We ve seen a host of Christmas traditions in the Wilmington area.
Because of the pandemic, this year s Christmas will be harder on many people, whether they have lost loved ones due to COVID-19 or spending time alone to remain safe.
With that in mind, here s a look at past holidays in the Port City area via photos to provide some measure of good cheer.
Wrightsville Beach: 1940s
At the time, there were very few year-round residents in the beach town, but still some kids ready to try out their new Christmas toys. World War II changed the population, however, with an infusion of shipyard workers during the war and a year-round population that stayed around 1,000 or more afterward.