North Carolina Architects and Builders - A Biographical Dictionary

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Milburn, Heister, and Company (1909-1934)

Headquarters:
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Durham, North Carolina
Trades:
  • Architect
NC Work Locations:
  • Asheville, Buncombe County
  • Buncombe
  • Morganton, Burke County
  • Burke
  • Durham, Durham County
  • Durham
  • Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County
  • Edgecombe
  • Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
  • Forsyth
  • Gastonia, Gaston County
  • Gaston
  • Greensboro, Guilford County
  • Guilford
  • High Point, Guilford County
  • Guilford
  • Raeford, Hoke County
  • Hoke
  • Charlotte, Mecklenburg County
  • Mecklenburg
  • Rocky Mount, Nash County
  • Nash
  • Chapel Hill, Orange County
  • Orange
  • Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County
  • Pasquotank
  • Greenville, Pitt County
  • Pitt
  • Lumberton, Robeson County
  • Robeson
  • Wentworth, Rockingham County
  • Rockingham
  • Salisbury, Rowan County
  • Rowan
  • Spencer, Rowan County
  • Rowan
  • Bryson City, Swain County
  • Swain
  • Henderson, Vance County
  • Vance
  • Raleigh, Wake County
  • Wake
  • Warrenton, Warren County
  • Warren
  • Goldsboro, Wayne County
  • Wayne
Building Types:
  • Commercial;
  • Educational;
  • Public;
  • Residential;
  • Transportation
Styles & Forms:
  • Beaux-Arts;
  • Colonial Revival;
  • Gothic Revival;
  • Romanesque Revival;
  • Skyscraper

Buncombe County Courthouse [Asheville]

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Buncombe County Courthouse [Asheville]

Title: [Buncombe County Court House at Asheville, N.C.]
Citation:
"[Buncombe County Court House at Asheville, N.C.]," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Biography

The prolific firm of Milburn, Heister, and Company consisted of founder Frank Pierce Milburn, Michael Heister, and Milburn's son Thomas Yancey Milburn. It was established in 1909, when architect Frank Pierce Milburn formed a partnership with Michael Heister, a young designer who had headed Milburn's drafting department since 1903. The partnership became one of the most successful architectural firms in Washington, D.C. Milburn took his son Thomas to work in the firm's Durham office. After Frank retired from the firm in 1925 and died in 1926, the firm continued with Michael Heister and Thomas Yancey Milburn until 1934. Heister died at the age of 77 in 1948, in Washington, D.C. The younger Milburn subsequently practiced on his own and died in 1977. For the firm's activities and projects, see Frank Pierce Milburn.

Milburn and Heister were quick to gain licenses to practice architecture in North Carolina promptly after the passage of the licensing act of 1915. Heister's license certificate of 1915 was #2 and Milburn's was #3 in the official registration book of the North Carolina Board of Architecture.

Author: Daniel J. Vivian. Contributor: Claudia R. Brown.

Published 2009

Building List

Independence Building (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County)

Mecklenburg Charlotte

1908

Variant Name(s):
  • Realty Building
Contributors:
Dates: 1908-1909; 1927-1928 [addition]
Location: Charlotte, Mecklenburg County
Street Address: 100-102 W. Trade St., Charlotte, NC
Status: No longer standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Mary Norton Kratt and Mary Manning Boyer, Remembering Charlotte: Postcards from a New South City, 1905-1950 (2000).
  • Daniel J. Vivian, "'A Practical Architect': Frank P. Milburn and the Transformation of Architectural Practice in the New South, 1890-1925," Winterthur Portfolio (Spring, 2005).
Note:

The 12-story skyscraper was the first steel-framed skyscraper in North Carolina and an icon of Charlotte's urban ambitions. Originally known as the Realty Building, it was renamed in 1922 for the Independence Bank that occupied it. In 1928, New York architect William Lee Stoddart added two more stories. It was imploded in 1981 amid strong controversy.

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Independence Building

Title: Independence Building, Charlotte, N.C.
Citation:
"Independence Building, Charlotte, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Vance County Courthouse (Henderson, Vance County)

Vance Henderson

1884

Contributors:
Dates: 1884; 1908 [remodeled]
Location: Henderson, Vance County
Street Address: Young St., Henderson, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • Ann Melanie Murphy, An Inventory of Historic Architecture, Henderson, North Carolina (1979).
Note:

This project was a thorough remodeling of the 1884 courthouse, including a completely new façade.

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Vance County Courthouse

Title: Court House, Henderson, North Carolina
Citation:
"Court House, Henderson, North Carolina," North Carolina Postcard Collection (P052), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Buncombe County Courthouse (Asheville, Buncombe County)

Buncombe Asheville

1927

Contributors:
Dates: 1927
Location: Asheville, Buncombe County
Street Address: 60 Court Square, Asheville, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • Catherine W. Bishir, Michael T. Southern, and Jennifer F. Martin, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Western North Carolina (1999).

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Buncombe County Courthouse

Title: [Buncombe County Court House at Asheville, N.C.]
Citation:
"[Buncombe County Court House at Asheville, N.C.]," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Durham County Courthouse (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1916

Contributors:
Dates: 1916
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 208 E. Main St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • Catherine W. Bishir and Michael T. Southern, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina (2003).
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
  • Daniel J. Vivian, "'A Practical Architect': Frank P. Milburn and the Transformation of Architectural Practice in the New South, 1890-1925," Winterthur Portfolio (Spring, 2005).

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Durham County Courthouse

Title: Durham County Court House, Durham, N.C.
Citation:
"Durham County Court House, Durham, N.C.," North Carolina Postcard Collection (P052), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

First Presbyterian Church (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1916

Contributors:
Dates: 1916
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 305 E. Main St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Religious
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Dillard House (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1917

Contributors:
Dates: 1917
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 1311 N. Mangum St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Residential
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Alexander Motor Company Building (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1923

Contributors:
Dates: 1923
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 330 E. Main St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Lincoln Hospital (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1924

Contributors:
Dates: 1924
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 1301 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC
Status: No longer standing
Type:
  • Health Care
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

King's Daughters Home (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1925

Contributors:
Dates: 1925
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 204 N. Buchanan Blvd., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Residential
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Durham Auditorium (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1926

Variant Name(s):
  • Carolina Theatre
Contributors:
Dates: 1926
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 211 Roney St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Durham City Hall (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1904

Contributors:
Dates: 1904; 1926 [remodeled]
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 120 Morris St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Note:

The building was erected as a high school in 1904 and remodeled as the city hall in 1926.
Title:
Citation:
Source:

McPherson Hospital (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1926

Contributors:
Dates: 1926
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: 1110 W. Main St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Health Care
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Durham High School (Durham, Durham County)

Durham Durham

1930

Contributors:
Dates: 1930
Location: Durham, Durham County
Street Address: N. Duke St., Durham, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Educational
Images Published In:
  • Claudia P. Roberts (Brown) and Diane E. Lea, The Durham Architectural and Historic Inventory (1982).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Rocky Mount National Bank (Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County)

Edgecombe Rocky Mount

1918

Contributors:
Dates: Ca. 1918
Location: Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County
Street Address: 101 Southeast Main St., Rocky Mount, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Catherine W. Bishir and Michael T. Southern, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Eastern North Carolina (1996).

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Rocky Mount National Bank

Title: East Side of Main Street, Looking South, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Citation:
"East Side of Main Street, Looking South, Rocky Mount, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Wachovia Bank and Trust Company Building (Winston-Salem, Forsyth County)

Forsyth Winston-Salem

1911

Variant Name(s):
  • Wachovia National Bank Building
Contributors:
Dates: 1911; 1917-1918 [addition and renovation]
Location: Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
Street Address: 8 West 3rd St., Winston-Salem, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Catherine W. Bishir and Michael T. Southern, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina (2003).
  • Edwin E. Bouldin, Jr., Architectural Guide to Winston-Salem and Forsyth County (1978).
  • Molly Grogan Rawls, Winston-Salem in Vintage Postcards (2004).
Note:

Wachovia, a banking company that originated in Winston-Salem, began the city's early 20th century "race to the sky" with Milburn and Heister's 7-story steel-framed skyscraper. After the O'Hanlon Building (see Northup and O'Brien) was built to 8 stories in 1914, Wachovia had Milburn and Heister add another story to their edifice. Both were soon eclipsed by taller buildings.

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Wachovia Bank and Trust Company Building

Title: Wachovia Bank & Trust Company Building, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Citation:
"Wachovia Bank & Trust Company Building, Winston-Salem, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Gaston County Courthouse (Gastonia, Gaston County)

Gaston Gastonia

1911

Contributors:
Dates: 1911
Location: Gastonia, Gaston County
Street Address: 151 South St., Gastonia, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • Catherine W. Bishir and Michael T. Southern, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina (2003).

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Gaston County Courthouse

Title: Gaston County's Court House and Jail, Gastonia, N.C.
Citation:
"Gaston County's Court House and Jail, Gastonia, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Third National Bank (Gastonia, Gaston County)

Gaston Gastonia

1923

Contributors:
Dates: 1923
Location: Gastonia, Gaston County
Street Address: 195 W. Main St., Gastonia, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial

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Third National Bank

Title: Commercial Building, Gastonia, N.C.
Citation:
"Commercial Building, Gastonia, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Hoke County Courthouse (Raeford, Hoke County)

Hoke Raeford

1911

Contributors:
Dates: 1911
Location: Raeford, Hoke County
Street Address: Main St. and Edenborough St., Raeford, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public

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Hoke County Courthouse

Title: Hoke County Court House, Raeford, N.C.
Citation:
"Hoke County Court House, Raeford, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Wayne County Courthouse (Goldsboro, Wayne County)

Wayne Goldsboro

1913

Contributors:
Dates: 1913
Location: Goldsboro, Wayne County
Street Address: 224 E. Walnut St., Goldsboro, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • J. Daniel Pezzoni and Penne Smith, Glimpses of Wayne County, North Carolina: An Architectural History (1998).
  • Daniel J. Vivian, "'A Practical Architect': Frank P. Milburn and the Transformation of Architectural Practice in the New South, 1890-1925," Winterthur Portfolio (Spring, 2005).
Note:

The courthouse was described as Rose's work in his interview with the Goldsboro News-Argus, March 1, 1951.

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Wayne County Courthouse

Title: Wayne County Court House, N.C.
Citation:
"Wayne County Court House, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

Rocky Mount Savings Bank (Rocky Mount, Nash County)

Nash Rocky Mount

1926

Contributors:
Dates: 1926
Location: Rocky Mount, Nash County
Street Address: 142 SW Main St., Rocky Mount, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Battle-Vance-Pettigrew Dormitory (Chapel Hill, Orange County)

Orange Chapel Hill

1912

Contributors:
Dates: 1912
Location: Chapel Hill, Orange County
Street Address: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Educational
Images Published In:
  • John V. Allcott, The Campus at Chapel Hill: Two Hundred Years of Architecture (1986).
  • M. Ruth Little, The Town and Gown Architecture of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1795-1975 (2006).
Note:

Thomas Wolfe roomed here while he was a student at the university.
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Elizabeth City High School (Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County)

Pasquotank Elizabeth City

1921

Contributors:
Dates: 1921
Location: Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County
Street Address: 306 N. Road St., Elizabeth City, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Educational
Images Published In:
  • Thomas R. Butchko, On the Shores of the Pasquotank: The Architectural Heritage of Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County, North Carolina (1989).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Pitt County Courthouse (Greenville, Pitt County)

Pitt Greenville

1910

Contributors:
Dates: 1910-1911
Location: Greenville, Pitt County
Street Address: Greenville, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Public
Images Published In:
  • Catherine W. Bishir, North Carolina Architecture (1990).
  • Catherine W. Bishir and Michael T. Southern, A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Eastern North Carolina (1996).
  • Scott Power, The Historical Architecture of Pitt County, North Carolina (1991).

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Pitt County Courthouse

Title: Pitt County Court House, Greenville, N.C.
Citation:
"Pitt County Court House, Greenville, N.C.," Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Postcards, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Source:

First National Bank of Henderson (Henderson, Vance County)

Vance Henderson

1921

Contributors:
Dates: 1921
Location: Henderson, Vance County
Street Address: 213-215 S. Garnett St., Henderson, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Ann Melanie Murphy, An Inventory of Historic Architecture, Henderson, North Carolina (1979).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Professional Building (Raleigh, Wake County)

Wake Raleigh

1925

Contributors:
Dates: 1925
Location: Raleigh, Wake County
Street Address: 123-127 West Hargett St., Raleigh, NC
Status: Standing
Type:
  • Commercial
Images Published In:
  • Linda L. Harris and Mary Ann Lee, An Architectural and Historical Inventory of Raleigh, North Carolina (1978).
Title:
Citation:
Source:

Milburn, Heister, and Company's Work Locations

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