Just after the Civil War ended, a splendid brick tobacco factory building was erected in 1872 on Bridge Street near the Dan River to accommodate the successful enterprise of handling local tobacco and creating plug & twist for the markets of the world. Pace, Talbott & Company continued to succeed and expanded to construct four buildings on this site with over 230 feet of frontage on the cobblestone street, which survives today. In its heyday, the firm employed hundreds of people to produce over 4 million pounds of plug & twist annually.

 These astute entrepreneurs used local brick and talented contractors, such as T.B.  Fitzgerald, to construct handsome buildings with stepped gables and excellent fenestration for natural light. In 1898, Richard Louis Dibrell purchased the complex and relocated Dibrell Brothers from its prizeries on Loyal & Spring streets. Improving the business with the latest advances in drying machines, Dibrell expanded with several buildings in 1899 and two in 1920 with the construction of the 4-story building, which faces Newton Street. 

Within the vast 120,000+ sq. footage, Dibrell Bros. adapted over 44,000 sq. ft. as Class A office space for its world-renown enterprise in the later part of the 20^th Century. A 2-story foyer with curving stairwell is a stunning entry surrounded by raised-panel mahogany wainscot, doors, & trim. The executive level affords huge offices with private baths and wet bars. The Board Room has hosted business travelers from all over the world until the demise of the American tobacco industry in the early 21^st Century.  

Dibrell merged with Monk-Austin to create Dimon and later with Standard to form Alliance One and relocated its corporate headquarters near Raleigh, N.C. making this complex available for an investor group from the mid-Atlantic area. Having sold most of the parts of this entity, the elegant headquarters is now offered for sale at $1,975,000. The remaining undeveloped 76,000 sq. ft. is now awaiting mixed use, including on-site residential corporate suites in the business-friendly City of Danville. Surrounded by adaptive-reusers, LunaNanoWorks, Horizontech, Global Infinity Packaging, and Burton Condominium units, this precious gemstone is still a diamond in the rough in the Tobacco Warehouse District  zoning, which affords Enterprise Zone, tax abatement, and historic tax credits. Shown only by appointment.

Susan Stilwell, Historic Specialist

heritageva99@hotmail.com

434.548.4816

Prudential Manasco Realty

www.manasco.com/historic.htm