Cotton Press
Also known as: See Also:Tarboro Town Common
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Why it's listed
A large wooden cotton press stands on the Tarboro Town Common, at the northeast corner of Albemarle and Wilson Streets. Isaac Norfleet, a wealthy planter and politician, built it around 1840 on his plantation southwest of Tarboro. The frame is heart pine, joined with mortise and tenon, and rises about twenty-two feet. Mules turned sweeps attached to a central shaft, a nineteen-inch wooden screw that drove a packing block downward. The press was first used for cider and wine, then converted to baling cotton about 1860. That was the year Edgecombe County led North Carolina in cotton production, at 15,000 bales. The Edgecombe County Historical Society moved the press to the Town Common about 1938. It is considered one of the few remaining examples of the machinery Southern cotton growers used in the nineteenth century. The structure was recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1940, and a small octagonal roof protects the shaft.
Significance in brief: The press is one of the few surviving examples of machinery used by Southern cotton growers in the nineteenth century. It reflects the importance of cotton in Edgecombe County, which in 1860 was North Carolina's largest cotton producer. It was first used for pressing cider and wine before being converted to baling cotton about 1860.
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 71000582, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Town Common, Tarboro |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000582 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date c. 1840) |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Norfleet |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered and moved; owned by the Town of Tarboro. The county historical society planned to replace the shed roof. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.89821, -77.54386 (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 71000582.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2394010
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.