Weldon Historic District

Weldon's historic district occupies most of the town's residential, commercial and rail-related core on the south side of the Roanoke River. Its grid was laid out in 1834 on land once part of the plantation known as Weldon's Orchard. The town grew from the Roanoke Canal, completed around the great falls in 1823 with locks finished in 1834, and from railroads that terminated there beginning in 1833. Commercial buildings are predominantly brick, mostly one to three stories, and most retain intact upper facades. Residences are largely frame and include Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Craftsman examples. The district contains 273 primary resources, of which 205 are contributing. Its period of significance runs from about 1830 to 1946, and it includes the Stone Building, regarded as the oldest building in town, along with a synagogue established by an early twentieth century Jewish merchant community.