Pemberton Lofts History

Pemberton Lofts is an adaptive reuse project utilizing historic buildings located within the Danville Tobacco Warehouse District as recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The District is associated with the post-Civil War/late 19th century era and consists of 350 acres of industrial and residential structures rising from the south bank of the Dan River. Of the approximately 585 structures related to the development of the tobacco industry in Danville that composes the District, 37 of these are tobacco factories, prizeries, auction warehouses, and storage facilities constructed between 1870 and 1930.

What is now the Pemberton Lofts complex represents a conglomerate of seven additions built at various stages from 1885 to 1915. James G. Penn, a manufacturer of chewing tobacco in Patrick County, came to Danville in 1872 to join John N. Pemberton in the leaf tobacco business. By 1886, Penn operated two tobacco prizeries (Jas G. Penn's Tobacco Prizeries), on this site. The business was directed by Pemberton & Penn. The west building contained many windows which facilitated the natural drying process. A second story bridge led to the four-story structure for hanging and prizing.

In 1885-90, a new complex, Jas G. Penn's Tobacco Prizery and Steam Prizery, was constructed. It included the present four-story, 60'x190' mansard roof building, the present two-story, 15'x25' office, and the two-story, 60'x85' Steam Prizery. The mansard roof building was constructed for reordering tobacco by natural process had the capacity for hanging one million pounds at one time. The capacity for both prizeries estimated in 1896 was ten million pounds of tobacco per year. There were a few structural alterations between 1894 and 1910.

By 1910, the old "natural" prizery building was fitted with a dryer, and the steam prizery was converted to storage. In 1931, Davis Storage & Warehouse Corp. acquired the complex. Davis retained occupancy of the buildings for their corporate office and lease of commercial storage space, principally to the textile industry, until it was sold to Pemberton Lofts LLC in 2012.

The Pemberton Lofts complex contributes to the significance of the Danville Tobacco Warehouse District because it represents one of the finest architectural examples in the district. Its mansard roof, polychromed brick and stylized pilasters attest to the prominence of this contribution to the District.