrit shows that its goal is for the future preservation of the school and also “prevent possible demolition”.

Faced with repairs for the installation of the building, some district commissioners rose at a public meeting last August The idea of ​​destroying structure and completely restoring.

At that time, schools in Hanover County wanted $ 300,000 to target the needs of the facility. The 102-year-old building has numerous areas of rehabilitation that need to be considered and the study is to determine how much it will cost. Last May, an assistant, the head of NHCS operations, Eddie Anderson, estimated that the WHQR school needs $ 90 million repairs.

Then Commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr., worried that the county is throwing “good money with the bad” and believes that the construction of a rebuilt will be more useful.

“In the big scheme of things, it can be revealed that it is such a big price that we have no choice but to build a new facility,” said Dane Skalis in August, according to the previous PCD reporting. “My appreciation is that this is one of those gems of New Hanover and there are quite a few people who I think would feel very strong for keeping it, if at all, and at least I would like to know that This is an opportunity or not before we make such a decision. ”

Commissioner Rob has estimated that the county has spent about $ 25 million on the school since 2006.

NHHS is currently under construction on its basis and the commissioners have approved millions for repair.

Historical landmarks are often applicable to federal and state grants to support their maintenance, which Merrit acknowledged on Wednesday, but this was not the main reason why he presented.

“I love the architecture of the building,” he said. “I think it’s absolutely beautiful.”

Situated just outside of Carolina Heights/Winoca Terrace Historic District Overlay on 1307 Market St., the construction of New Hanover High School began in 1919 and was completed by 1922. Its wings were added in 1933 and the fitness room Princess in 1940 The Broden Hall came to the Brogen Hall. 1954.

Its architectural design consists of art deco from the mid-20th century and Beaux arts from the 19th century (using Greco-Roman elements). Merrit lists the last aesthetics as “very rare” in Wilmington.

The building was designed by architects William J. Wilkins and Leslie N. Bonnie -Senshi Wilkins also designed high schools in the national register of historic places, such as the high school in Marion and the high school Poiner, as in South Carolina.

Boney is known for the supervision of Cape Country Club Cape Fear, the Carolina Beach Hotel and the new application of County Hanover County. His son Charles made the addition of Brogden Hall to NHHS in the 50s.

Brogden Hall is not considered part of Merritt’s request, although it suggests that the Commission may find that it must be included if it is considered appropriate.

The assessment of the list will include an assessment of the age of the building – it should be 50 or more years – and its aesthetics, ensuring that it is similar to initial construction. The building should also be relevant to the area – architectural, historically, through engineering or achievements gathered otherwise.

Merritt Lists on the application The school has been an integral part of the county for over 100 years, serving as a major institution for students’ education – now approximately 1500 per year. He has also won more than 30 national sports championships.

Many well-known and successful graduates have emerged from its halls, including not only-Alge Crumpler NFL Tight End, NFL QuarterBack Roman Gabriel, CEO of SAS Institute James James Goodnight and a Baseball player in the Tot Nickson major League.

The school often serves as a popular place in cinema. The television and film productions that have created a store in Wilmington have used as seen in Dream Take Marry, Blue Velvet and Summer I have turned a lot.

He also appeared at the beginning of the NFL advertisement for girls for girls, which aired during the Super Bowl 2025. The building was marked as a “Central High School”.

The new Hanover County School Education Board neither approved nor refused the application, according to documents submitted for the proposal, but are aware of its existence. If approved for consideration, the board as the main owner of the school will have to support its inclusion as a local landmark.

Merrit has helped the numerous causes, including the goal of returning the Wilmington Traffic Line. In the 1980s, he made efforts to extend the I-40 in Wilmington, a change of game for economic development and tourism growth.

Merrit said he coordinated with the historical Wilmington Foundation, which expressed his desire to maintain the maintenance of the building for future generations last year.

“It should not happen to try to try to look like it would cost too much to correct it,” Merrit said, though it was clear that it did not imply that of government formations or contractors. “For political purposes, sometimes people who do not want something to happen will try to look too much. In this case, I am not saying that none of this is happening. But I am concerned that I can. “

Merrit said he worked with a member aboard Sylvia Cochler, who helped him through the application process. He also said he had also informed Anderson at NHCS, as well as to the chairman of the commissioner, Bill Rivenbark from the application.

The Commission for Historical Storage will meet on Thursday, February 13, at 5:30 pm it can be live here. Check again to track updates on the Merritt application.

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