Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse

Federal Building and Courthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Federal Building and Courthouse, September 2009
Location	N. Water between Market and Princess St., Wilmington, North Carolina
Coordinates	34°14′7″N 77°57′0″W / 34.23528°N 77.95000°WCoordinates: 34°14′7″N 77°57′0″W / 34.23528°N 77.95000°W
Area	0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built	1916-1919
Architect	Wetmore, James A.
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP Reference #	74001363[1]
Added to NRHP	May 2, 1974

Alton Lennon Federal Building and Courthouse, also known as the Customs House, is a historic Federal building and courthouse located at Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina. It was designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect under James A. Wetmore and built between 1916 and 1919. It is an imposing three-story, Classical Revival style light sandstone building. It consists of a central mass with balanced projecting wings having engaged pedimented porticos. The design of the front facade of the earlier 1840s customs house is incorporated into the projecting wings to the cast iron details. The building measures 332 feet by 113 feet.^[2] The building was named for U.S. Congressman and Senator Alton Lennon (1906-1986) in 1976.^[3] It was used as the outside of the courthouse on seasons 7-9 of Andy Griffith's Matlock (TV series).

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.^[1] It is located in the Wilmington Historic District.

References

1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. Ellen Beasley (April 1973). "Federal Building and Courthouse" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
3. Waymarking entry