Hillsdale Brick Store
Why it's listed
Built shortly before the Civil War at a crossroads in northern Guilford County, the Hillsdale Brick Store is a two-story, two-by-three bay brick building whose form blends house and shop. Its low hip roof, triple molded cornice and six-over-six windows reflect Greek Revival styling, while irregular first-floor doors and windows give it a business-like look. Inside, a German or Quaker house plan was adapted to create a wide commercial hall supported by chamfered posts, with a meeting room upstairs that likely served Masonic and neighborhood gatherings. Woodgrained doors and a smoked, swirl-patterned ceiling in one small room are unusual survivals. The store was probably built by planter Archibald Bevill and was later run by the Bevill, Florance and other merchants until about 1962. For more than a century it served as a business and social center, and it is regarded as a rare surviving example of the rural general stores once common across North Carolina. Remains of a log icehouse and blacksmith shop also survive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is probably the most architecturally significant rural store in the county, showing the shift from domestic to commercial building forms with Greek Revival detailing. It served for over a century as a business and social center and represents vanishing country general stores. Its woodgrained trim and smoked ceiling add interest, and remains of a log icehouse and blacksmith shop may yield information.
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 82003459, listed June 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 150 and SR 2347, Hillsdale |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | June 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003459 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival details on an adapted German or Quaker house plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used for storage; described as structurally sound and relatively unaltered. The store ceased operating after 1962. |
| Acreage | 14.2 |
| Coordinates | 36.20107, -79.84731 (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 82003459.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462318
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.