Barracks, The
Why it's listed
Built from 1858 for William S. Battle, The Barracks is a brick mansion at 1100 Albemarle Street in Tarboro. Architect William Percival of Petersburg, Virginia, designed it on land Battle's wife inherited from her father, Francis L. Dancy. Its salmon-colored brick walls, pedimented portico with fluted columns modeled on the Tower of the Winds in Athens, paired brackets, and side loggias combine Italian Villa proportions with Greek Revival and Italianate detail. Inside, a rotunda topped by a stained glass cupola opens to parlors, a library, a dining room and a stair hall. Original louvered shutters, plaster cornices, marble mantels, parquet floors and gas chandeliers, now electrified, survive. Battle, a mill owner and delegate to the 1861 Secession Convention, lost his mills in 1863 and later transferred the house to cover debts. It was sold in 1900 and later lived in by the Howard family until about 1950. It is valued as a well-preserved example of Percival's work.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most interesting examples of the work of William Percival, a gifted but little-known architect of the period. It is also described as one of the most sumptuous and best-preserved mansions of its date in North Carolina. It retains most of its original interiors.
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 71000578, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1100 Albemarle St., Tarboro |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000578 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | William Percival |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa massing with Greek Revival and Italianate detail |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent; the property is occupied and used as a private residence. Described as altered, with rear additions, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Tarboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.90238, -77.54136 (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 71000578.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18711532
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.