"Officials in Newton are hoping that a historic district designation for parts of the city will lead to a revitalized downtown.

The city has applied to be put on the National Register of Historic Places. On Monday, Anne Swallow, National Register Coordinator for the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office, spoke to property owners and city officials, outlining some of the requirements for a property to be in a district.

The properties that have been included in the district are 51 commercial buildings, five homes and the 1924 Courthouse, Confederate monument and cannon at the courthouse, said Clay Griffith of Acme Preservation Services in Asheville, who is preparing a nomination for the designation to the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office registry and the National Register of Historic Places.

“The collection of architecture is quite good,” Griffith said.

Structures included in the district have to be at least 50 years old. Buildings also should retain features of the original structure."

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Hickory Daily Record (1/23/2012)