Johnson Building
Why it's listed
Anchoring the corner of East Main and Wall streets across from the Sampson County courthouse, this two-story brick commercial building in downtown Clinton dates to about 1902. Amma Ferdinand Johnson had it built as an investment soon after a fire that year burned forty-three downtown buildings. Its five-bay front has arched brick lintels, corner pilasters, recessed panels, a corbeled table and a projecting metal cornice with modillion blocks. Inside, the second floor keeps its wood floors, wainscoting, paneled doors and four skylights, along with window lettering left by physicians and dentists. Over the decades the ground floor held up to three shops, including dry goods stores, groceries, a cafe and a five-and-dime, while offices occupied the upper level. The building is considered significant for architecture and commerce, representing the simple brick commercial buildings typical of the region and the town's rebuilding and prosperity from about 1902 to 1950. A restoration was under way at the time of the nomination.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for architecture and commerce as an intact example of a two-story brick commercial building that symbolized Clinton's business prosperity in the first half of the twentieth century. It was built after the 1902 fire destroyed much of downtown and retains period features such as a metal cornice with modillion blocks and arched brick lintels. It housed retail shops and professional offices facing the county courthouse.
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 00000459, listed May 11, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 102-104 E. Main St., Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Sampson County |
| Listed | May 11, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000459 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1902-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style, with Classical Revival-style details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently being restored to resemble its original appearance; function listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Clinton Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.99764, -78.32376 (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 00000459.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19881021
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.