Masons Restore Historic Wilson Building on Nash Street

The three-story building at 219 Nash St. E. undergoes repairs following damage from an adjacent demolition.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Construction

Masons Restore Historic Wilson Building on Nash Street

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Crews are currently restoring the historic three-story building located at 219 Nash St. E. in Wilson. The structure sustained significant damage during an adjacent building demolition on June 21, 2022.

Why it matters

The restoration efforts focus on repairing structural damage caused by the previous collapse, which impacted the building's top corner. These repairs are essential for the owner's plan to eventually convert the historic site into an office building.

The restoration project involves the installation of over 13,000 new Phoenix bricks to reinforce the 13-inch thick walls of the three-story structure. Mason David Knox, who has 32 years of experience, is leading the specialized brickwork.

The players

Billy O'Boyle

He is the owner of the historic building located at 219 Nash St. E. who plans to convert the site into an office building.

Billy Brock

He leads Billy Brock Construction and is managing the current repair project.

David Knox

He is a mason with 32 years of experience who is performing the specialized brickwork on the Nash Street project.

The details

Masons are carefully cutting away damaged sections and integrating new materials that match the building's original historic style. This methodical process preserves the structure while ensuring the reconstruction of critical supporting columns.

Timeline

  1. June 21, 2022: The city demolished an adjacent building that caused structural damage.

  2. Summer 2026: Masons engaged in rebuilding the brick walls and supporting columns.

  3. Late 2026: Completion of the brickwork is expected.

Market Landscape

The project follows the structural impact of the June 21, 2022, adjacent building demolition, which necessitated significant masonry intervention. This work positions the property for future commercial use in a market increasingly focused on revitalizing historic urban assets.

Residents and business owners in Wilson may observe ongoing construction activity at the Nash Street site as the final brickwork concludes. The eventual opening of the new office space is expected to add functional commercial capacity to the downtown area.

The takeaway

Historic building owners must often coordinate extensive structural masonry work to stabilize properties after neighboring demolitions. Maintaining original architectural aesthetics while meeting modern safety standards is a common hurdle in downtown redevelopment.

Further reading

Learn more about local development and infrastructure projects in our Construction section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Wilson Times News.

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Is it worth investing extra time and money to preserve old buildings in your area?