CAROLINA BEACH – Tucked away among a rapidly developing portion of Federal Point, a piece of deeply rooted local Civil War history will now be preserved as a long-awaited park.
On Thursday, the Town of Carolina Beach and Federal Point Historical Preservation Society will unveil the Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park, built on land donated by its namesake that features original Sugar Loaf earthworks manned by soldiers during the final days of the War Between the States.
Before Lewis Jr.’s passing at age 84 in 2010, the life-long Carolina Beach resident, U.S Army veteran and member of the Federal Point History Center bequeathed the 10-acre patch of land to the town on the condition it be turned into a park that preserved and highlighted the site’s significance to the Confederacy’s effort to hold off Union soldiers as Fort Fisher became threatened in 1865.
Carolina Beach holding ribbon cutting for Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park
New park coming to Carolina Beach By WECT Staff | February 9, 2021 at 6:04 AM EST - Updated February 9 at 7:45 AM
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - Itâs been in the making for several years and now, Carolina Beach is ready to open a brand new park. The Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park is located around the remnants of fortifications of the âSugar Loaf Line of Defenseâ and will feature a raised walkway, picnic areas, and other amenities.
The park has been in the works for several years and was a group effort between the town, and several partners.