Applying for a Plaque
To be eligible for a Historic Wilmington Foundation Plaque, a building must be over 75 years old and be located in New Hanover County. Buildings over 50 years old at Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are also eligible for a plaque.
To apply for a plaque, complete the attached application in full. If certain facts are not available, give the reasons why. Please keep in mind that the information you gather is a permanent record on your building and will be available to historians and researchers for years to come. One copy is kept at the Foundation office and another is housed in the North Carolina Room of the New Hanover Public Library where it can be easily viewed. When completed, submit six copies of the application and supporting documentation with at least three photographs of your building to the Foundation office.
For additional information not available on the web site, please contact Gareth Evans at garethevans@nuvox.net.
Application Review Process
The Plaque Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month to review plaque applications. Applications must be submitted to the Foundation office at least one week prior to the meeting. The Committee reviews applications in the order they are received, and it is common for the process to take several months.
The Research
The application is designed to lead you step-by-step through your research. If the Committee needs more information, a member contacts you and explains what information you need to gather and present before the next meeting. If you choose, you can hire someone to do the research for you. Call the Foundation office for a list of researchers who prepare plaque reports for a fee.
The Plaque Text
After
the review process is complete, the Plaque Committee composes a text
for your building. The Foundation will send a copy of the text to you.
After your approval you may then order your hand-painted plaque.
The Price
The price of a new plaque is $200 for members and $250 for non-members (includes a one-year family membership to the Historic Wilmington Foundation). The price of the plaque must be paid in full before the information is sent to the sign company to be painted. This is the actual cost of the hand painted plaque. The plaque program is an educational service and does not generate income for the Foundation. Buildings over 100 years old receive a black plaque and those from 75 to 100 years old receive a brown plaque. 50 year-old beach buildings receive a sea oats color plaque with black lettering. The Foundation will call you when the plaque is ready.
Plaque Presentation
Proud plaque recipients often request a plaque presentation ceremony. The Foundation is pleased to participate in the celebration. Contact the office for more information.
Download a Plaque Application
Application Instructions
Much of the information requested on the worksheet will appear on the plaque. It is important that dates and names are accurate. The source of all information must be recorded in the space provided on the worksheet.
- Address of house, block and lot numbers are stated after applicant's name and address. If the house or building has been moved from another site, the former location should be noted as well.
- The building will be named when possible for the original owner or resident. Other owners or residents may be added if they occupied the building for 40% of its life, if they made significant architectural changes to the building, or if they are deemed to have been more important to the history of the city.
The Plaque Committee assigns the name on the plaque based on the information presented. The name and the following information provide the house or building with personality and make for a meaningful plaque.
- Dates of ownership by the first and/or other significant owners are included on the plaque.
- Name of owner(s) and spouse must be researched with care and stated in full.
- Birth and death dates of owner(s) and wife are to be stated. Marriage date is not required but may elucidate the history of the house. Place of birth is generally included on plaque if other than Wilmington.
- Occupation of owner appears on the plaque and contributes to the social history of the community.
- An exact date of construction is sometimes difficult to determine and the committee may have to assign a circa date. See the checklist and resource list for help.
- If the name of the architect, builder or contractor is known, this information will be included on the plaque.
- Major architectural changes to the building are important. Record these dates as accurately as possible.
- The architectural style of the building is determined by the Plaque Committee.
- Please include three current color photographs of the exterior of the house with your application.
Download a complete plaque application.
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