National Register of Historic Places

Newport Downtown Historic District

Newport, Sullivan County, New Hampshire
Listed
June 5, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85001201

About this property

The Newport Downtown Historic District encompasses the 19th century heart of Newport, New Hampshire, the county seat of Sullivan County. The district includes the major commercial and civic (current and former) buildings which line Main Street between Depot Street and the Sugar River. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Although Newport was settled in 1765, its current center began to take shape with the construction of the Croydon Turnpike, along what is now Main Street. The area was soon lined with services for travelers. The oldest commercial building in the district, the Eagle Block at 64 Main Street, was built in 1825-26; it is a three-story Federal-style brick building. The town gained in importance when Sullivan County was set off from Cheshire County in 1826, resulting in the construction of the records office, jail, and the first courthouse, all brick Federal-style buildings. on the east side of Main Street. The courthouse (now used for other purposes) stands on a hill set well back from Main Street. The west side of Main Street became the locus for commercial development, and now sports a series of buildings mostly built before 1930, anchored at one end by a modern state liquor store, and at the other end by a c. 1930 Worcester Lunch Car Company diner, which abuts the Eagle Block. The dominant feature of the east side is now the Newport Opera House building, which was designed by Hira R. Beckwith to serve as the courthouse and town hall, and replaced an 1872 building destroyed by a major fire. This building is now used mainly as a performing venue; the municipal offices are now located just outside the district on Sunapee Street. Also notable on the east side is the Isaac Reed House, one of the last private residences built in the area, and a particularly fine example of Italianate and Second Empire styling.

Location

Newport, Sullivan County, New Hampshire
43.36357, -72.17189

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Nettleton House
Industrial
0 mi
Reed, Isaac, House
Industrial
0 mi
Town Hall and Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sullivan County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
South Congregational Church
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Fort Number Four Attack 1744
1744Colonial
11 mi
Fort Number Four Siege 1747
1747Colonial
11 mi

Questions about this property

When was Newport Downtown Historic District listed on the National Register?

Newport Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Newport Downtown Historic District?

Newport Downtown Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Newport Downtown Historic District?

The period of significance for Newport Downtown Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Newport Downtown Historic District?

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