Historic Plaques
The Columbus County Historic Plaque Program
Columbus County has a rich collection of historic homes and buildings. We’re proud to celebrate our unique heritage through the Reuben Brown House Preservation Society (RBHPS) Historic Landmark Plaque Program.
The historic plaque program, which began in 2015, strives to recognize historic sites in Columbus County that are at least 75 years old
including houses, schools, churches, barns, cemeteries or other structure.
Contact reubenbrownhouse@gmail.com if you would like more information on the historic plaque program or click through these links for the Historic Plaque Program Outline and Application Information and Plaque Application.
Byrne- Maxwell House
Circa 1867
Byrne-Maxwell House owner Larry Beltz and researcher Karen Dawsey at the home built in 1867 by Eliza Byrne and husband John Henry Maxwell shortly after their marriage. Dawsey spent “hours and hours” locating 18 deeds to verify all the times the house had changed owners in the past 150 years.
Dr. James Williamson owned 908 Pinckney Street (206 Pinckney back then) in the 1890s, selling it to his mother and father-in-law, Penelope and McQueen Coleman in January, 1897. Many years later, Dr. Williamson explained to R.H. Burns Jr. that the house was already in existence at the time of the transfer, hence the 1896 estimate for the date of construction.
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Burns Law Office
Circa 1896
Mr. and Mrs. Coleman sold the house to Lon Grady in 1914. Mr. Grady was a lawyer in the firm of Schulken, Toon and Grady. The Schulkens and Toons were already residents of Pinckney Street. The Grady family lived in the house until they sold it to R. H. Burns Sr. in 1926. Mr. Burns, also a lawyer, lived there with his family and used part of the first floor for his own law office.Following R.H. Burns Sr.’s death in 1957, R.H. Burns Jr. (Bob to everyone) bought out the interest of his brother John in 1958 and moved his own law office to the first floor. Bob, Martha and their family lived in the house behind the law office on East Frink St. After the death of Bob and Martha, their children sold the house in 2014 to Susan and William Wood, who had lived across the street on the East Frink Street corner from 1975 to 1986. The Burns house has been rented as a succession of law, financial adviser and real estate offices and is still used as professional offices today.
Circa 1906
Bank of Whiteville
Land for the Bank of Whiteville was purchased for $500 June 22, 1903, and the primary bank owner was J.D. Maultsby and family. The building, the third site recognized by the RBHPS historic plaque program, was completed in 1906.
The Bank of Whiteville Building is largely original and unchanged. The exterior is Italianate in style, stucco over brick and embellished with an original faux marble detail of plaster-like material. The stairway to the second floor is now through a door on the southwest corner but was originally an open doorless stairway to the upstairs offices, typical detail for lawyers’ offices in 1900. In the back corner of the main room is the original vault, containing the original safe and two cabinets used for storing ledger sheets.
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Unveiling the plaque (top left) are RBHPS President Dan Strickland, church member Veronica Lewis, Pastor Leo Clemmons and RBHPS Historic Plaque Chair Donna Scott.
Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church of Lake Waccamaw celebrated its 142nd homecoming on Sunday, September 22, 2024, unveiling Historic Plaque #17 presented by Reuben Brown House Preservation Society's Columbus County Historic Landmark Program.
The sanctuary's cornerstone was laid on July 12, 1913, and the church was established in 1882. For the first few months after the congregation organized, they met in a tent and a home near the current location of the sanctuary.
In 1884, land was purchased where the church now stands on Mt. Zion St. Rev. Elder John H. Hooper was the church leader in 1913. He also served as Presiding Elder of the Wilmington A.M.E. Zion District for nearly 30 years from the end of the Civil War until his death. Services were held in the sanctuary every 1st and 4th Sunday and a prayer meeting every Wednesday night.
The 1998 Columbus County Architectural Survey describes the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church design and architecture as “...a gable-front edifice enhanced by a projecting front tower capped by an unusual hexagonal cupola. Windows contain multi-pane sash surmounted by diamond-paned transoms. To the left of the front entrance stands an obelisk memorializing the congregation's first pastor, the Rev. John H. Hooper (1839-1906), and the inscription "Far from the madding crowds." Behind the church is the parsonage, a one-story, L-shaped, vernacular cottage with a triple-A roof, screened front porch, and rear kitchen ell.”
As the congregation grew, adjacent land was purchased for members to park their horses and buggies and mules and wagons. In 1964, bathrooms were added to each side of the sanctuary. A parsonage and large garden soon followed as well as a fourth lot purchased for expansion in 1970. A kitchen and dining hall was added in 1983.
Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church of Lake Waccamaw
Circa 1913
The Columbus County Courthouse was built by William Preston Rose between 1914 and 1915 and was designed by well-known architect Joseph F. Leitner of Wilmington.The two-story red brick building with concrete detail and a pedimented, column-lined portico is built in the Classical Revival style and a rectangular design. The two bays flanking the entrance are contained in broad, two-story segmental arches with vertical flat panel spandrels separating the first and second story three-part windows.
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Historic Columbus County Courthouse
Circa 1915
The interior floor plan has spacious cross halls flanked by offices. Wide staircases on the northeast and northwest sides of the cross halls lead to the second floor courtroom and offices. The first floor was completely remodeled in 1964-67. The only original furnishings left from the original courtroom is a wooden and wrought iron bench.The county commissioners required several design revisions to keep the cost below $50,000.
The courthouse is located on property surrounded by a traffic circle that was donated by Whiteville’s namesake, State Senator James B. White. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and is considered the iconic building in Columbus County.
In 2024, the courthouse was renovated with many original elements restored at a cost of nearly $7 million. The project was led by Thomas Construction Group in Wilmington. Improvements to the approx. 21,000 square-foot building included moving the Clerk of Court’s office into the building and restoring the upstairs courtroom to its original orientation. Original hardwood floors and architectural details were restored and electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems were updated.
St. Mark AME Zion Church
Circa 1915
The building has stood at 114 W. Virgil St. in Whiteville since 1915, but the church was founded 50 years earlier, in 1865.
Pictured is is Charelean Mapson uncovering the historical marker with the help of Donna Scott, historical marker committee chair for the preservation society. Looking on are (L-R) Morris Pridgen Jr., Elder Alexander L. Jones Sr., Thomas Jones and LaMont Davis.
St. Mark is the first church recognized in the historical plaque program.
Circa 1927
Colonel N.B. and Mabel Chestnutt Home
The 11th building inducted in the Reuben Brown House Preservation Society Historic Landmark Plaque Program is the Madison Street home in Whiteville of Colonel N.B. and Mabel Chestnutt.
The home, built in 1927, features distinctive arched windows, wrought iron railings and a terra cotta tile roof.
Patricia L. Woodard, who bought the home in 2018, found while researching its history that Colonel and Mrs. Chestnutt were known for their hospitality and frequently entertained at home.
Burroughs Station
Circa 1927
The Burroughs Station located on Hwy. 701 in Williams Township was built by Garland and Lizzie Burroughs in 1927 one year after they married. At the time it, it was one of the only gas stations between Whiteville and Tabor city.
The store had one gas pump, and it served as the local grocery store offering butchered meat, fresh eggs, canned goods, cigarettes, tobacco chew, and more.
Mrs. Burroughs ran the store by herself and eventually with her children after her husband’s death in 1938. From 1948-2021, son Willis Burroughs followed in his father’s footsteps and ran the business until age 91. Grandson Brett Burroughs is currently restoring the property that has played a prominent and historical role in the community for so many years.
Mill Pond Camp
Circa 1929
Plaque number 8, at Mill Pond Camp, circa 1929, was unveiled by Vinson Bowers. He grew up on the Mill Pond property and has written a history entitled “The Mill Pond…A Southern Legacy.” Visitors were invited to ask questions and tour the cabin, which originally served as a men’s clubhouse.
The spacious two-story brick home facing the Lumber River was built in 1932 for Dr. Lawrence D. Floyd and his bride, Mary Grissett Powell Potts Floyd. Wilmington architectural firm Lynch and Foard designed the blueprints for the home. The property was given to Mary Floyd by her father, Dr. Absalom Floyd, who practiced medicine in Fair Bluff for many years. The property extended from the river to the railroad adjacent to other Powell property.
The Floyd house was purchased in 1971 and became the home of Chris and Maud Scott and their children. After Maud Scott was killed in a car accident, her husband continued to raise the young children in their home. Years later, he married Esther Scott, who continued to live in the home since his death in 2015. Melissa W. McQuade purchased the home from Esther Scott in April 2021, and she currently resides in the historic home.
Dr. Lawrence D. Floyd Home
Circa 1932
Current owner of Floyed historic home,
Melissa McQuade.
Thompson House
Circa 1935
The Reuben Brown House Preservation Society (RBHPS) unveiled its fifth historical plaque in 2015 at the home of John and Sara Thompson on North Madison Street.
The home was built by Thompson’s father, John Elbert Thompson, in 1935. It was designed by Boney of Wilmington and built by the Smith Brothers of Whiteville. Thompson kept a record of everything he spent on the house in a small notebook, which shows a grand total of $7,172.