Hannah Block Historic USO Building holding several events on July 4th
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The community is invited to celebrate July 4th with Thalian Association Community Theatre at the Hannah Block Historic USO/ Community Arts Center open house.
The free event will take place between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., when staff will be in 1940’s era costumes, serving free coffee, and doughnuts courtesy of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts with sodas at the WWII price of 5 cents.
Visitors can step back in time in the lobby in the Hannah Block Historic USO Building, restored to its 1943 appearance complete with reproduction furnishings and WWII exhibits. The exhibits include memorials to Medal of Honor recipients Charles Murray and Billy Halyburton, a painting of building namesake Hannah Block, WWII memorabilia, a tribute to the 9th & Nixon USO, a Liberty Bell scrapped from the Brunswick River Reserve Fleet, and a WWII era phone booth complete with vintage phone and Bell Telephone System posters.
Cape Fear Swing Dance Society (CFSDS) will demonstrate popular 1940s era dances in the lobby museum with a free “introduction” lesson at 2:00 p.m.
The film Home Away From Home – the USO at 2nd and Orange will be shown all afternoon on the Hannah Block 2nd Street Stage. The 5-minute film was produced in 2016 by Emmy nominated filmmaker Rob Hill to honor the 75th anniversary of the Historic USO Building. The film captures the building’s rich history beginning with WWII, the transition to a community center and how it continues to serve our community today.
