Seaboard Milling Company
Also known as: Seaboard Roller Mill; Broadway Roller Mills
Why it's listed
Built in 1915-16 at 202 Hickory Avenue in Sanford, this three-story brick roller mill was designed to turn local wheat and corn into flour and meal. The original block measures fifty by thirty-two feet and has a gable roof with stepped parapets and traces of painted signage and decorative column designs. A frame wing was added about 1920, and a cinder-block office replaced the original office in the early 1950s. Inside, heavy timber framing, four large wooden grain bins, and Nordyke & Marmon sieve purifiers survive. The mill was promoted by local booster J. B. Robeson and opened in January 1916, advertising its flour brands and attracting farmers who no longer had to travel to distant mills. It went into receivership in 1930, was bought in 1937 by Dan and Lewis Lawrence, and sold flour to the government during the early war years. It is recognized for its role in local industry between 1916 and 1952.
Significance in brief: The mill is significant under Criterion A for its role in the industrial history of Sanford and Lee County. It was welcomed as a boost to the local economy and gave area farmers an outlet for their grain for decades. It also retains historic grain bins and Nordyke & Marmon machinery typical of roller milling.
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 02000440, listed May 2, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 202 Hickory Ave., Sanford |
|---|---|
| County | Lee County |
| Listed | May 2, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000440 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916-1930, 1937-1952 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing rehabilitation; the roof was recently rebuilt and the interior floors are to be restored. Current function is listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | East Sanford Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.47825, -79.17257 (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 02000440.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23035211
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.