Upcoming Events
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Wilmington Railroad Museum
For fun at Halloween, come hear Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington, local historian and author, relate tales of the supernatural in the Lower Cape Fear at the Railroad Museum in historic downtown Wilmington at 6:30 p.m., October 16, 2024. In Wilmington's most famous legend, was Samuel R. Jocelyn Jr. really buried alive in the graveyard at St. James Episcopal Church after a fatal horseback riding accident in 1810? Then, what was the mysterious, eerie glowing orb that moved up and down the railroad tracks at Maco, an unincorporated community in Brunswick County just west of Wilmington? From at least the 1870s until 1977, thousands of people, including Dr. Fonvielle, experienced the so-called Maco Light that became the Lower Cape Fear's most famous ghost story. Autographed copies of Dr. Fonvielle's popular books, Curious Tales From Old Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear: The Truth Behind the Legends and More Curious Tales will be available in the museum gift shop.
Email info@wrrm.org to reserve your seat!
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Curious Tales From Old Wilmington:
The Truth Behind the Legends tour, Wilmington, N.C.
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., local historian, author, and Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington, for a Curious Tales From Old Wilmington: The Truth Behind the Legends walking tour in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C. on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Did family and friends inadvertently bury Samuel Russell Jocelyn Jr. alive in the graveyard at St. James Episcopal Church after he was killed in a horseback riding accident in 1810,prompting his return from the afterlife to confront his best friend, Alexander Hostler? Did several pounds of gold sewn into the hem of her wool dress prevent the renowned Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow from making it to shore from the stranded blockade runner Condor off Fort Fisher in 1864? German immigrant William A. Ellerbrock and his beloved pet dog were inseparable in life and inseparable in death after they died together in a terrible fire at Front and Dock streets in 1880. What was the Maco Light, an inexplicable, ethereal glowing orb that thousands of people witnessed moving up and down the railroad tracks at Maco Station near Wilmington for more than 100 years? Learn the truth behind the legends and much more.
“A splendid time is guaranteed for all.”
For bookings go to:
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Wilmington Water Tour
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington, for the seventh in a series of local history-themed tours for Wilmington Water Tours on Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 10:00 to noon. Dr. Fonvielle will discuss the city’s important role as a center for shipbuilding and military training,
and as a war zone during World War II. The postwar years saw the creation of the Azalea Festival; the Azalea Open Golf Tournament; and the establishment of Wilmington College (UNC Wilmington today); and the departure of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, the city’s largest employer. How would Wilmington businessmen fill the void? The end of the century witnessed the opening of Interstate 40 that
spurred tremendous growth in Wilmington and surrounding counties that continues to this day. Dr. Fonvielle will wind up the tour with more of Wilmington’s history mysteries.
“A splendid time is guaranteed for all."
Tickets here: https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/cruises/
Monday, October 21, 2024
Fort Fisher Illustrated: Art of the Battle,
Federal Point Historic Preservation Society
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., local historian, author, and Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington for a PowerPoint presentation on his brand new book, Fort Fisher Illustrated: Art of the Battle, to the Federal Point Historic Preservation Society, 1121 North Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach, North Carolina, at 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 21, 2024. Dr. Fonvielle will examine nineteenth
century art—lithographs, paintings, woodcut and copper plate engravings, drawings, and sketches—of Fort Fisher, the Confederacy’s largest and strongest fortification that guarded Wilmington, the South’s most important seaport and city
by 1864. Autographed copies of the book, co-authored with Dr. Robert M. Browning Jr. and published by NC Starburst Press,
will be available for sale.
For more information, call (910) 458-0502.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Curious Tales From Old Wilmington:
The Truth Behind the Legends tour, Wilmington, N.C.
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., local historian, author, and Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington, for a Curious Tales From Old Wilmington: The Truth Behind the Legends walking tour in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Did family and friends inadvertently bury Samuel Russell Jocelyn Jr. alive in the graveyard at St. James
Episcopal Church after he was killed in a horseback riding accident in 1810, prompting his return from the afterlife to confront his best friend, Alexander Hostler? Did several pounds of gold sewn into the hem of her wool dress prevent the renowned Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow from making it to shore from the stranded blockade runner Condor off Fort Fisher in 1864? German immigrant
William A. Ellerbrock and his beloved pet dog were inseparable in life and inseparable in death after they died together in a terrible fire at Front and Dock streets in 1880. What was the Maco Light, an inexplicable, ethereal glowing orb that thousands of people witnessed moving up and down the railroad tracks at Maco
Station near Wilmington for more than 100 years? Learn the truth behind the legends and much more.
'“A splendid time is guaranteed for all.”
For bookings go to:
www.wilmingtontruehistory.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Curious Tales From Old Wilmington:
The Truth Behind the Legends tour, Wilmington, N.C.
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., local historian, author, and Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington, for a Curious Tales From Old Wilmington: The Truth Behind the Legends walking tour in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Did family and friends inadvertently bury Samuel Russell Jocelyn Jr. alive in the graveyard at St. James Episcopal Church after he was killed in a horseback riding accident in 1810, prompting his return from the afterlife to confront his best friend, Alexander Hostler? Did several pounds of gold sewn into the hem of her wool dress prevent the renowned Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow from making it to shore from the stranded blockade runner Condor off Fort Fisher in 1864? German immigrant William A. Ellerbrock and his beloved pet dog were inseparable in life and inseparable in death after they died together in a terrible fire at Front and Dock streets in 1880. What was the Maco Light, an inexplicable, ethereal glowing orb that thousands of people witnessed moving up and down the railroad tracks at Maco Station near Wilmington for more than 100 years? Learn the truth behind the legends and much more.
“A splendid time is guaranteed for all.”
For bookings go to:
www.wilmingtontruehistory.com
Halloween Night, Thursday, October 31,2024
Curious Tales From Old Wilmington:
The Truth Behind the Legends tour, Wilmington, N.C.
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., local historian, author, and Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington, for a Curious Tales From Old Wilmington: The Truth Behind the Legends walking tour in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C. on Halloween night Thursday, October 31, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Did family and friends inadvertently bury Samuel Russell Jocelyn Jr. alive in the graveyard at St. James Episcopal Church after he was killed in a horseback riding accident in 1810, prompting his return from the afterlife to confront his best friend, Alexander Hostler? Did several pounds of gold sewn into the hem of her wool dress prevent the renowned Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow from making it to shore from the stranded blockade runner Condor off Fort Fisher in 1864? German immigrant William A. Ellerbrock and his beloved pet dog were inseparable in life and inseparable in death after they died together in a terrible fire at Front and Dock streets in 1880. What was the Maco Light, an inexplicable, ethereal glowing orb that
thousands of people witnessed moving up and down the railroad tracks at Maco Station near Wilmington for more than 100 years? Learn the truth behind the legends and much more.
“A splendid time is guaranteed for all.”
For bookings go to:
www.wilmingtontruehistory.com
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Fort Fisher Illustrated: Art of the Battle,
Southport Historical Society, Southport, North Carolina
Join Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., local historian, author, and Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of History at UNC Wilmington for a PowerPoint presentation on his brand new book, Fort Fisher Illustrated: Art of the Battle, to the Southport Historical Society, Southport, North Carolina, at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 7, 2024. Dr. Fonvielle will examine nineteenth century art—lithographs, paintings, woodcut and
copper plate engravings, drawings, and sketches—of Fort Fisher, the Confederacy’s largest and strongest fortification that guarded Wilmington, the South’s most important seaport and city by 1864. Autographed copies of the book, co-authored
with Dr. Robert M. Browning Jr. and published by NC Starburst Press, will be available for sale.
For more information, contact lizafuller@gmail.com