Belmont Hosiery Mill
Why it's listed
Brick hosiery mill on South Main Street in Belmont, begun in 1945 and completed in 1946 to designs by Charlotte architect Herman V. Biberstein. Built to manufacture seamless nylon hosiery, it was the first plant in Belmont devoted solely to that product, and it was expanded in 1952, 1958 and 1969 to meet demand. The front elevation shows Art Moderne-influenced horizontal bands of projecting brick, and the interior retains its steel I-beam post-and-beam structure and original scale. The mill is regarded as the most intact post-World War II textile plant in Belmont. Its significance lies in showing how Gaston County's long textile tradition continued after the war, when new hosiery technology reshaped local production. Production ended in 2000, and the building has been vacant since.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is significant under Criterion A for its role in the post-World War II development and prosperity of Belmont's textile industry. It was built to produce seamless nylon hosiery and is described as the most intact post-war textile plant in the town.
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 02000987, listed September 16, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 608 S. Main St., Belmont |
|---|---|
| County | Gaston County |
| Listed | September 16, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000987 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1946-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Herman V. Biberstein (architect); Southern Engineering, Inc. (contractor for additions) |
| Architectural style | OTHER/ Art Moderne-influenced |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill ceased production in 2000 and has been vacant since that time. |
| Acreage | 6.6 |
| Coordinates | 35.23760, -81.04815 (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.
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 02000987.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460463
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.