Wallace Commercial Historic District
Why it's listed
Wallace's commercial core grew along the Atlantic Coast Line tracks in southern Duplin County, North Carolina. The district covers 67 buildings, of which 55 contribute, laid out on a street grid around Main and Railroad streets. Most are one- and two-story brick stores built between about 1890 and 1945, with corbeled cornices, pilasters, dentil courses and patterned panels above altered storefronts. Other resources include a 1890s Queen Anne frame depot and freight warehouse, car dealerships, filling stations, cotton and wholesale buildings, and a 1941 post office designed by Louis Simon. The town developed after a right of way was donated about 1838 for the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. Later, strawberry growing and produce shipping brought prosperity and a building boom. The district was found significant for its commerce, community development and architecture, with a period of significance running from about 1838 to 1945. Later development has stayed east of the district, so it keeps its historic character.
Significance in brief: The district records the growth of a railroad market town fueled by strawberry and produce shipping after the Wilmington and Weldon line expanded. Its closely massed brick commercial buildings are unified by notable brickwork. It also includes the county's only railroad depot still on its original site.
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 95001179, listed October 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Southerland, College, Boney and Raleigh Sts., Wallace |
|---|---|
| County | Duplin County |
| Listed | October 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001179 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1838-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Boney, Leslie N., Sr., architect; Simon, Louis, architect; Blanton, George, mason |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Commercial Style, Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions listed include specialty stores, business and a vacant/not in use category; the railroad tracks within the district are not in railway service. |
| Acreage | 17.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.73552, -77.99298 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 95001179.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18394375
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.