Carter-Newton House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Carter-Newton House
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
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Location	530 Academy Street Madison, Georgia
Built	c. 1849
Architectural style	Greek Revival
Part of	Madison Historic District (ID72000388)
Designated CP	October 29, 1974

The Carter-Newton House is a beautiful old home in Madison, Georgia. It was built around 1849. This house is a great example of Greek Revival architecture. It has a wide front porch with four large columns. Inside, there are many big rooms and high ceilings. The house sits on a large piece of land. From the back, you can see a lovely countryside view.

This house was built when cotton farming was very popular in Morgan County. It stands on the spot where an old school, the Madison Male Academy, once stood. That school was built in 1815 but later burned down.

The Shepherd Family's Time in the House

After the old school burned, Carter Shepherd and his wife, Nancy Whitfield Shepherd, built the wooden house we see today. Nancy was born in 1813 and married Carter in 1833. They had six children. Their youngest child, Robert, was the first to be born in this house in 1850.

The Shepherds were one of the wealthiest families in Morgan County. They owned a large farm south of Madison and a small sawmill. Sadly, Carter Shepherd died in 1858 from an accident at his sawmill. This left Nancy to manage the farm and raise their six children.

The Civil War Years

On November 8, 1860, the Shepherds' oldest daughter, Sallie, married Samuel A. Burney. He was a smart student from Mercer College. In 1861, Samuel joined the army and fought in the Civil War. He was wounded in battle and later returned to Georgia.

Another soldier, Captain Charles W. Baldwin, also visited the Shepherd House. He was wounded in the Battle of Atlanta. He was visiting Annie, Mrs. Shepherd's second daughter, who later became his wife. Just before General Sherman's army marched through Madison in 1864, Captain Baldwin had to leave quickly. He was captured by Union troops but was later released.

After the war ended in 1865, Samuel Burney came back to live at the Shepherd House. He helped manage the family farm. Captain Baldwin also returned and married Annie Shepherd. He became an important local official for many years. Samuel Burney later went back to college to study for the ministry. He became a minister at the Madison Baptist Church.

The Carter Family's Time in the House

When Samuel Burney left for college, Nancy Shepherd found it hard to run the large farm by herself. Her children were grown, so she decided to sell the house. In 1868, Mary Watson Anderson bought the house. She had lost her husband in the war and needed a new home. Mary invited her niece, Electa Varner Carter, to live with her. Electa brought her daughter, Anne Varner Carter, and all their furniture.

Mary Anderson died in 1880 and left the house to Electa Carter. In 1888, Electa's niece, Miss Joseph ("Josie") Watson Varner, came to live at "Carter House." She lived there for about nine years. In 1898, Josie married Edward Taylor Newton. He was a graduate of the UGA. They moved to his family's farm south of Madison.

Changes to the House

The Newtons' first child, Therese, was born at Carter House in 1900. Electa Carter died in 1903, leaving the house to her daughter, Anne Carter. Anne was alone in the big house, so the Newtons invited her to live with them. A year later, Edward Newton senior died.

In 1906, Josie Newton decided to move back to town. Anne invited Josie and her children to live with her at Carter House. Josie made many "improvements" to the house. She widened the porch and changed the columns. She also added a front balcony and a new front door. Inside, she added fancy metal ceilings and pocket doors. For the first time, a kitchen was attached to the house. City water and sewer were also added around 1907.

In 1913, Josie remarried William T. Bacon. He was a respected newspaper owner and editor. He was also a church leader and a state senator. In 1920, the Bacons bought another house and moved there with Anne Carter. The Carter House was then rented out to the Mason family.

The Newton Family Returns to the House

Ed Newton, Josie's son, grew up in Carter House. He studied engineering at Georgia Tech. He later became a patent attorney and worked in Washington, D.C. In 1939, he met Laura ("Polly") Weihe. They married in 1940.

In 1944, Ed Newton and his family moved back to Madison. They moved into Carter House, which needed some care. Ed opened a patent law firm in Atlanta. He also managed the family newspaper and farm for a while.

The Newtons added antique furniture to the house. They also updated the kitchen. In the back, there used to be a washhouse and a pigeon house. These were later removed to create a garden.

Polly Newton was very active in the community. She led the local Red Cross and helped restart the Episcopal Church. She also worked to rename Second Street to "Academy Street." Around 1960, Ed and Polly started calling their home the "Carter-Newton House." They made more improvements, like modernizing the kitchen and changing the front door to look more original.

Ed Newton became a very respected patent attorney in the Southeast. He taught patent law and traveled the world with Polly. After Ed's death in 1983, Polly continued to open the house for tours. She also hosted family reunions. In 1991, a movie scene was filmed behind her home. Polly Newton passed away in 2003, leaving the house to her three sons.