The Norton Downtown Historic District, in
Norton, Kansas, was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 2011.
[ It is a area which included 43 ]contributing buildings
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distric ...
, a network of brick-paved streets which is counted as contributing structure
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distric ...
, and 18 non-contributing properties.Burlington & Missouri River railroad
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad (B&MR) or sometimes (B&M) was an American railroad company incorporated in Iowa in 1852, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. It was developed to build a railroad across the state of Iowa and began ope ...
alignment on the north of downtown and the original Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RW, sometimes called ''Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway'') was an American Class I railroad. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.
At the end ...
alignment on the south of downtown. In terms of streets it is roughly bounded by East Lincoln Street on the north, on the south by East Penn Street on the south, South First Street on the west, and South Norton Avenue on the east.[
It includes:
*Norton County Courthouse (1929), a monumental building with six Corinthian fluted ]engaged columns
In architecture, an engaged column is a column embedded in a wall and partly projecting from the surface of the wall, sometimes defined as semi- or three-quarter detached. Engaged columns are rarely found in classical Greek architecture, and then ...
on its east and west sides, and six Corinthian fluted pilasters
In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wall ...
on its north and south sides. Other features include full entablatures
An entablature (; nativization of Italian language, Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of molding (decorative), moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capital (architecture), capitals. E ...
above each set of columns or pilasters, and, on all four sides, dentillation on the cornice
In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...
of its raised parapet
A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...
wall. It was designed by architects Cuthbert & Suehrk.[
*Southwestern Bell Telephone Building (1956–1958), 206 E. Lincoln St., a two-story two-part commercial block which is "an excellent example of Modern Movement architecture in downtown Norton."][
*and more.][ Includes maps and photos.]
Since the designation of the area as a historic district, the local Chamber of Commerce
A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...
estimates over $6,595,000 has been invested in restoration and rehabilitation of buildings and has led to more businesses relocating to the district.
References
External links
Norton Downtown Historic District inventory record
with 24 photos and a district map, at Kansas Historical Society
DiscoverNorton.com: Community profile
National Register of Historic Places in Norton County, Kansas
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Kansas
Buildings and structures in Norton County, Kansas
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