Shamrock Mills
Also known as: Hanes Hosiery Mill #1
Why it's listed
Built in 1911 at Marshall and Second streets in Winston-Salem, this one-story brick mill with a daylight basement and sawtooth roof was the first plant of what became the Hanes Hosiery Company. It began as Shamrock Knitting Mills, founded by John Wesley Hanes, and took the name Hanes Hosiery Mills Company in 1914. The building held about 200 knitting machines and 200 employees. Its roof, with six-foot skylights over seven sections, followed a design popular in textile mills of the early twentieth century and closely resembles the 1902-1903 White Oak Plant of Cone Cotton Mills in Greensboro. The architect is unknown. Knitting took place at street level, while dyeing and boarding of stockings were done in the basement. Hanes moved to a larger West 14th Street plant by 1926, and Carolina Cadillac Company then used the building as a dealership, adding a store-front facade. It was listed as a reminder of the company's beginnings and for its roof design.
Significance in brief: It is the first building of the company that grew into the Hanes Hosiery empire, later one of the world's largest hosiery makers. Its sawtooth roof with skylights is noted in the development of industrial architecture and resembles the Cone Mills White Oak Plant in Greensboro. The architect is unknown.
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 78001951, listed May 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3rd and Marshall Sts., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | May 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001951 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911 |
| Architectural style | Sawtooth-roof industrial mill; 1925 office addition suggestive of the Bauhaus school |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied/vacant at the time of nomination; later used as a Carolina Cadillac dealership after Hanes moved in 1926, with a store-front facade added. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Winston-Salem Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.09589, -80.24840 (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.
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 78001951.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016176
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.