Salvation Army Building

Street View Of Building

The Salvation Army Building, located at 215 S. Front Street was built in 1924 using Mediterranean style building techniques. This style draws from architecture located in Italy, Spain, Greece, and more, often also referred to as Spanish Colonial style. Characterized by their large symmetrical facades, red clay roof tiles, ornate archways, and more, “Mediterranean Revival experienced a massive boom in the 1920s as Americans became fascinated with wealth and leisure, reflecting these ideals in their homes.¹ ”  With the Salvation Army Building’s construction being completed in 1924, this architectural design seems like an obvious choice, especially due to the structure’s place in the public eye.  In regards to the building’s design, the Mediterranean style is reflected in the intricate windows, the door archways, and symmetrical facade.

 Construction for the Wilmington Salvation Army Chapter Building was entrusted to James Lynch. Born in 1883, Lynch was a native of Wilmington. After completing trades school and taking up architectural projects across the eastern coast of the United States, Lynch “returned to Wilmington to begin a private architectural practice.¹ ” His work spanned across Wilmington’s suburbs, beginning with his creation of the Gothic Revival-style Methodist church at Winter Park. By 1915, he was named one of the “two of Wilmington’s most prominent architects² ” by Wilmington Dispatch newspaper. After a failed partnership with Gause, the other named best architect in the city, and the end of World War I, Lynch continued his practice alone. His works spanned from doctor’s offices to the new Behrends Building, yet his most-well known building world came to be the Salvation Army Building. After its construction, Lynch continued his structure beyond Wilmington, going on to maintain a high status in Wilmington society. He joined several social groups, from the North Carolina Board of Architectural Examiners and Registration to the president of the NCAIA. James Lynch was esteemed until his death in 1965, after which his accomplishments and service continue to be honored through his work.

Founding Family of the Organization

The Salvation Army itself, for which the building was built for, was created by William Booth in 1865 “as a means to help the suffering souls throughout London who were not willing to attend – or even welcomed into – a traditional church.⁴ ” His daughter, Evangeline, brought his mission across the ocean to North America. There, with the help of individuals such as Eliza Shirley, the collection of church army volunteers began to aid individuals while printing them closer to faith.

North Carolina saw the introduction of the Salvation Army in Raleigh in 1879.  In 1889, the organization expanded to Wilmington. According to the Salvation Army marker erected near the city’s Riverfront, “the Salvation Army Officers Adjutant William Beall and Captain and Mrs. Colburn commenced the work of the Salvation Army in Wilmington for the Glory of God and the betterment of mankind.⁵ ” This chapter, however, would lack a homestead until the creation of Lynch’s 215 S. Front Street location in 1924.

Salvation Army Headquarters in London

North Carolina saw the introduction of the Salvation Army in Raleigh in 1879.  In 1889, the organization expanded to Wilmington. According to the Salvation Army marker erected near the city’s Riverfront, “the Salvation Army Officers Adjutant William Beall and Captain and Mrs. Colburn commenced the work of the Salvation Army in Wilmington for the Glory of God and the betterment of mankind.⁶ ” This chapter, however, would lack a homestead until the creation of Lynch’s 215 S. Front Street location in 1924.

For the first few years after its creation, the Salvation Army Building served needy women and children. Its ​​nine rooms with accessory quarters and baths proved to be the perfect location to nurse these individuals to health while bringing them closer to God. This dynamic, however, would change with the beginning of the Great Depression.

After the Depression subsided, so did records on this location. It is believed to have remained active as a children’s home and members continued to contribute to the community, however, there are no records on business until the Salvation Army headquarters moved to a new location in 1963. After that, the building remained unoccupied for the next twenty years.

In 1981, the site was sold to an unknown buyer. It would be sold again at least three times before it was finally bought in 2018 to become the site for a historic bed and breakfast by FMO Front Street LLC. The building now goes by the title of the Front Street Inn.

Room at the Front Street Inn

Although the location no longer acts as a headquarters for the Salvation Army, the owners of the inn have tried their best to maintain the history of the location. The site’s website provides links to the history of the building, while also making it possible to restore the structure and still make it accessible to the public. While this is not the most ideal situation, since only visitors to the inn are available to see the room and the renovations have been made to accommodate vacationers, this adaptation is most preferred to the alternative of losing it forever.

While this is in no way a complete history of the Salvation Army Building of 215 S. Front Street, given the absence of narratives of the location from after the Great Depression until its restoration into the Front Street Inn, this essay gives a deeper look into the impact of such a structure on life in the Cape Fear. This building has managed to withstand the test of time, trapping the stories of many within its walls. The hope is that this knowledge will continue to fuel the act of preservation, while allowing the building’s purpose to expand to better fit the city’s needs. Hopefully, the Salvation Army Building will continue to serve Wilmington for generations to come, bearing testament to the history of the Port City.