Campbell Avenue Complex
Also known as: Trinkle Buildings; DHR File No. 128-206
Why it's listed
Five three-story brick commercial buildings stand side by side at 118 to 128 Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke. They were built one after another between 1892 and 1909: 122 first, then 124, 118, the double building at 126-128, and finally 120. Each has stone foundations, load-bearing brick walls, and decorative metal parapets or cornices. The facades show a range of details, from Beaux Arts touches at 118 to arched windows and bracketed cornices on its neighbors. The block is described as the only contiguous group of its period left in the city. It also records the move of business from the saloons of Salem Avenue to a more conventional commercial street. Tenants included a jeweler, a photographer, the Roanoke Times, a funeral parlor founded in 1895, and a hotel built by banker and legislator Robert H. Angell in 1907. The group was recognized for its link to Roanoke's early commerce and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The buildings are argued to be the only contiguous block of turn-of-the-century commercial buildings left in Roanoke. They reflect the city's early commercial growth and the entrepreneurs who worked there (Criterion A). They are also good intact examples of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century commercial architecture, with decorated facades and cornices (Criterion C).
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 90002171, listed January 24, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118--128 Campbell Ave., SW., Roanoke (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Roanoke (city and county) |
| Listed | January 24, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90002171 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Huggins, Henry Hartwell (Angell Building) |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts Classicism; Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in recent decline and being rehabilitated by the City of Roanoke with a threatened property grant. Parts remain in use, including a hotel and a restaurant, while 126 Campbell Avenue is a vacant storefront. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Roanoke Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.27172, -79.94328 (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.
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 90002171.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16851199
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.