The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-18
Italians AidedFounding
Of States First School

1t is a little known fact but
the history of the ITALIAN associa-
ton, Wilmington's little theatre
organization, is inextricably woven
into the story of the towns earliest
education movement.
Recent discoveries, which prove
that Wilmington had the first free
school and first theatre, h a v e
brought to light an almost unknown
chapter in the early struggles of
the town for knowledge and cul
ture and entertainment.
Renaissance
1t all goes back to far off Revolu'
tionary war times and it is
about 1889. The Cape Fear basin
Was reminding the smouldering
fires of it's social and cultural pur
suits which had been devastated by
the holocaust of war.
Prominent citizens organized E
dramatic club which they called
ITALIAN association, after the muse
of comedy, Thalia. Quickly t h {
groups activities outgrew the usua
drawing-room, amateur perform
ance, and a real stage, ample fol
the exercise Of dramatic talent, wa
sought.
Efforts, therefore, were made t.
take advantage Of a bequest whic]
had been made this old communit,
by Colonel James Innes, a beques
for the purpose Of a public schoo
in Wilmington.
The first bequest for free educa
t n in North Carolina.
Colonel Innes was an Irish gentle
man, a British army officer, an
an agent for Lord Cartaret in tn
colony. He established himself Of
a plantation, Point Pleasant, situat
ed seven miles north (near Castl
Huynes), and forthwith entered in
to the social life Of the town.
"a free School"
Following his death, he bequeste'
all his estate "for use Of a fire
school for the benefit of the you'll
of North Carolina.
But at the time of hit death, i
was found that war and othe
causes had depleted the estate unit
| only a fraction remained. Follow
ing several years of litigation con
corning Times Academy" a schoo
the colonel had founded, and it
trustees, the Thalians stepped int
the picture.
An agreement was finally reach
ed between the trustees and the act
ing group which provided that
part of any building constructed
for the academy would be fitted VI
as a theatre and the Tha,ian organi
zation given a perpetual lease TO
it.
subscriptions in money" reads
history of the theatre group, "wer'
taken up among citizens with grea
success. Three lots north Of Prin
cess street, between Third an
Fourth, were purchased and worl
on the project begun. 1t was com
pleted in 1900"
1nnes Academy was a great bric]
| structure with two stories. The uI
per floor was used for a school, an
the ITALIAN membership took pos
session of the lowel floor. Until tn
outbreak of the War Between tn
States it was Wilmington's onl,
school and only theatre
and the first free school in Mort
Carolina.
And Shadows
Like the public school system
the ITALIAN association has had it
light lights and shadows. 1t has Ell
dured the tormented pain Of slo'
strangulation; war, privation, We
low fever, lack of funds and equiv
ment, and countless other contr
huting factors have tried to still il
warm, living pulse. But today tn
Italians is more alive than ever. II
deed, on February "a the group wi
present a famous mystery pla.
"The 18th Chair" at t h e hig
school. and as for the schot
system. A trip around town, a cour
Of noses, and the knowledge ths
within those many buildings ther
are ten thousand school children
and education is free . . well, it
all an eloquent monument to a ce
tain Colonel 1nnes, an Irish gent
man of Revolutionary war time
J who had a vision.