Franklinton Depot
Also known as: Raleigh and Gaston Railroad Passenger Depot; Franklinton Woma
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 for the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, this small frame depot in Franklinton, North Carolina, served rail passengers for almost nine decades. Its design mixes Italianate, Gothic Revival and Queen Anne details, including double-leaf paneled doors with shouldered surrounds, fish-scale shingles in the gables, and kingpost ornaments topped with pinnacles. The interior originally held two equal waiting rooms, one for Black and one for white travelers, divided by ticket and telegraph offices. The railroad closed the station in 1973 and planned to demolish it. Local civic clubs bought it for one dollar on condition that it leave the right-of-way, and it was moved less than 200 feet and turned toward Mason Street. It became a clubhouse. The depot is the last example of its passenger type built along the line in the 1880s. It reflects the railroad's role in founding and growing Franklinton, and its exterior has changed little since construction.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the last surviving railroad structures from the Raleigh and Gaston line and the only remaining example of its passenger depot type. It is tied to one of the state's first major railroads and to the growth of Franklinton. It is also a well-preserved example of late nineteenth century picturesque railroad architecture.
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 90001941, listed December 27, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 E. Mason St., Franklinton |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 27, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001941 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Office of John C. Winder, Superintendent, Raleigh and Gaston Railroad |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as a clubhouse for the Franklinton Woman's Club since the depot was moved in 1973. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 36.10324, -78.45522 (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 90001941.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18619208
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.