Wilmington storm strikes one of city’s oldest homes

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A sudden storm left its mark on one of Wilmington’s oldest homes damaging parts of a site that’s stood for more than two centuries. 

A large pecan tree limb snapped and fell onto a wall at the Burgwin-Wright House — damaging the brickwork, breaking a window and scattering debris throughout the garden.  

Flagpoles were also bent by strong winds. 

Assistant Museum Director Hunter Ingram says it’s rare to see that level of damage from a quick storm. 

“This site has seen almost all of Wilmington’s history and to see this amount of damage from an afternoon storm was pretty surprising for us. We have a great landscape crew and a great garden crew, and they were already out here this morning making sure things were picked up and safe for the public to come in,” Ingram said. 

Ingram says most of the original brick is salvageable, and the wall will be rebuilt near the end of the summer or early fall.