The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources is pleased to announce that 15 individual properties and districts across the state have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The properties were reviewed by the North Carolina National Register Advisory Committee and were subsequently approved by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer and forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register. Tryon’s Stone Hedge was one of four properties named to the register from Western North Carolina.

“North Carolina is a leader in the nation’s historic preservation movement and the National Register is a vital tool in the preservation of our state’s historic resources,” said Susan Kluttz, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. “If we count all of the buildings classified as contributing to the significance of historic districts listed in the Register, it is estimated that North Carolina has approximately 75,000 National Register Properties.”

The listing of a property in the National Register places no obligation or restriction on a private owner using private resources to maintain or alter the property. Over the years, various federal and state incentives have been introduced to assist private preservation initiatives, including tax credits for the rehabilitation of National Register properties. As of January 1, 2015, over 3,100 rehabilitation projects with an estimated private investment of over $1.96 billion have been completed.
Located in the vicinity of Tryon in Polk County, Stone Hedge was constructed circa 1935 as the rural estate of Thomas and Lillian Costa. Stone Hedge is significant in the architectural history of Tryon and Polk County for its distinctive use of stone. The property includes a two-story main residence reminiscent of a rustic Italian villa, one-story guesthouse, and two-story pool/guest house, all of which were built of uncoursed stone.  The property is well landscaped, with an in-ground pool and stone walls, terraces, and steps that connect the buildings and other features.  The integrated use of stone construction on the house and associated buildings and landscape elements reinforces the cohesive design of the estate, which was influenced by Tryon’s image as a popular mountain retreat and seasonal tourist destination.

 

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts worthy of preservation for their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology and culture. The National Register was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to ensure that as a matter of public policy, properties significant in national, state, and local history are considered in the planning of federal undertakings, and to encourage historic preservation initiatives by state and local governments and the private sector. The Act authorized the establishment of a State Historic Preservation Office in each state and territory to help administer federal historic preservation programs.

– Submitted by N.C. Department of Cultural Resources

 

Photo: Stone Hedge

PULL OUT BOX

In Eastern North Carolina
Carter-Simmons House, Albertson vicinity, Duplin County
Belhaven Commercial Historic District, Belhaven, Beaufort County

Flyway Club, Knotts Island, Currituck County

 

In Central North Carolina

Carolina Casket Company, High Point, Guilford County

Coleman-Franklin-Cannon Mill, Concord, Cabarrus County

Chapel Hill Historic District Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation, Chapel Hill, Orange County

James H. and Anne B. Willis House, Greensboro, Guilford County

R. F. Outen Pottery, Matthews, Mecklenburg County

Erwin Commercial Historic District, Erwin, Harnett County

Westview Cemetery, Wadesboro, Anson County

Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith House, Fayetteville, Cumberland County

In Western North Carolina

Dillard B. and Georgia Sewell House, Penrose vicinity, Henderson and Transylvania counties

Stone Hedge, Tryon vicinity, Polk County

Ashe County Memorial Hospital, Jefferson, Ashe County

United States Post Office, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County