Glencoe School
Why it's listed
Glencoe School is a one-story brick-veneered school on Union Ridge Road, about six miles north of Burlington in Alamance County. Completed in 1936 with Public Works Administration funds, it replaced an earlier frame school built by the Holt family for the children of Glencoe Mill workers. Architect R. R. Markley designed it with Craftsman and Colonial Revival influences, including a low hipped roof with deep overhangs, decorative brick panels and large twelve-over-twelve wood windows. An H-shaped hallway plan holds six classrooms and a central auditorium, and a cafeteria was added in 1951. The school opened with 137 students in grades one through seven and stayed in use until 1963. It was later converted to warehouse use. The nomination finds it significant for its place in county education history and as what appears to be the only remaining rural brick school in Alamance County, with a high level of architectural integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion A for its role in the history of education in Alamance County, and under Criterion C for its architecture. It appears to be the only remaining rural brick school in the county and retains a high level of integrity. Its Craftsman- and Colonial Revival-influenced details illustrate a national style in a Depression-era rural community.
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 10001055, listed December 27, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2649 Union Ridge Rd, Glencoe |
|---|---|
| County | Alamance County |
| Listed | December 27, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10001055 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936 - 1960 |
| Architect / builder | Markley, R. R., architect; C. H. Bright of Burlington held the construction contract |
| Architectural style | Craftsman (with Colonial Revival influences) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a warehouse (Commerce/Trade). The school operated until 1963. The roof is in poor condition and has a leak. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 36.14652, -79.42360 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 10001055.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17511564
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.