Moore, Solon B. (1872-1930)

The Manufacturers' Record, Jan. 1, 1912, reported that F. S. Hargraves, secretary of a company interested in building a hospital, had plans from Benton and Moore for a hospital 47 by 80, mill construction, electric lights, slate roof, steam heat, to cost $8,000. Built by Dr. Hargraves to serve black patients, the brick building with Doric portico was soon named Mercy Hospital. After years of being endangered, it has been rehabilitated for a new use.

A Colonial Revival residence with a neoclassical porch and eyebrow dormers.

The 3-story, classically detailed brick building typfies Moore's commercial buildings and the character of downtown Wilson.

A representative example of Moore's 2-story, brick Colonial Revival residences with a full-height central portico sheltering a 1-story, curved entrance portico.

The straightforward, classically detailed 4-story brick building anchors a key corner in downtown Wilson.

The large, columned building, a major work by the firm, was among the most imposing commercial structures in Wilson.

Designed in a form and style compatible with nearby residential architecture,the 2-story brick station features a broad overhanging roof and big brackets evoking the Craftsman and Mission styles.

The expansive, foursquare brick house featured a wraparound porch and Craftsman details.

The large, brick Colonial Revival residence with 1-story porch is one of the row of handsome houses lining W. Nash St., displaying designs by a variety of local and out-of-town architects.

Among the state's best examples of a cemetery gateway, Maplewood is unusual in its Mission style with twin towers, arched openings, and tile roofs.

One of the most outstanding of Wilson's many notable bungalows, the Anderson house is exceptional for its bold massing, deep porch, and combination of Tudor Revival and Craftsman style details. It stands on a key corner on W. Nash St. It was built for a tobacco pioneer and banker. The photograph shows the house on the left.

The brick warehouse, encompassing an entire city block, was one of the largest of several such tobacco warehouses in town; Moore is credited with its design with patterned brickwork and stepped gables. Few examples of this important building type survive.

The Manufacturers' Record, of Feb. 5, 1914, reported that the firm had produced plans for an African Methodist Episcopal Church Building, 60 x 75 feet, $15,000. The handsome Gothic Revival church was erected in 1915 by local brickmason John Barnes.

A railroad hotel of brick with curved gables akin to the depot across the street.

The Manufacturers' Record, of April 2, 1914, noted that Benton and Moore had planned a brick veneered house for W. E. Pace.

The Manufacturers' Record of June 27, 1912, reported that the Wilson Hotel Company had plans by Benton and Moore for a hotel with electric elevator and asbestos roof, to cost $45,000. It is not clear whether it was built or what name it was known by.

In contrast to the spartanly simple rural churches of the denomination, Wilson's Primitive Baptists had Moore design a small but robust Gothic Revival brick building.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 19, 1914.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 5, 1914. This was one of a several houses reported in the journal of that date as designed by this firm, including those for F. J. Forbes and B. J. Pully, for which no further information has been located.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 5, 1914.

The Manufacturers' Record of Jan. 2, 1913, reported that the Greenville Banking and Trust would erect a bank building from plans by Benton and Moore.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 5, 1914.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 5, 1914.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 5, 1914.

The Manufacturers' Record of March 5, 1914, reported that Dr. John Soliba and Benton and Moore, architects, would receive bids to erected the Elizabeth City Hospital, 3 stories, steam heat, tile roof, to cost $25,000. As pictured by Butchko, the edifice was among the most imposing hospital buildings of its day, a massive, generally symmetrical brick building, two stories on a raised basement with a Corinthian portico and dome more typical of a courthouse than a hospital. It was greatly altered later in the 20^th century. In 1988 the architects' original rendering was on display at the Albemarle Hospital. Its present whereabouts is uncertain.

The Manufacturers' Record of April 2, 1914, noted that Benton and Moore had planned a building for the Borroughs-Pittman-Wheeler Co., 50 by 106 feet, 3 stories.

Manufacturers' Record, Feb. 19, 1914.

The Manufacturers' Record, June 27, 1912, said that Benton and Moore were preparing plans for a 4-story hospital in Fayetteville. On Aug. 1 the journal said that the Fayetteville Infirmary Co. had awarded a contract to Wilkins Construction Co. of Wilson--a 58 x 88 foot, 3-story facility of "mill construction," with hot water heat, electric lighting, and a hand-operated elevator, to cost $15,000. It later became Cumberland General Hospital and still later a hotel.

The Manufacturers' Record of Jan. 14, 1915, reported that Benton and Moore of Wilson were architects for a hospital to be erected in Burlington, 75 x 80 feet, electric elevator, to cost $20,000. Sponsored by Dr. Rainey Parker and known as the Rainey Hospital, it is similar to but somewhat simpler than the Elizabeth City hospital. Later known as Alamance General Hospital and succeeded in the mid-20^th century by a new facility, the large neoclassical building has been converted to a new use and has been altered with the addition of large wings.

The postcard view of the hospital features a rare example of a drawing signed by Benton and Moore.