Lincoln Park Historic District
Why it's listed
Lincoln Park is a planned residential district of one-story frame Minimal Traditional houses on about fourteen acres in the northeast of Rocky Mount, bounded by Leggett Road and the Tar River. Wimberley and Gregory began the subdivision in 1948, and the Federal Housing Administration approved its plan in January of that year. Forty-four principal residences contribute to the district, most designed by Wilson architect Thomas B. Herman and built on uniform setbacks along curvilinear Ellison Drive and Carver Place. The district was marketed exclusively to African American buyers, and it was the first modern suburban development of its size in the city for that group. Its motel and restaurant, opened on April 26, 1953, offered four rooms and a pit-cooked barbecue menu. The motel was one of very few lodgings in Rocky Mount open to African American travelers, and it hosted fraternal, civic, and musical events. The district is significant for community planning and for its ties to segregation-era life in Rocky Mount.
Significance in brief: The district was developed by Wimberley and Gregory and the Tar River Housing Corporation and marketed exclusively to middle-class African American families, the first modern suburban development of its size in Rocky Mount to do so. The adjoining Lincoln Park Motel and Restaurant, opened in 1953, was one of very few places in the city where African Americans could lodge and dine. The nomination argues the district reflects segregated community development and post-WWII FHA-influenced planning.
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 11001042, listed January 20, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 800 blk. Ellison Dr., 800-900 & 1000-1002 Leggett Rd. & 800 Carver Pl., Rocky Mount |
|---|---|
| County | Edgecombe County |
| Listed | January 20, 2012 |
| Reference number | 11001042 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1948-1953 |
| Architectural style | Minimal Traditional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The two razed lots are vacant open space and the motel and restaurant are described as presently vacant, though the buildings remain intact. |
| Coordinates | 35.95570, -77.78003 (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).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 11001042.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19986806
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.