42
WBM
RICHTER BUILDING
OWNERS, OCCUPANTS AND INTERESTING FACTS
Charles McMillen, archi-tect
of numerous resi-dential
and commercial
structures in Wilmington,
designed the Richter
Building. Architect
M.W. Williard and Uhl
Incorporated helped bring
it back to life. Top right
inset: First floor north unit
as a grocery store in the
early 1900s.
1903
Charles Richter, grocer
1915
Fotine Kazakides, confectioner
Benjamin S. Black, conductor
Charles Richter, grocer
1922
Denos Pepos, confectioner
Charles Richter, grocer
1928
M. Luther Brothers, furniture
Charles Richter, grocer
1930
Richter’s Grocery (Charles Richter,
Jr.)
Mrs. Wilhelmina S. Richter, grocer
(widow of Charles Richter)
1934
Richter’s Grocery
John A. Gale, electrician
Richter’s Buffet Restaurant
Minnie (Wilhelmina) Richter
(widow of Charles Richter)
1936
Winn’s Grocery (George A. Winn, Jr.)
Frederick S. Breece, helper, Tide
Water Power Co.
Allen’s Beer Garden (Paul E. Allen)
Charles Richter, Jr.
Charles R. Davis, Brooklyn Bakery
L. Carl Mitchell, saw filer
1942
Brooklyn Fish Market (Benj.
Raynor)
Mrs. Ethel M. Millnor, helper,
James Walker Memorial Hospital
Douglas L. Pridgen, Wines
L. Henry Watkins, mech. Hanover
Iron Works
1948
Brooklyn Fish Market (Benj.
Raynor)
American Wine Shop (George
Lane)
1949
Brooklyn Fish Market (Benj.
Raynor)
Brown’s Deluxe Cleaners
1981
Vacant (one side)
Retiree Club (other side)
2001
Community Health Foundation
2004 - 2016
John Battle, owner
African American Heritage
Foundation of Southeastern NC
Museum and headquarters
Tenants: a non-profit organization,
an engineering firm, a realtor, an
upholstery and landscape design
company, two churches and
record distributor SquidCo
2016 - 2018
Kevin Rhodes and Ray Worrell,
owners
Tenants: SquidCo et al
2018 - current
Brad and Andrea Walker, owners
Lighthouse Films
926-928 NORTH FOURTH STREET • BLOCK 293, LOT 1
the
J
POINTS OF INTEREST
• The first fatal shots of a coup d’état, commonly known as the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898, were
fired here, at the intersection of Fourth and Harnett streets.
• On April 20, 1903, Claus (later referred to as Charles) Richter purchased the property where the
building was constructed from John H. Brunjes for $2,350. The lot measured 66-by-165 feet.
• Charles Richter (born 4/26/1856) was married twice, first to Anna C. Steenken and then to
Wilhelmina Seiter (information from Oakdale records death books).
• Charles Richter’s occupation: grocer.
• Charles Richter died June 1, 1930. The Wilmington Morning Star reported the death on June 2 with
the headline “Aged Wilmingtonian is fatally injured in crash last night.”
• Wilhelmina Richter sold the building to Charles Richter, Jr. Oct. 10, 1930, for $1.
• Wilhelmina Richter died in 1944.
• Mabel Craig Richter sold the building to Catherine R. Shepherd March 13, 1987 for $0.
• Application for Historic Wilmington Foundation filed in 1988.
• Newly incorporated African American Heritage Foundation of Wilmington purchased the Richter
Building to house their museum in May 2004.
OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS
COURTESY OF IRIS BAKER
BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORIC WILMINGTON FOUNDATION/MIDDLE PHOTO COURTESY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILMINGTON
AMES MCQUEEN cited the following information
in his application for a plaque from the Historic
Wilmington Foundation in 1988. The documents
referenced include property deeds, newspaper articles,
Oakdale Cemetery records and city directories. Charles Richter is named
as Charles Richters in some instances, but kept as Richter here for consistency.
october 2020