Roanoke Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: 128-5761-144 through 147
Why it's listed
Four buildings on the south side of the 300 block of Salem Avenue SW, in Roanoke, Virginia, were added to the Roanoke Downtown Historic District in a half-acre boundary increase. Built between about 1906 and 1938 of brick or brick-veneered masonry block, they include a one-story former electric motor repair shop, a two-story sheet metal building with a large arched opening, a one-story upholstery repair shop, and the three-story Peerless Candy Company, a wholesale candy factory active from about 1916 into the early 1950s. Two are counted as contributing; the two others carry modern glass facades that may be removable. The block changed from frame dwellings into brick stores, factories, and warehouses linked to downtown commerce and the nearby railroad. The group was added because it matches the commercial character of the downtown district and falls within its period of significance, for its role in the city's commercial and industrial development and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The buildings are typical of small-scale commercial and industrial buildings in early 20th-century downtown Roanoke. Their uses (electric motor shop, sheet metal shop, candy factory, upholstery repair shop) relate to downtown commerce and to the shipping and industrial activity of the railroad. They fall within the existing district's period of significance and are tied to it by location and character.
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 07000232, listed March 29, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 310-324 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Roanoke (city and county) |
| Listed | March 29, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000232 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1906-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Commercial, Other |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions listed are specialty store, work in progress, and vacant/not in use. The Peerless Candy building was undergoing renovation, with its cornice being reconstructed from historic photographs. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Roanoke Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.27202, -79.94706 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 07000232.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7339782
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.