Bank of Pee Dee Building
Also known as: Economy Auto Supply
Why it's listed
Built between 1904 and 1905 at the corner of Hancock and E. Washington streets, this two-story red brick building housed the Bank of Pee Dee, the first established bank in Rockingham. Its pedimented front, rusticated first-story piers, Doric entablature, brick quoins and granite belt course make it distinctive among the city's commercial buildings. The bank was chartered in 1891 and led by Thomas C. Leak, Sr., a landowner who helped organize several local textile mills. After the earlier Richmond Hotel location burned in 1904, the new building replaced it. The bank closed in December 1930, and the building later held a cafe and a Greek restaurant before becoming an auto supply store. Teller cages are gone, and a 1960s dropped ceiling covers the original pressed tin ceiling, though plank floors and beaded ceilings upstairs remain. It was listed for its architecture and its link to Leak and Rockingham's early 1900s growth.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be one of the least altered and best preserved commercial structures in downtown Rockingham. It housed the first established bank in Rockingham and is tied to its founding president, Thomas C. Leak, Sr., an industrial and commercial figure. Its pedimented front and detailing are unique in the local commercial district and reflect early 1900s growth driven by the textile industry.
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 83001905, listed September 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 E. Washington St., Rockingham |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | September 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001905 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1905 |
| Architectural style | Early twentieth century commercial architecture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an auto supply store; upper floor used for storage. Condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.94015, -79.77339 (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 83001905.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19865619
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.