In Our Backyard . . . Hugh MacRae Park

Entrance to Hugh MacRae Park from College Road at Lake Avenue

The main impetus for my writing a series on "In Our Backyard . . . " was this crown jewel in our neighborhood.  Most likely, he also owned the land that the Senior Center, and Hoggard High School occupy.  Perhaps he also owned the land that Roland-Grise and Victoria place occupy.  A deed search could be fascinating.

Hugh MacRae's grandson, Hugh Morton grew up in Wilmington.  Morton inherited Grandfather Mountain from the MacRae estate.  Hugh Morton was a renowned photographer; his pictures and negatives are being archived at UNC-CH where he went to college.  Morton is most famous for developing Grandfather Mountain into a tourist attraction while preserving the mountain with the famous viaduct for the Blue Ridge parkway.  He is also responsible for the Highland Games held annually at Grandfather Mountain.

Much more information on Hugh MacRae at this link: http://www.myreporter.com/2009/03/hugh-macrae/

So enough about the mountains because we live on the other side of the state at the beach!

Here are some pictures that I took at the beginning of the summer: