Federal Building
Also known as: Wilkes County Board of Education Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, this two-story brick building was designed under Acting Supervising Architect James A. Wetmore in the Federal Revival style. Its five-part composition, inspired by Palladio, centers on a three-bay section with a pilastered facade, full classical entablature and low pediment, which suggests a small Roman temple. The main entrances have fluted engaged columns and semicircular fanlights, and terra cotta cornices and ironwork balustrades add detail. Inside, a large central room that once served as a courtroom retains an entablature with triglyphs and metopes, and the hallways have marbled wainscot and barrel vaults. The building housed the U.S. Courthouse and Post Office for more than fifty years, until a new federal building opened in 1969. It is valued for the quality of its classical detailing and as a rare example of the style in the region. It was erected on the former front yard of the Dr. William Columbus Green House.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an outstanding and rare example of Federal Revival style architecture in this part of North Carolina. Its Palladian five-part composition, terra cotta detailing and classically detailed interior, including the former courtroom, are cited as the basis for its distinction. It is also significant as a long-serving U.S. Courthouse and Post Office.
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 82003523, listed August 24, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 W. Main St., Wilkesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkes County |
| Listed | August 24, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003523 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Federal Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now serves as offices of the Wilkes County Board of Education. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.14722, -81.35385 (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 82003523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20709194
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.