The Wilmington Morning Star

Hall for Conventions
Without knowing how well he hit the nail on the head, for he acknowledged he knew none of Wilmington's specific problems, James E. Gheen, addressing the annual Chamber of Commerce membership banquet, said that we should put forth a major effort to attract conventions. "After the war, men will be tired of sitting at home stewing in their own juice. They will want to travel to conventions." And to bring the point home, he added: "They ought to come here."
To be sure they ought to come here, but that fact alone will not bring them. Wilmington has a job on its hands to do that. They must be given a hall for their sessions.
This is where the long-delayed convention hall project fits into the picture. It has been talked about until its advocates are black in the face, but as yet it has not reached even the blueprint stage. If Wilmington is to be ready for the conventions that can be attracted, it is none too soon to begin planning for such a hall now, not in an abstract, academic manner, but with definite, actual plans formulated for its construction as soon as the war is over and building materials become available.
And the site for it is the Marine hospital property, adjoining the Robert Strange playground.
It is on this ground, for which the city is already negotiating with the federal government, that a great building should be erected, which would accommodate not only conventions but indoor athletic contests and public entertainments drawing large throngs.
This project was exploited before the war. The building would be known as the Manley Memorial arena, in honor of Father Manley who did so much for the youth of the Wilmington area, particularly in athletics and whose death was a great loss to the community.
With this arena, Wilmington could become the convention city of North Carolina, the athletic center, the cultural center; and with it occupying the proposed site Wilmington could have the finest park and playground in the state. With all of the hospital tract and the Robert Strange playground landscaped with an eye both to its beauty and serviceability for recreation, no city in the state could offer a better similar center.
That it would prove an asset is not to be doubted. But even if it were not self-supporting the cost of operation would be justifiable on the score of the benefit it would be to the public.
In the meantime, the city could well afford to invest a few hundred dollars in putting the Robert Strange playground into usable condition.