The Zebulon Latimer House

The Zebulon Latimer house was built in 1852 by Robert B. and John C. Wood and carpentry was done by James F. Post. The Italianate style of the house was made popular during the 1840s and 1850s and continued until the 1880s. This style models Italian countryside houses and was part of the romantic movement.¹  Characteristics that categorize this style of house such as a low overhanging roof with overhanging eaves that are decorative.  Windows of this style are tall and narrow and have decorative trim and decorative crowns. Most window arches are rounded and have external cornerstones known as quoins.²   Porches on these buildings project outwards and the buildings have two or more stories. The Latimer house has four stories and is symmetrical in windows, pillars, and layouts on each floor.³  Patterns were found to be used by the Wood brothers; the veranda railing, grapevine uprights, and arches used pattern No. 246 while patterns No. 17 and No. 48p were used for panels under the rear windows.⁴  

The original residents at the Zebulon Latimer house, located at 126 S 3rd Street, Wilmington, N.C., were Zebulon and Elizabeth Savage Latimer. Zebulon Latimer was born January 1, 1810, in Middlesex Connecticut to Anna Stocking and Samuel Latimer.⁵ Zebulon had acquired part of his wealth before moving to the Italianate style home he and Elizabeth had built in Wilmington, NC. His initial wealth came from a dry goods firm and other merchant businesses he invested in or worked for. While in Wilmington Zebulon became director of the Commercial Bank of Wilmington and the Bank of Cape Fear.⁶  He was known in Wilmington for several other business actions such as owning naval stores, dredging the Cape Fear River, and investments in railroads. Zebulon was able to procure his wealth through various business ventures while also making a mark on Wilmington’s history until his death on November 11, 1881.⁷ 

His wife Elizabeth Savage Latimer had been a resident of Wilmington for her entire life. Elizabeth was born on October 17, 1819, in Wilmington, NC. Elizabeth gave birth to nine children, but only four of them survived until adulthood.⁸   Her four sons who survived to adulthood were Henry, William, Edward, and Herbert. She was known as a prominent woman of Wilmington as the Savage family was prosperous in Wilmington, and her husband also had an impact. She eventually passed away in November of 1904, being the oldest native born Wilmingtonian at the time of her death.⁹ 

Henry Gould Latimer was the eldest son of Zebulon and Elizabeth Latimer. Born on September 16, 1845, Henry spent his early education years in Wilmington. Henry was trained in art but notably spent time in heraldry, genealogy, and botany.¹  During the Civil War Henery was part of the Confederacy and was a clerk within the Customs Office in Wilmington. Later, with his other three brothers, the Acme Manufacturing Company was created. Although Henry did not spend long with the Company, his brothers continued it while he pursued his profession in art. Having studied under masters of art for his time, Henry created multiple works and influenced the design of bronze tablets for churches. His art led to his contribution of reredos and altar at the old St. James Church of Wilmington.² Henry eventually married in September of 1875 to Carria Angelica Groot where he then resided until he came back to Wilmington before his death in January of 1929.

William Latimer was the second eldest son of Zebulon and Elizabeth, born on January 14, 1852, in Wilmington, NC. William was different from his elder brother as instead of pursuing arts, he received an education in Law at Columbia University in 1872.³  He practiced law for many years until ultimately finding his way back to the business side of the family. With his brothers, he helped the Acme Manufacturing Company which specialized in fiber. Eventually, William retired from this company in 1909. The Acme was not the only business that William was associated with, as the Seacoast Railway in 1888 began operations, William was the president of such a company. This railway was designed to connect the Wrightsville Sound with Wilmington, enabling a faster way to move around.⁴  William died in September of 1923, but not before receiving other achievements such as Commodore of the Carolina Yacht Club and President of the Cape Fear Club. Upon his death, he left behind his wife Margaret Iredell Meares. 

Edward Latimer was the third son born in Wilmington, NC on September 25, 1857. Like William, Edward had gone to law school at Columbia College and graduated in 1879.⁵  Afterward, he practiced as an associate of his brother's law firm. Through his business ventures, Edward held stock within the Seacoast Railroad company and was a director and traffic manager of said company. Furthermore, Edward spent many years as a member of the Wilmington Light Infantry and helped to organize the Wilmington Division Naval Reserves. Edward was prominent in many aspects of life and was involved in many practices. Although his training was in law, he spent time as a paymaster of the reserves and was part of Governor Fowle’s staff as a colonel. His background in law, however, did land him the position of alderman in which he represented the Fourth ward.⁶ Edward later passed away in August of 1901, remembered as a prominent figure in Wilmington history.

Herbert Russel Latimer was born in 1861 in Wilmington NC. He was a prominent businessman in Wilmington just as his father and brothers were.⁷ He lived until the age of twenty-eight then he passed from tuberculosis in 1887 leaving his two children behind. Herbert Latimer Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and was a businessman in Wilmington. Before this, however, he was raised in Europe and graduated from Princeton University in 1908. He fought during World War I for the British army and served as a captain.⁸ 

The Latimer house remained in the family until it was sold to the Cape Fear Historical Society in 1993 and now is a notable museum in Wilmington. William and Margaret resided at the house and eventually began upgrades that are seen today. In 1922 an addition was added to the back of the house to accommodate a more modern kitchen. After William died in 1923 Margaret converted spare bedrooms in the house for boarders. These boarders would supply Margaret to continue having an income.¹⁸ 

The gounds of the estate feature formal gardens and is filled with Victorian era plants. The plants have been maintained throughout the years and the garden features an iron water fountain and a slate path around.¹⁹  There is a slave quarters in the back which was restored in the 1970s. Information about the slave quarters is now included in the tour which now starts at the quarters.²⁰  Zebulon Latimer’s past with slaves still remains uncovered, however, tours provide preliminary information about those owned at the estate.

Today the Latimer house is a historic home available for tours, wedding venues, and seen as a place of spirit activity to others. The house had undergone several repairs to damage partly due to hurricane activity. In 1998 there was a call to help fund repairs to the house that now belongs to the Cape Fear Historical Society due to damages done in the 1996 hurricane summer.²¹  Upgrades needed to be done to both the interior and exterior of the house to preserve the historic furniture and artifacts. Beams on the outside had been exposed to the weather for more than a century and masonry had begun to crumble. 

The goal to raise money to install temperature control for the interior and fix the crumbling exterior was eventually met, leading to the restoration of the home.²²  While the topic of spiritual activity is not upheld by the Cape Fear Historic Society, the house has become known by many who believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits. A ghost tour is provided at times to talk about the misfortune of child loss that the Latimer family had experienced.²³  Although there are speculations on this tour, the house and background of the family being prominent figures in Wilmington's history go undenied through history.