Tinga Nursery
Why it's listed
Tinga Nursery is a working nursery and farm complex along US 117 near Wrightsboro in New Hanover County. Eelco Tinga, a Dutch horticulturist, bought thirty acres in 1912 on land developed by Hugh MacRae as part of his European farm colonies, and built a large barn in 1913. A Craftsman-style bungalow followed in 1918, along with a wash house and woodshed, and an employee's room was added in 1921. Later additions include bulb and pump buildings, offices, a pond, cold frames and a network of irrigation ditches laid out in the strip pattern Tinga knew from the Netherlands. Six buildings, one site and one structure contribute to the property's character. It was listed for its role in agriculture and European ethnic heritage between 1913 and 1950. It is regarded as the last intact reminder of MacRae's Castle Hayne colony and as an early contributor to the region's flower and bulb industry, still run by Tinga's descendants.
Significance in brief: The nursery is described as the last intact link to Hugh MacRae's early-twentieth-century European-settled Castle Haynes agricultural colony. It helped start the area's flower and bulb industry and is still cultivated by descendants of Tinga, one of the colony's early settlers. It is significant in Agriculture and European Ethnic Heritage.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001185, listed October 4, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 117, 0.62 mi. N of jct. with NC 132, Wrightsboro |
|---|---|
| County | New Hanover County |
| Listed | October 4, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001185 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1913-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | European, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as a nursery, with the house, employee quarters and other buildings still in use. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 34.29886, -77.91750 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001185.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24041335
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.