Erwin Cotton Mills Company Mill No. 1 Headquarters Building
Also known as: Erwin Square
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 in West Durham, Durham, the Erwin Cotton Mills No. 1 is a two-story brick textile mill with a shallow gable roof and three square towers on its east facade. The mill was lengthened in 1896 with a virtually identical addition, and its narrow width and hundreds of large windows reflect the period's reliance on natural light and ventilation. Beside it stands the company's Headquarters, an L-shaped brick office building whose front block shows vernacular Italianate and Queen Anne details, including brick label moldings and sawn millwork. The company was founded by Benjamin N. Duke and George W. Watts with tobacco profits, and under William A. Erwin it grew rapidly and became a leading denim producer in the South by the turn of the century. Erwin's shorter workday, refusal to hire underage children and village amenities gave the mill historical weight. The complex was sold in 1983 and converted to offices and apartments.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex reflects the success of Durham's tobacco fortunes reinvested in textiles and the growth of the cotton textile industry in North Carolina. It also cites the company's pioneering denim production and William A. Erwin's progressive treatment of workers, including shorter hours and refusal to employ underage children. The mill's slow-burn construction and fenestration are presented as illustrating early factory design.
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 84002724, listed November 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Main and 9th Sts., Durham |
|---|---|
| County | Durham County |
| Listed | November 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002724 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1896 |
| Architectural style | Italianate and Queen Anne (vernacular expression in the Headquarters front block) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently renovated as offices and apartments after sale by Burlington Industries in 1983. |
| Acreage | 10.1 |
| Within district | West Durham Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.00828, -78.92307 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84002724.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19461605
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.