Greene County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Greene County Courthouse is a two-story brick building at the north edge of downtown Snow Hill, North Carolina. Completed in 1935 with a Federal public works loan and grant of $107,800, it was designed by Thomas B. Herman of Wilson and built by contractor T. A. Loving. It is the latest in a series of county courthouses: a wooden one from 1800, a small brick building of 1848 that the sheriff burned in 1876, and its replacement. The symmetrical design has a Doric pedimented portico on the main block, an attic, and slightly recessed one-bay wings, with a wide frieze band around the exterior. Its restrained classical and colonial details reflect the severe style common to public works architecture of the period. The interior was remodeled in 1971, yet an iron stair, classical radiator grilles and a second-floor courtroom with fluted pilasters and a Doric frieze on the judge's bench survive, keeping the interior consistent with the exterior.
Significance in brief: The building is a representative example of 1930s public-works courthouse architecture, with a severe, conservative classical appearance mixing classical and colonial elements. It replaced earlier courthouses dating to 1800, and its exterior and much of its interior character remain intact despite a 1971 remodeling.
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 79001712, listed May 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Greene and 2nd Sts., Snow Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | May 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001712 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Thomas B. Herman of Wilson; contractor T. A. Loving |
| Architectural style | Conservative classical with colonial elements (WPA-era classical) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior remodeled in 1971 with acoustical tile ceilings and vinyl wall coverings, though much original fabric remains; the building serves as the county courthouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Snow Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.45571, -77.66998 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 79001712.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18706145
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.