Garrison House is open on occasion but does not have set hours.McIntire Garrison House (1707) in York, Maine, a prototype of the garrison style. 2003: Declared federal surplus and deeded to Southport in 2006 after the federal government denied a group’s application to use the property as a homeless shelter. 1955: Garrison House transferred to the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point to be used by commanding officers. 1880: For many years the fort was used by various agencies including the Weather Bureau and the U.S. 1865: Fort reclaimed by the federal government. 1861: During the Civil War the fort became part of the Confederate defense system for the port of Wilmington. 1810: Garrison House built during major renovations. 1775: During the Revolutionary War became a site for loyalists but was captured and burned by 400 patriots.
Shelby Sebens: Built by the British to protect the region from Spanish and French attacks but not completed until a year after the end of hostilities between England and Spain. “It’s just kind of been on the back burner,” she said.īut Thornton said the city has been diligent in upgrading the house and keeping it open as much as possible with the available staff. The city’s indecision about the Garrison House and the federal regulations have slowed the process of making it more public, Kirkman said. The board of aldermen has held city retreats there and found the quarters cramped. Though it looks large from the outside, with its tall white columns reaching from a lengthy front porch to the top of the two-story house, the inside is a different story.Ī modest fireplace built into a wall divides the front room from the dining room, cutting off a significant amount of space. The layout of the house has also caused some head scratching over what to do with it. Ultimately the fate of the Garrison House will be in the hands of the board of aldermen. The city also has to report to the federal Interior Department on the use of the property.
“We can’t just give it to someone,” he added. Among them, the property must be used for public recreation, and any money generated has to go back to the house, City Manager Alan Thornton said.
With the property came a set of rules from the federal government.
“It’s going to bring the historic aspect to life,” he said.īut bringing that history to life is not as easy as some might think, Hemphill said. He added they are curious about the inside.Ī plan for opening up the Garrison House would round out Southport attractions, including the old Brunswick County jail on Nash Street, making it a total package for visitors, Jones said. “They get a feel for it from the outside,” he said of visitors. Tourism Director Randy Jones said there is a lot of interest in the house, which is included in a city walking tour. The city also recently installed public bathrooms attached to the Garrison House, which can be accessed from an outside door.Īnd on special occasions or when requested, city officials open the Garrison House to visitors. The building’s public use is sparse, but the expansive front lawn sees more events – including a seasonal farmer’s market and outdoor movies, Southport Parks and Recreation Director Heather Hemphill said.
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