Sosnik-Morris-Early Commercial Block
Also known as: Thalhimer's
Why it's listed
Two neighboring commercial buildings on West Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, completed in 1929, make up this block. Mrs. William N. Reynolds, the former Kate Bitting, built them as investments, and the Winston-Salem firm Northup and O'Brien designed both. The four-story Morris-Early furniture store combined classical elements with Art Deco geometry, including terra cotta ornament, stylized Corinthian pilasters and cable molding around the windows. Next door, the three-story limestone-faced Sosnik's clothing store featured low-relief floral designs and vertical limestone columns. The two are described as the only pair of Art Deco buildings in the city and as two of seven such buildings left downtown. Sosnik's merged with Thalhimer's in 1949, and the New York firm Raymond Loewy Associates remodeled the store, streamlining its street level. Thalhimer's later took over the Morris-Early building in 1958. The block reflects the 1920s boom, when tobacco and textile fortunes financed downtown construction, and the whole block remains a department store.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the block reflects Winston-Salem's 1920s building boom, funded by tobacco, textile and other industrial wealth. Both buildings embody Art Deco characteristics and were designed by the prominent firm Northup and O'Brien. Together they form the only pair of Art Deco structures in the city and a unified Fourth Street streetscape. Raymond Loewy Associates remodeled the Sosnik's building in 1949.
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 84002293, listed April 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 500 W. 4th St., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | April 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002293 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | Northup and O'Brien |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The entire block is occupied by Thalhimer's department store; the Morris-Early facade was painted white, and the Sosnik's storefront and much of the interior were altered in 1949, though terra cotta Art Deco features remain. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.09212, -80.25359 (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 84002293.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016203
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.