Pine Street Creamery, (Former)
Why it's listed
Built in 1928 as a dairy products plant on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh, this two-story building of cream-colored brick has a three-story corner tower, a crenellated parapet and concrete cartouches in the Moderne style. It was designed and built by James A. Davidson for the Pine State Creamery, which began in 1919 as a dairy farmers' cooperative formed with encouragement from the State College agricultural extension service. The company grew into a regional processor serving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and it was known for home deliveries, ice cream and milk supplied to Raleigh schools. The plant operated until the company closed in 1996. The building is regarded as an example of the city's early industrial growth and of Art Moderne design applied to a working plant. Its 1940s and 1960s additions were built to match the original scale and materials.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the plant is significant under Criterion A as the only early twentieth-century commercial dairy surviving in Raleigh, tied to the regional growth of the dairy business and its close relationship with State College. Under Criterion C it is presented as one of a few examples of Art Moderne industrial design in Raleigh.
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 97001499, listed December 1, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 414 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | December 1, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1947 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Davidson (builder); H.R. McLawhorn (architect, 1960s additions) |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Plant closed in 1996; the building is vacant while plans for conversion to office and retail use are prepared. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Oakwood Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.78581, -78.64680 (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.
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 97001499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7195359
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.