Garrou-Morganton Full-Fashioned Hosiery Mills
Also known as: Premier Hosiery Mills; Morgantown Hosiery Mills
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 on Lenoir Street in Morganton, the mill complex grew from the Garrou Knitting Mill and the Morganton Full-Fashioned Hosiery Mill, which merged in 1926. The main buildings are of brick, cast concrete and steel, with glass-block windows set between brick pilasters in vertical rows, a design typical of the Art Moderne style. The 1891 Morganton Manufacturing and Trading Company building was incorporated into the older knitting mill. The complex is regarded as an excellent example of early twentieth-century Art Moderne industrial design in Burke County. It also reflects the growth of hosiery manufacturing in Morganton, which was introduced to the county by Waldensian families such as the Garrous in the 1890s. The mill operated on the site until 1995, and its expansion influenced the development of the East Union corridor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a significant early twentieth-century example of the Art Moderne style in industrial architecture, with glass-block detailing and brick pilasters, and that it is the most notably detailed surviving industrial building of its period in Burke County. It also argues the mill documents industrial development in Morganton during the mid-twentieth century and was a catalyst for expansion of the business district along East Union Street.
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 99000064, listed January 27, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 101 and 105 Lenoir St., Morganton |
|---|---|
| County | Burke County |
| Listed | January 27, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1939 |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill operated until it went bankrupt in early 1995; in December 1997 the Morganton Redevelopment Commission purchased the property for adaptive reuse. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Within district | Morganton Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.74762, -81.68664 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 99000064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18150623
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.