Throwback Thursday: 1988 bridge dedication, St. Patrick’s preparations, and Fort Fisher otters

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This week’s Throwback Thursday takes a look back at March 1988 in the Cape Fear, highlighting a historic bridge dedication, early Saint Patrick’s Day preparations, and a familiar animal attraction at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

In 1988, one of the region’s most traveled bridges received its official name. The Northeast Cape Fear River Bridge was renamed the Isabel Stellings Holmes Bridge in honor of the woman who played a key role in getting it built.

Her widower, Elias Mayo Holmes Jr., attended the dedication ceremony, unveiling the new nameplate.

“It’s a great honor. But I think my wife would be the first to say it took a lot of people besides her efforts to accomplish the feat of getting this bridge approved,” Holmes said.

Also from March 1988, crews at WWAY’s North Myrtle Beach bureau were covering Saint Patrick’s Day preparations, as crews hung a banner over the highway ahead of the holiday.

“I’m not sure if there are a lot of Irish people persay, but there are certainly a lot of Irish-loving people and people that are going to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” an organizer said.

Holiday traditions continue in Wilmington Saturday with the annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade, which draws large crowds of spectators and celebrants each March.

Finally, a popular attraction at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher both in the 1980s and today. In March 1988, an American river otter was featured for visitors. The river otter is a larger cousin of the Asian small-clawed otters, which are a main attraction at the aquarium today.

The segment is part of a new weekly Throwback Thursday series that will feature stories from WWAY’s historical news archives. That archive can be accessed here.