Lumsden-Boone Building
Why it's listed
Built between 1896 and 1903 for Raleigh hardware dealer J.C.S. Lumsden, this three-story brick commercial building at 226 Fayetteville Street Mall carries a decorative embossed metal facade on its third floor. The facade uses broadly interpreted classical details, including a cornice with dentils and anthemions, garland swags, arched windows framed in egg-and-dart molding, and engaged columns. It is the only surviving metal storefront on the street, which became a pedestrian mall in 1977. The Lumsden family ran a hardware store here until about 1907. Kirby's Five and Dime followed, then C.R. Boone's clothing store from 1911 to 1926, and the F.W. Woolworth Company from 1926 until 1972. The building was then left empty and deteriorated badly, and the city threatened demolition in 1976. The first and second floor facades have been altered. New owners planned a renovation for a jewelry store, with a preservation easement.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving metal storefront on Raleigh's Fayetteville Street Mall and represents a commercial facade treatment popular at the turn of the century. It also forms part of the historic streetscape of Raleigh's main commercial street and reflects the city's commercial development, housing a hardware store, a clothier and later a Woolworth store.
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 83001923, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 226 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001923 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1972 |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical (embossed metal facade) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as deteriorated and vacant since 1972; a renovation for use as a jewelry store was in the design phase at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Fayetteville Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.77738, -78.63953 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 83001923.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6703442
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.