Parham, Maria, Hospital
Also known as: Maria Parham Apartments
Why it's listed
Maria Parham Hospital is a three-story brick and concrete building at Orange and Chestnut streets in Henderson, North Carolina. Built in 1925 to designs by the Raleigh firm Linthicum and Linthicum, it opened with 27 beds and an operating room as a modern fireproof structure. Additions in 1941 and 1953 raised capacity to 75 beds, and the latter, the Dr. James H. Parker Memorial Wing, added a limestone portico entrance. The plain Colonial Revival design features rusticated first-floor brickwork, limestone trim and a classical cornice. Organized by local physicians and named for the mother of a Carolina Bagging Company figure, it was the only county hospital for white patients until a new facility opened in 1965. The old building later served as county offices, then sat vacant before being rehabilitated into senior apartments in 1992-93. Its listing recognizes its role in the growth of modern hospital care in Vance County and across North Carolina.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was the first modern hospital built for white patients in Vance County and the county's only hospital for white patients from 1925 to 1965. It is also tied to the movement to develop modern hospital facilities in North Carolina in the 1920s. Its rehabilitation preserved a tangible reminder of the community's health care history.
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 94001066, listed September 2, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 406 S. Chestnut St., Henderson |
|---|---|
| County | Vance County |
| Listed | September 2, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001066 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Linthicum and Linthicum; contractor unknown |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 1992-93 into apartments for senior citizens; described as substantially intact. It stood vacant and deteriorating for a number of years before that. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 36.32701, -78.40797 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 94001066.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987452
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.