McCanless, Walter, House
Also known as: Hedrick House; Donaldson House
Why it's listed
Built between 1927 and 1929 on a 1.75-acre lot at 200 Confederate Avenue in Salisbury, this buff brick house has two stories, a hipped roof of green glazed Ludowici tiles and a U-shaped plan. Its front terrace is edged with a stone balustrade, and its flanking pavilions carry stone Venetian details. The interior keeps much of its original fabric, including coffered plaster ceilings, parquet entry flooring, carved wood casings, four carved Carrara marble mantels and extensive ceramic tile work in the bathrooms, kitchen and basement. Walter Franklin McCanless, a local textile mill developer and son of builder Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless, commissioned the house. The architects were Benton and Benton of Wilson, North Carolina. The house is valued for its architecture: it is described as the finest Italian Renaissance Revival house in Rowan County and as unusually well preserved for the 1920s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is Rowan County's finest Italian Renaissance Revival house and is remarkably intact in its design, materials and interior finishes. It is said to be an example of an affluent 1920s suburban residence beside the Country Club of Salisbury's golf course. The stated significance rests on its architecture rather than on events or persons.
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 05000452, listed May 21, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 Confederate Ave., Salisbury |
|---|---|
| County | Rowan County |
| Listed | May 21, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000452 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | Benton and Benton of Wilson, NC (architects) |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The main residence is largely intact, with the rear patio enclosed and the garage roof tiles replaced with asphalt shingles; the swimming pool is deteriorated but unaltered. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.68332, -80.46878 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 05000452.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987009
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.