Spencer in Rowan County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Historic Spencer Shops

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

1. Historic Spencer Shops Marker

Inscription. In commemoration of the 1977 gift to the State of North Carolina by Southern Railway Company of the property and buildings which formerly housed Southern's largest steam locomotive servicing facility. Historic Spencer Shops, North Carolina's Transportation Museum, is administered by the Division of Archives and History of the Department of Cultural Resources.

Erected by North Carolina Transportation History Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 35° 41.304′ N, 80° 26.052′ W. Marker is in Spencer, North Carolina, in Rowan County. It is on Salisbury Avenue (U.S. 29) north of 5th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spencer NC 28159, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Town of Spencer (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Muscle of Spencer Shops (about 400 feet away); Food Lion LLC (about 400 feet away); Food Lion Trailer No. 893615 (about 400 feet away); Magnetic Signal Company (about 600 feet away);

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Signals (about 600 feet away); Norfolk & Western Caboose 555012 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spencer Shops Roundhouse and Turntable (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spencer.

Also see . . . NC Transportation Museum at Spencer Shops. (Submitted on January 5, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.)

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

2. Historic Spencer Shops Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

3. Historic Spencer Shops Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

4. Historic Spencer Shops Marker

Historic Spencer Shops - Roundhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

5. Historic Spencer Shops - Roundhouse

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

6. Historic Spencer Shops - Roundhouse

The 37-bay Bob Julian Roundhouse, one of the largest remaining such structures, was built in 1924 and is one of the few preserved roundhouses remaining in the country.

Historic Spencer Shops - "Back Shop" building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, December 29, 2016

7. Historic Spencer Shops - "Back Shop" building

The immense Back Shop structure was built in 1905 and served as the major overhaul facility for steam locomotives. The largest structure on the site, and once the largest industrial building in North Carolina, the Back Shop served as an enormous machine shop where locomotives were disassembled with the aid of a crane. Lathes and milling machines were used to re-machine the parts before everything was reassembled. At the peak of activity, two to three locomotives per week emerged as new from the Back Shop.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 667 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 5, 2017, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.