DOBSON — The historic Surry County Courthouse has been a familiar part of Dobson’s landscape since 1916, and officials have taken action to help preserve a key ingredient of its existence: the blueprints used to construct the building.

The county commissioners last week approved a plan coordinated through the Surry Register of Deeds Office for preserving the old documents and putting them on display.

“There’s some features of that thing that will be fascinating to see,” Commissioner Jim Harrell Jr. of Elkin said of the historic courthouse and how the blueprint project will help illuminate one of the county’s most notable buildings.

The board approved a plan, to cost nearly $2,600, in which a company will provide a plat binder to hold the 24 blueprints. The finished product will be fully preserved and of “museum-type” quality mylar for display.

They might become an exhibit in the local museum, the new courthouse in Dobson or at the old courthouse, based on suggestions at last week’s meeting. Officials seemed to lean toward having them placed at the heavily used new courthouse in order to give more citizens an opportunity to view the blueprints.

The cost could be absorbed through automation funds regularly assigned to the Register of Deeds Office, meaning no new allocation of county funds to pay for them, officials said. The expense further might be lowered if someone in the county were to donate materials and labor to construct a tasteful display case for the blueprints, they said.

Surry County’s old courthouse at 114 W. Atkins St. was designed by Harry Barton, a prominent Greensboro architect who was responsible for many other historic buildings in North Carolina during the early 20th century. Barton was assisted on the Surry facility by fellow architect Raleigh James Hughes.

Most of Barton’s structures are still standing. He also designed Granite Lodge No. 322 on Franklin Street in Mount Airy.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.