End of an Era

The last vestiges of Whiteville's first "modern" shopping center began coming down Thursday.

The Lewis Smith Shopping Center was demolished last year after sustaining heavy damage from Hurricane Matthew and Florence, then a catastrophic fire. The property was condemned and cleared by the city.

It will eventually become a multi-use park, since the land lies in the flood zone for Soles Swamp and cannot be redeveloped.

Workers began dismantling the landmark sign using a crane and heavy equipment Wednesday. It was gone by Thursday evening.

A final plan for the park has not been confirmed, but it could include a splash pad, event venue, and other features.