NHCS superintendent speaks on possible landmark designation for New Hanover High

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A push to designate New Hanover High School as a historic landmark is moving forward.

And on Friday, the county’s interim superintendent and the school’s principal spoke about the move, which did not come from the school district.

New Hanover High alum and real estate developer Gene Merritt recently submitted an application to Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Commission to preserve New Hanover High.

Built in 1922, the school is undergoing a $12 million project to fix cracks and stabilize its foundation.

Philip Sutton has been New Hanover High’s principal for 4 years and said the school is already a landmark for many who went there.

“This high school was the only high school in Wilmington for a long period of time,” Sutton said. “And so generations of students have come through and their families have come through and so it means a lot to them that this place is where they grew up.”

Wilmington’s Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved Merritt’s application to add the building to a study list.

Merritt will submit a more detailed application for the city council to review.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Christopher Barnes said it’s too early to determine the impact of a historic designation, but points to an ongoing study that could provide clarity.

“And so the study we commissioned with the help of our county commissioners earlier in the fall was designed to help make sure that we had the best information moving forward as to what we wanted to do,” Barnes said. “Is that going to be to fix the inside of it, is it going to renovate, what choices do we have?”

Sutton said he and the rest of the students and staff are ready for whatever the future has in store for the school.

“2022, that was our centennial year and we said that this is our new 100 and we’re looking to the future and what this place can be and the limitless possibilities that students and families can have at New Hanover High School.”

Barnes said the $300,000 study is expected to wrap up in the coming months and construction is set to finish by early August.

An Open House Community meeting will be held at New Hanover High School in the Princess Street Gym from 5 until 6:30 pm.

The meeting will be where community members can weigh in on the school’s strategic plan.