Union Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 at the crossing of the Atlantic Coastline and Southern Railroads in Selma, Union Station is a one-story brick building with a gable roof and a two-story control tower and telegraph office at the apex of its V-plan. The plan allowed sheltered access to tracks of both lines. Dark brown brick is set against white concrete lintels and horizontal bands, and the interior keeps its original woodwork, apart from the wooden settees. Designed by A.M. Griffin, staff architect of the Atlantic Coastline, the station replaced an inadequate wood-frame depot and opened for passenger use on July 19, 1924. Selma's founding and growth depended on the railroads, and the station is regarded as a reminder of that link and of the prosperity of the 1920s. Passenger service ended in the 1970s, and the building has been empty since, awaiting reuse.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station reflects the railroads' central role in Selma's development and the town's economic prosperity of the 1920s. It also presents the building as a fine example of Griffin's work, with a V-plan that gave sheltered access to tracks of both railroads.
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 82003482, listed June 24, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Railroad St., Selma |
|---|---|
| County | Johnston County |
| Listed | June 24, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003482 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | A.M. Griffin (architect) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed in 197 when passenger service ended; the Town of Selma, which purchased the building in 1977, is seeking an adaptive re-use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.53265, -78.28018 (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 82003482.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7448753
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.