Race, Place, and Memory Cultural Heritage Studies University Press of Florida Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers Florida International University, Miami Florida State University, Tallahassee New College of Florida, Sarasota University of Central Florida, Orlando University of Florida, Gainesville University of North Florida, Jacksonville University of South Florida, Tampa University of West Florida, Pensacola Race, Place, and Memory Deep Currents in Wilmington, North Carolina M A R G A R E T M . M U L R O O N E Y FOREWORD BY PAUL A. SHACKEL University Press of Florida Gainesville / Tallahassee / Tampa / Boca Raton Pensacola / Orlando / Miami / Jacksonville / Ft. Myers / Sarasota Copyright 2018 by Margaret M. Mulrooney All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper This book may be available in an electronic edition. 23 22 21 20 19 18 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Mulrooney, Margaret M., 1966– author. | Shackel, Paul A., author of foreword. Title: Race, place, and memory : deep currents in Wilmington, North Carolina / Margaret M. Mulrooney ; foreword by Paul A. Shackel. Other titles: Cultural heritage studies. Description: Gainesville : University Press of Florida, 2018. | Series: Cultural heritage studies | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017030450 | ISBN 9780813054926 (cloth : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: African Americans—North Carolina—Wilmington—History—19th century. | Riots—North Carolina—Wilmington—History—19th century. | Wilmington (N.C.)—Race relations. Classification: LCC F264.W7 M85 2018 | DDC 305.8009756/27—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017030450 The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida. University Press of Florida 15 Northwest 15th Street Gainesville, FL 32611–2079 http://upress.ufl.edu FOR MARK AND HENRY AND MARY CONTENTS List of Figures ix Foreword xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 1. Rising Tide, 1739–1840 11 2. Port in a Storm, 1840–1880 56 3. Slack Water, 1880–1920 111 4. Ebb and Flow, 1920–1990 174 5. Soundings 244 Notes 283 Bibliography 319 Index 343 FIGURES 1.1. C. J. Sauthier’s map of Wilmington, 1769 21 1.2. Omar ibn Said (Moro), ca. 1855 53 2.1. Reproduction of a portrait of Alexander MacRae in his Masonic regalia 59 3.1. The Sadgwar family 113 3.2. Gathering of Confederate veterans on the steps of the Wilmington Light Infantry Armory 123 3.3. A gathering at the Confederate Monument, Oakdale Cemetery 124 3.4. Hugh MacRae’s home at 715 Market Street, ca. 1902 130 3.5. Alex Manly, editor of the Daily Record 133 4.1. Pageant of the Lower Cape Fear, June 1921 177 4.2. Crowd gathered in front of City Hall to watch the Feast of the Pirates Festival Parade, ca. 1927 183 4.3. Attorney John Jay Burney Sr. and Feast of the Pirates Festival chairman, Paul O’Crowley 184 4.4. Float with white “Lady Liberty” 185 4.5. “Tillie in front of Tileston School” 192 4.6. Parade float carrying the 1952 Azalea Queen and her court 208 4.7. The Kiwanis Minstrels 209 4.8. The February 3, 1971, demonstration 234 5.1. Wilmington’s controversial 1898 Memorial, erected in 2008 278