Rocky Mount Electric Power Plant
Also known as: Pearsall Machine Works,Inc.
Why it's listed
Brick power station on Andrews Street at the edge of downtown Rocky Mount, built in 1901 as a one-story building and raised to two stories around 1920. Contractor David J. Rose built it to house the town's first electric generating plant, and electric lights came on across Rocky Mount on January 1, 1902. Its hand-made brick walls are laid in common bond, and large arched openings at the east and west ends were used to unload coal from a railroad sidetrack that ran into the yard. It is regarded as an early example of brick commercial construction in the town, and it reflects the early twentieth-century rise of Rocky Mount as a commercial and transportation center in a largely rural region where few residents had electricity. Rose's firm erected much of the town's early built environment, and he was known throughout eastern North Carolina. A new plant on the Tar River replaced this one around 1912, and the building has since housed a machine shop.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the plant was the first electric generating station in Rocky Mount and was crucial to the town's early twentieth-century growth. It is also associated with contractor David J. Rose, a prominent local builder responsible for much of Rocky Mount's early built environment. The form describes it as an early example of brick commercial construction in the town.
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 82003494, listed July 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 217 Andrews St., Rocky Mount |
|---|---|
| County | Nash County |
| Listed | July 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003494 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architect / builder | David J. Rose, Contractor |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked good; in use as a machine shop. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.93656, -77.80040 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82003494.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20745489
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.