Norfolk Southern Passenger Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 by the Norfolk Southern Railroad on the western edge of Elizabeth City, this long one-story brick passenger station has a tall hipped roof of clay tiles, deep eaves supported by wooden triangular braces, and eclectic Spanish Revival detailing including tan-brick quoins and flat arches. Its interior held separate waiting rooms for white and black passengers, a central ticket office with angled windows, and a Railway Express Agency office that handled parcel shipments, including fish from the Globe Fish Company. The station's opening in July 1914 was followed by a period when rail became the main form of regional travel, and the building also spurred residential and commercial growth at the city's western edge. Passenger service ended in early 1948 as buses and automobiles took over, after which the building was used for commercial purposes. Its listing rests on its role in the region's transportation history and on its architecture.
Significance in brief: The station is significant under Criterion A for transportation, as the building through which rail service became the dominant form of travel in the Albemarle region after 1914. Its Spanish Revival design is also noted as an appropriately modern choice for the period, and its segregated waiting rooms and express office reflect the community's commercial and social life.
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 94000080, listed February 25, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 109 S. Hughes Blvd., Elizabeth City |
|---|---|
| County | Pasquotank County |
| Listed | February 25, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000080 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1943 |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; the document states the station has been occupied by Tireworld, a retread tire firm, since 1990. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.30260, -76.23809 (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 94000080.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19877173
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.