TBT: 100 years on the downtown skyline

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — For just over 100 years The Murchison Building, at the corner of Front St. and Chestnut St., has been a landmark on the downtown Wilmington skyline.

Nicknamed “The Murch,” the building was built by the Murchison National Bank in 1914. Until 1972 it was called the Murchison National Bank Building.

When it was constructed the Murchison Building was top of the line. The building was heated by two boilers which sent steam heat throughout the building. It even had it’s own well on site. There were both male and female restrooms, which was considered a modern convenience at the time. Two of the floors has both gas and electric appliances for the medical professionals who worked on those floors.

The building is also known for having human lift operators until at least 1983.

A number of different occupants have called the building home over the years. Some examples include, doctors, dentists, banks, newspapers, state and national politicians, radio stations, lawyers, architects, engineers, and even WWAY News Channel 3.