History with 'Hud': Examining the history of the Old Brunswick County Jail
Before today's modern jail in Brunswick County, there was an Old Jail in Southport which housed prisoners until 1971.
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Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each morning on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.
Before today's modern jail in Brunswick County, there was an Old Jail in Southport which housed prisoners until 1971.
Getting between Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach is a simple journey by car today. But in the early half of the 20th century, there was another more popular option for beachgoers looking to get out of the city and onto the sand.
The town of Burgaw is growing rapidly, as the surrounding communities quickly expand, too. But if it wasn't for the arrival of a train depot in the middle 1800s, still visible in town today, the community may have never existed.
The Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is one of the most well known in the country. But three years after it was established, a local national cemetery popped up in the Port City.
One of the Cape Fear's most exclusive communities lies on an island which didn't begin to see permanent development until the second half of the 20th century.
Southport is a very popular tourist spot for those looking to enjoy a small town vibe along the Brunswick County coast. But its role as a coastal town has changed greatly over the years, especially when it comes to a particular landmark along West Bay Street.
It's hard to imagine Wilmington without its iconic Riverwalk, which regularly ranks by USA Today as one of the top ten riverwalks in the country. But just a few decades ago the waterfront was a far more untamed shoreline.
We're several weeks into summer, marking the most popular time for visitors and locals alike to head to the beach. But there's one aspect of your trip to the shore which often goes overlooked: bridges.
The Cape Fear has numerous sites and structures around the region which date back hundreds of years. But there's one spot in Brunswick County still visible after more than 2,000 years - according to some.
With the hot weather we're having, going to the movies or staying inside at home to binge your favorite TV show is a great way to stay cool. And there's a decent chance one of those films or shows has a local connection.
Keziah was a deaf reporter working for 'The News Reporter' in Whiteville in 1928 when he decided to move more than 60 miles east to the coast and break out on his own with a new paper - 'The State Port Pilot'.
Masonboro Inlet, and the nearby island of the same name, is a popular 4th of July destination today, attracting hundreds of partiers and boaters each summer. But long before it was such a go-to-spot, it served as a hideout location for pirates and confederate soldiers.
It's been more than five years since an important piece of Southport's history was sent tumbling to the ground by an early morning thunderstorm.
Friday marks the official start of the summer season, which runs until September 22. With it comes numerous days in the 90s with heat index values even higher.
As the weather continues to warm up, more and more people are hitting the links to improve their golf game. While there are numerous courses around the region, one is older than all the rest.
We're approaching 95 years since a very important hospital popped up in a then-rural area of the Cape Fear.
Hurricane Season kicks off on Sunday, marking the start of a 182-day stretch of prime hurricane formation conditions from June 1 through November 30.
One of the most visited and widely known garden spaces in the Cape Fear is Airlie Gardens. But there's another very popular one less than a mile down the road.
There are an endless number of historic houses in the cape fear which attract thousands of visitors each year. But one tucked away off a rural road in Brunswick County was so overlooked for years it was gradually falling into disrepair.
It's been nearly a century since Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany were brought overseas to live in an agricultural colony in rural Pender County. But the impacts of those years can still be seen today.
Wilmington has been visited by numerous presidents over the years. But only one has called the city home - at least for a brief time.
This is the 100th installment of my History with 'Hud' series, which started back in April of 2023 to highlight local history from around the Cape Fear. In honor of the milestone, I decided to take a look back at things which popped up exactly 100 years ago - in 1925.
This month makes 234 years since our nation's first president came to town. Although Wilmington has been visited by more than a dozen Commander in Chief's since, having once been a stop for George Washington stands out in history.
Burgaw is widely known for its annual Blueberry Festival, which has taken place since 2004 and attracted thousands of visitors to the town. At the center of it all stands the Pender County Courthouse, which has quite the past of its own.
This week makes 97 years since a large whale washed ashore on Wrightsville Beach, causing quite the commotion from locals and visitors alike. In total, more than 50,000 people turned over a number of days to view the animal up close.
Most people are aware of the Oak Island Lighthouse and Bald Head Island Lighthouse which stand tall along the Cape Fear coastline. But far fewer know of the much smaller, but equally significant Price's Creek Lighthouse.
While the miles of beaches along our coast will be the most popular spots over the next six months, there are two area lake towns further inland which will receive their fair share of guests.
March 13th marks five years since an emergency declaration was issued in 2020 for the unfolding COVID-19 outbreak. But it's far from the only deadly virus to impact the Port City over the years.
There's a house at the corner of South Front Street and Nun Street in Wilmington which takes up an entire city block. It's not the oldest home in town nor the most historic. But it's an important piece of architecture due to the first resident to call it home.
The Wilmington area has several hospitals serving all citizens regardless of demographic. But that wasn't the case as recently as the early 20th century.
Wilmington has experienced several major fires since its incorporation in 1739. But a multi-day blaze in February of 1886 was especially bad.
The Cape Fear's most famous Civil War battle took place at Fort Fisher in January of 1865. But another important battle was fought miles away on the grounds of the present Day Cameron Art Museum.
For the first Thursday of Black History Month, we're taking a look at one of the most overlooked structures of black history in the area - the Giblem Lodge.
When passing through downtown Wilmington, you can spot a historical building or landmark nearly everywhere you turn. But one of the Port City's earliest structures is hidden just out of view, lying below a prominent house.
Next week marks 244 years since Wilmington was overtaken by British troops during the final months of the Revolutionary War in 1781.
Wilmington is known for having some of the best bars in the Cape Fear. But for a period of time during the 20th century, they wouldn't have been allowed to exist.
The building is still lived in today as the only surviving major downtown hotel built before World War Two, but serves a much different purpose than when first welcoming guests.
The downtown branch of the New Hanover County Public Library is a popular destination for avid readers. But it took until the early 20th century for the collection of books to gain any progress.
Next week marks 162 years since Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freeing enslaved people in Union-occupied areas.
While the Port City tends to get cold rain or ice events instead of the fluffy white stuff, the area has seen a few significant snowstorms over its history.
There are several large and historic houses around Wilmington. But one at the corner of Market Street and 5th Avenue has sat in the heart of downtown for more than 160 years.
The Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington has the region's stories all in one place, guiding visitors on a journey through the past.
Wilmington has several prominent historic structures lining 3rd Street in downtown.
Patients in New Hanover County rely heavily on New Hanover Regional Medical Center for health care. But before that was an option, there was James Walker Memorial Hospital.
The Cape Fear has a handful of churches dating back to the 1700s. While some are in great condition and still being attended today, others aren't in as good of shape.
Sunday marks 126 years since the only successful coup in United States history took place in Wilmington on November 10, 1898. Several days of tragic events would see local officials overthrown and countless African Americans lying dead in the streets.
There have been countless changes to the faces you see on your screen and the station as a whole since WWAY signed on air for the first time on October 30, 1964.
This month marks nearly a century since the United States was plunged into the worst and longest depression in its history. 95 years ago on October 29, 1929 the stock market plummeted, as more than 16 million shares were traded in a panic, on a day which became known as 'Black Tuesday'.
Wilmington is looking pretty good for its age. The Port City is celebrating its 285th birthday this year, officially being incorporated on February 20, 1739.
Saturday will make 166 years since one of the oldest theaters in the country opened its doors on Third Street in Wilmington. The grand opening for Thalian Hall was held on Octber 12, 1858, months before construction was even completed.