Local historians say an 81-year-old Raleigh, N.C., building is historic, but not for the reason listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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The building at 116 N. West St. has been listed for years as the former streetcar garage for Carolina Power & Light, now known as Progress Energy.

It turns out the building -- now home to an Irish pub -- was a regular automotive garage for cars that served CP&L's electricity customers, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.

A separate building across West Street housed the streetcar garage. It was torn down years ago and the lot is now the site of a parking deck, the newspaper said.

Streetcar buff David Burnette contacted the newspaper after an article on Raleigh's streetcar system last month cited the National Register listing. After further research, several local historians agreed with Burnette's conclusion.

Dan Becker, executive director of the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission, says the building's unusual art deco stylings, its use by a major Raleigh company and its age mean that it would still qualify for a historic designation.