As rapid growth in Wilmington has caused some to oppose development, or at least a better way to handle it, voters more than 60 years ago had little trouble saying yes to expansion.
During the days of mourning following the assassination of President John Kennedy, Wilmington residents went to a special election to determine several bond measures that would more than double the city’s size.
According to an article in the Nov. 24, 1963, of the Sunday StarNews, voters were days away from deciding whether “$3.8 million in bonds should be issued to pay the cost of extending city services to the lands to be taken.”
The bonds include the construction of two new fire stations, additional fire trucks, police, sanitation departments and roads and water and sewer lines.
The old waterfront along the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, NC, on Jan. 27, 1965. Also pictured is Fergus’ Ark.
Voter turnout was expected to be higher after the city saw “an additional 816 names on the ballots during special pre-election registration.” That gives the Port City nearly 14,000 registered voters.
Various polling locations include Hemenway Hall, Atlantic Motors, Sunset Park Junior High School, Shew’s Credit Store and the New Hanover County Courthouse.
More than half of the city’s voters turned out as six bond measures received major approval.
“This is a real victory for the citizens of Wilmington,” said Herb McKim, president of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. “The community is really ready to move forward.”
This article first appeared in the Wilmington StarNews: When Wilmington, NC, voted to expand the city limits in 1963.
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