Restoration project to renew historic NWA warehouse

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A historic warehouse in Fayetteville is undergoing restoration .

The Vernon & McIlroy-Moore Produce Warehouse was built around 1906, is located at 200 N. West Avenue. The building is also known as the John Porter produce warehouse.

In the early 20th century, the warehouse was central to the region’s apple industry, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas .

The restoration project , executed by Revival Architecture , includes increasing masonry stabilization, adding new windows and doors and completing structural repairs.

The project is expected to be completed in six to nine months, with work scheduled from May to October 2024.

Used initially for apple storage and wholesaling, the warehouse transitioned to general produce in 1913 and to flour and feed by 1919.

J.T. Eason Jr. acquired the warehouse in 1920, which then hosted businesses such as the O’Leary Produce Company (1927-1928) and the Williams Produce Company (1929-1941).

The City of Fayetteville acquired the building in 1988 and has shared ownership with the University of Arkansas since 1990.

The Vernon & McIlroy-Moore Produce Warehouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 10, 2020 .

According to the City of Fayetteville’s website , their City Council has been raising funds for the project since 2020.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.