Bethune-Powell Buildings
Why it's listed
Two adjoining two-story brick stores at 118 and 120 East Main Street in Clinton were built in 1902 to replace buildings lost in the July fire that burned 43 structures in the southern part of town. Their storefronts and upper facades are covered in pressed metal, with Corinthian and Tuscan columns, garlanded friezes, ram's horn spiral bands, and modillioned cornices. The larger Bethune Building was built by Lauchlin Alexander Bethune, a newspaper founder, bank president and state senator, and first served as a grocery and hardware store with a Masonic Temple upstairs. The smaller Powell Building later housed Sampson Ace Hardware for many years. Ground floors and interiors have been heavily altered, though the upper facades and rear walls remain largely intact. In a county where commercial buildings of the period are plain brick with corbelled cornices, these two stand out as a bold, decorative presence on the courthouse square, which is why they were recognized for architecture and commercial history.
Significance in brief: The buildings are described as the outstanding commercial structures in Sampson County because of their ornate pressed metal sheathing, which contrasts with the plain brick storefronts typical of the county. They are tied to Clinton's turn-of-the-century commercial rebuilding after the July 1902 fire. They are also considered excellent examples of decorative pressed metal on commercial buildings.
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 86000580, listed March 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118--120 E. Main St., Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | March 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000580 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1902 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (Bethune Building built by Lauchlin Alexander Bethune) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; first-floor facades and interiors substantially altered; upstairs of both buildings vacant. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.99414, -78.32365 (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 86000580.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19866860
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.