LOCAL

A LOOK BACK: Wilmington in 1960

Students with Wilmington College in 1960. At that time, it was governed under the state Community College Act, with a governing board appointed by the governor. In 1963, the school was authorized to grant four year degrees. It joined the University of North Carolina system on July 1, 1969. All photos are courtesy of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. [HANDOUT / WILMINGTON STARNEWS]
Students with Wilmington College in 1960. At that time, it was governed under the state Community College Act, with a governing board appointed by the governor. In 1963, the school was authorized to grant four year degrees. It joined the University of North Carolina system on July 1, 1969. All photos are courtesy of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. [HANDOUT / WILMINGTON STARNEWS]
Wilmington StarNews
Azalea Festival: A marching band participates in the N.C. Azalea Festival parade along North Third Street. Businesses depicted include the Gulf station, American Amoco Co. and Ambassador Coffee Shop. [COURTESY OF THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY]
Azalea Festival: A marching band participates in the N.C. Azalea Festival parade along North Third Street. Businesses depicted include the Gulf station, American Amoco Co. and Ambassador Coffee Shop. [COURTESY OF THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY]
Wilmington StarNews
At 2:38 a.m. on Jan. 6, 1960, National Airlines Flight 2511 was 18,000 feet above Wilmington, headed toward Miami. The aircraft suddenly entered a wide descending right turn and radio contact was lost. At 7 a.m., Richard Randolph reported airplane wreckage in a field near his house, 1.5 miles northwest of Bolivia. Thirty-four people on-board were killed. It would later be determined that a blast of dynamite caused the crash, and one of the passengers, a New York businessman, was implicated. The wreckage was slowly recovered and moved to the New Hanover County Airport. [CONTRIBUTED]
At 2:38 a.m. on Jan. 6, 1960, National Airlines Flight 2511 was 18,000 feet above Wilmington, headed toward Miami. The aircraft suddenly entered a wide descending right turn and radio contact was lost. At 7 a.m., Richard Randolph reported airplane wreckage in a field near his house, 1.5 miles northwest of Bolivia. Thirty-four people on-board were killed. It would later be determined that a blast of dynamite caused the crash, and one of the passengers, a New York businessman, was implicated. The wreckage was slowly recovered and moved to the New Hanover County Airport. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
The crash site near Bolivia of National Airlines Flight 2511. [CONTRIBUTED]
The crash site near Bolivia of National Airlines Flight 2511. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
First- and second-grade students putting on a performance of "Tom Thumb Wedding" at Leland School, 1960. The students performed for the entire school as well as for the PTA and for WECT TV. [CONTRIBUTED]
First- and second-grade students putting on a performance of "Tom Thumb Wedding" at Leland School, 1960. The students performed for the entire school as well as for the PTA and for WECT TV. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
Wilmington StarNews
A picture of the exterior of Wilmington College from a 1960 yearbook. [CONTRIBUTED]
A picture of the exterior of Wilmington College from a 1960 yearbook. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
Hayseed and His Country Cousins band at WWAY TV Studio in Wilmington in the 1960s. The band included Tex Lancaster and performed country music. [CONTRIBUTED]
Hayseed and His Country Cousins band at WWAY TV Studio in Wilmington in the 1960s. The band included Tex Lancaster and performed country music. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
J.D. Causey, former Wilmington city councilman and owner of Causey's Garden Center, shared this aerial photo from 1960 with the StarNews. It shows Greenfield Lake and a horse-racing track at Legion Stadium. [CONTRIBUTED]
J.D. Causey, former Wilmington city councilman and owner of Causey's Garden Center, shared this aerial photo from 1960 with the StarNews. It shows Greenfield Lake and a horse-racing track at Legion Stadium. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
Wrightsville Beach Winter Park Little League baseball team in Wimington, 1960. Some of the boys grew up to become a doctor, judge, colonel, and professional golfer. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wrightsville Beach Winter Park Little League baseball team in Wimington, 1960. Some of the boys grew up to become a doctor, judge, colonel, and professional golfer. [CONTRIBUTED]
Wilmington StarNews
Christmas on Front Street in 1960: Ron Phelps went downtown to see how Front Street was then decorated. He liked what he saw and decided to take a “time exposure” photo slide. He set his 35mm camera on a tripod and took this photo. Examine the photo and you can pick out some of the stores including the very popular Bailey Theater. Notice the horizontal red and white traces of lights. They are the lights of cars passing down Front Street caused by the “time exposure” camera setting. [COURTESY OF RON PHELPS]
Christmas on Front Street in 1960: Ron Phelps went downtown to see how Front Street was then decorated. He liked what he saw and decided to take a “time exposure” photo slide. He set his 35mm camera on a tripod and took this photo. Examine the photo and you can pick out some of the stores including the very popular Bailey Theater. Notice the horizontal red and white traces of lights. They are the lights of cars passing down Front Street caused by the “time exposure” camera setting. [COURTESY OF RON PHELPS]
Wilmington StarNews
The Wilmington News front page from Sept. 5: 9 Rescued After 22 Hours On Raft [STARNEWS]
The Wilmington News front page from Sept. 5: 9 Rescued After 22 Hours On Raft [STARNEWS]
Wilmington StarNews
Intersection of Second and Bladen streets looking east in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Intersection of Second and Bladen streets looking east in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Wilmington StarNews
August 1960 view of the railroad yard taken from top of Atlantic Coast Line Building. [Photograph by John Kelly]
August 1960 view of the railroad yard taken from top of Atlantic Coast Line Building. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Wilmington StarNews
View from top of Murchison Building in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
View from top of Murchison Building in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Wilmington StarNews
View from the railroad bridge on Third Street, looking northwest, in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
View from the railroad bridge on Third Street, looking northwest, in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Wilmington StarNews
Corner of Third and Brunswick streets looking southwest in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Corner of Third and Brunswick streets looking southwest in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Wilmington StarNews
Corner of Second and Brunswick Streets, looking northeast, in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Corner of Second and Brunswick Streets, looking northeast, in August 1960. [Photograph by John Kelly]
Wilmington StarNews