McElwee Houses
Why it's listed
Four classically styled houses stand side by side at 122, 126, 134 and 140 Water Street in Statesville, beside the town's commercial district. They are what remains of a compound that John H. McElwee, a tobacco manufacturer, hoped would keep his children near him. His son William Henry McElwee built 122 Water Street around 1905, and his daughter Addie McElwee Thomas drew the plans for 126, built in 1906. Both have large columned porticos and Palladian-style dormer windows. Two older houses, 134 and 140, were moved slightly and remodelled between 1918 and 1925 by family members to match the classical look of their neighbors. Number 140 shows some Bungaloid influence and now houses law offices. McElwee's own mansard-style house was demolished for a parking lot. The row is regarded as a reflection of Statesville's early twentieth century industrial prosperity and includes two of the city's finest Neo-Classical Revival homes.
Significance in brief: The houses are the remains of a family compound of the McElwee family, prominent Statesville tobacco and other industrialists. They reflect the wealth from the town's industrial and commercial growth. Two of them, 122 and 126 Water Street, are among the best examples of Neo-Classical Revival domestic architecture in Statesville.
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 80002874, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 122, 126, 134 and 140 Water St., Statesville |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002874 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Addie McElwee Thomas (plans for 126 Water Street) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical Revival/Colonial Revival, with Bungaloid influence at 140 Water Street |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and unaltered; the houses are well preserved by McElwee descendants. 140 Water Street is used as law offices, and the others are occupied. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.78650, -80.88737 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 80002874.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987037
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.