Murchison Building
Encyclopedia
The Murchison Building is an eleven-story brick and marble building in Wilmington, North Carolina
, USA. It occupies the corner of Front and Chestnut Street. Sitting on historic waterfront property, the building overlooks the Cotton Exchange
and Cape Fear Community College
to the north, USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial
and Cape Fear
to the west, Riverfront Park
and Chandlers Wharf to the south and Wilmington Downtown
including its Courthouse to the east.
In its infancy, the Murchison was considered top of the line. It was heated by two boilers, sending steam heat to radiators throughout the building. It had an onsite artesian well, supplying its own water. Female employees and patrons had a women's restroom on the fourth floor. The second and third floors were provided with gas and electric appliances, so that those occupants (mostly doctors and dentists) would have the most modern surgical equipment available.
A claim to fame of the 1914 Murchison Building was that it had human operators. One operator "survived" the 1983 renovations intact, and remains as the lift's operator. She is the building's longest tenant, with 16 years tenure (2010). Another quaint feature was a woman's bathroom on the fourth floor, touted as a selling point for the building.
In 1921 a hospital was built next door.
It was built in 1914 as The Murchison National Bank, WILMINGTON, N. C. The waterproofing was by Impervious Products Co. The terra cotta was by South Amboy Terra Cotta Co.. The cement floors and walks were by Harrison & Meyer.. The Kentucky Blue Stone was supplied by the Rowan County Freestone Co.
It was designed by Wilmington native Kenneth Murchison of New York.
(or neoclassical revival) buildings have traits such as classical symmetry, full-height porch with columns and temple-like fronts. Oornamentation that iconifies this style are classics, such as dentil cornices. See.
The Murchison is near the northern terminus of Wilmington's Riverwalk, a historic waterfront pedestrian stroll among buildings and businesses that front the Cape Fear River. This inland port thrived from the cotton trade during the late 19th century and early 20th century and is now home to restaurants, theaters, nightclubs and weekly free concerts during the summer months.
The USS-North Carolina
was towed/placed in her permanent berth on October 2, 1961 and is a National Historic Landmark.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, USA. It occupies the corner of Front and Chestnut Street. Sitting on historic waterfront property, the building overlooks the Cotton Exchange
Cotton Exchange of Wilmington
The Cotton Exchange of Wilmington, North Carolina is a shopping complex consisting of over eight historical buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is so named due to the inclusion of the Old James Sprunt Cotton Exchange building; a business who claimed to be the...
and Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College is a two year college located in Wilmington, North Carolina.CFCC is the fifth largest community college in the state with over 27,000 students taking classes every year...
to the north, USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial
USS North Carolina (BB-55)
USS North Carolina was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of this U.S. state. She was the first new-construction U.S. battleship to enter service during World War II, participating in every major naval offensive in the Pacific...
and Cape Fear
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
to the west, Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park may refer to:* Allegheny Riverfront Park, a small municipal park along the south bank of the Allegheny River* North Shore Riverfront Park, a small municipal park along the north banks of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers...
and Chandlers Wharf to the south and Wilmington Downtown
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
including its Courthouse to the east.
History
The Murchison Building, at the corner of Front and Chestnut, has been a staple of the waterfront skyline for nearly a century. "The Murch" was built for and by the Murchison National Bank, and until 1972 was called "Murchison National Bank Building." Another building, the original 4-story Murchison National Bank built in 1902, is directly across the street.In its infancy, the Murchison was considered top of the line. It was heated by two boilers, sending steam heat to radiators throughout the building. It had an onsite artesian well, supplying its own water. Female employees and patrons had a women's restroom on the fourth floor. The second and third floors were provided with gas and electric appliances, so that those occupants (mostly doctors and dentists) would have the most modern surgical equipment available.
A claim to fame of the 1914 Murchison Building was that it had human operators. One operator "survived" the 1983 renovations intact, and remains as the lift's operator. She is the building's longest tenant, with 16 years tenure (2010). Another quaint feature was a woman's bathroom on the fourth floor, touted as a selling point for the building.
In 1921 a hospital was built next door.
Construction
Construction began on the site in August 1913. The previous structure was owned by the 'Cape Fear Club for Men' according to a bronze plaque fixed to the building's front.It was built in 1914 as The Murchison National Bank, WILMINGTON, N. C. The waterproofing was by Impervious Products Co. The terra cotta was by South Amboy Terra Cotta Co.. The cement floors and walks were by Harrison & Meyer.. The Kentucky Blue Stone was supplied by the Rowan County Freestone Co.
It was designed by Wilmington native Kenneth Murchison of New York.
Architecture
The Murchison still juts into the sky above the downtown skyline nearly a century since its inception. It is second only to the PPD building in heights of buildings in Wilmington. A plaque on the front of the building denotes that the building's architecture is of the Classical Revival style. A number of US skyscrapers built in the 1910s and 1920s have startlingly similar looks to the Murchison.Features of neoclassical revival architecture
NeoclassicalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
(or neoclassical revival) buildings have traits such as classical symmetry, full-height porch with columns and temple-like fronts. Oornamentation that iconifies this style are classics, such as dentil cornices. See.
Historic waterfront neighborhood
Riverfront district
Wilmington's downtown riverfront district contains restaurants, cafes, historic buildings, art galleries, antique shops, pubs, nightclubs, music clubs. It has several pedestrian-friendly environments. Wilmington's Nationally Preserved Historic District is anchored by nautical, civic, wartime, and other landmarks.WWII battleship
The Murchison (Building Location in Maps ) enjoys a commanding view of Battleship Park and the floating museum USS North Carolina (Ship Memorial Location in Maps ) located across the Cape Fear River. The ship is viewable in aerial photography of the area, e.g. Google Earth and can serve as a landmark when pinpointing the building from them.The USS-North Carolina
USS North Carolina (BB-55)
USS North Carolina was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of this U.S. state. She was the first new-construction U.S. battleship to enter service during World War II, participating in every major naval offensive in the Pacific...
was towed/placed in her permanent berth on October 2, 1961 and is a National Historic Landmark.
Occupancy
Early business occupancy would have characterized the Murchison Building as prestigious: banks, dentists, doctors, and the city's newspaper have called this building home. Business occupants now include headquarters for state and national-level politicians, a legal-aid agency, a radio station, web and logo design services, engineers and architects.Significant commercial occupants (past)
- Wilmington Star-NewsStar-NewsStar-News is the daily newspaper for Wilmington, North Carolina, and its surrounding area . It is owned by The New York Times Company....
ground floor 1935-1970 - First Union National Bank
- Wilmington Chamber of CommerceGreater Wilmington Chamber of CommerceOriginally organized in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1853, the was incorporated in 1866 by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly. At that time, Wilmington business leaders appreciated the potential of North Carolina’s largest city and sought to lend guidance to the economic direction of...
1914-1924
Significant commercial occupants (present)
- e-Interchange, Internet Marketing
- BlueTone Media
- Planet Logo
- Wilmington SEO
- US Senator Richard Burr (R)Richard BurrRichard Mauze Burr is the senior United States Senator from North Carolina and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, Burr represented North Carolina's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives....
- Northern Trust
- The Edge 88.5 FM Radio Station
- Legal Aid of NC