Left, this illustration first published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper depicts Oscar Wilde at a bathing beach in 1882.
Right, Stedman’s Park circa 1882, later renamed Gray Gables, courtesy of New Hanover Public Library Collection.
and a party of young gentlemen to
the beach. Wilde was an excellent
swimmer, and following a delighted
and refreshing bath in the ocean, “he
participated in an exciting foot race on
the wave washed sands of the lovely
beach.” He then returned to the hotel
and spent the afternoon in the Pine
Grove pavilion seated in the midst
of a circle of admirers, “to whom he
discoursed entertainingly of England,
its manners and customs and other
interesting topics.”
In the early evening, Wilde accepted
an invitation to tea or late supper with
Major Charles Manly Stedman at his
summer home nearby, which was
known as Stedman’s Park. Years
later it was acquired by the Pearsall
family and renamed, Gray Gables.
Stedman had been born in Pittsboro,
North Carolina, and after serving in
the Confederate army had moved
to Wilmington where he married
Catherine De Rosset Wright. At the
time of Wilde’s visit he was a partner
in the Stedman and Latimer Law
Firm. Later he became Lieutenant
Governor of North Carolina and was
the last Civil War veteran to serve in
Wilde was
impressed with the Stedmans’
sunflowers, which were a
symbol of the Aesthetic move-ment.
the United States Congress. He died
in office in 1930.
The Stedman home was a large
rambling house with a long veranda
across its eastern face overlooking the
sound and was reportedly built by
French Huguenots around 1740. The
estate was entered through Allen’s
Lane and Wilde would have seen the
many outbuildings including a large
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WBM july 2012
barn, horse stables, a carriage shed and
a row of one-room cottages for the
field hands. Wilde was impressed with
the Stedmans’ sunflowers, which were
a symbol of the Aesthetic movement.
He declared the estate to be “the most
delightfully charming and sweetly
picturesque country residence he had
visited in a long, long while.”
Around 10:30 p.m., he returned
downtown in preparation for an
early morning departure on the
Wilmington and Weldon for Norfolk.
According to the press accounts,
Wilde was quite enchanted with his
visit to Wrightsville Sound. Those
who conversed with him were very
impressed with his rare conversational
powers, varied information and culti-vated
taste. Little did they realize that
they were entertaining the man who
in a few years was to give the world
“Lady Windermere’s Fan,” “Salomé”
and “The Importance of Being
Earnest,” which established him as
one of the most brilliant British play-wrights
of all time as well as a histori-cal
figure that continues to fascinate
the public more than 100 years after
his death.
. i.
. i.
. i.
He declared
the estate to be “the most
delightfully charming and
sweetly picturesque country
residence he had visited in a
long, long while.”