Davis-Adcock Store
Also known as: W.W. Davis Store; John C. Adcock Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 in Wilbon, a rural community southwest of Raleigh, this one-story frame store was erected by William W. Davis on land bought from the Cape Fear and Northern Railway. Its gable front rises into a stepped parapet false front, and a metal-clad porch shelters central double doors flanked by large twenty-pane windows. Inside, the original pine boards, counter, merchandise shelves and a central pot-bellied stove survive. The store was the main commercial business in Wilbon for over fifty years, stocking general goods and extending credit to customers who paid at harvest time. Its post office operated from 1906 until 1925, making it a meeting point for local residents. It is also regarded as a well-preserved example of the rural stores that spread across eastern North Carolina in the early twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The store was the principal commercial establishment for the Wilbon community for more than half a century and housed its post office from 1906 to 1925. The nomination also argues it is a well-preserved, distinctive example of the rural country stores common in eastern North Carolina in the early twentieth century, with its false front, double-leaf doors, display windows and original interior fittings.
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 06000788, listed September 6, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2013 Piney Grove-Wilbon Rd., E side of Piney Grove-Wilbon Rd., 0.2 mi. N of jct. of Wilbon Rd., Wilbon |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | September 6, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000788 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1956 |
| Architect / builder | William W. Davis (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: Parapet front store |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The store closed in 1967, the building remains in the Adcock family and is currently used as storage space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.60327, -78.83892 (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 06000788.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5241811
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.