George Newton House facts for kids
|
George Newton House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Marcellus, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1865 |
| Architect | Christian G. Haefner |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002830 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | May 12, 1982 |
The George Newton House is a special old house. It is located at 20689 Marcellus Highway, near Marcellus, Michigan. This house is important because it was the home of George Newton. He was a very important leader in his community. His father, James Newton, was also a pioneer in Cass County, Michigan. The house was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Contents
The Story of the Newton Family
James Newton's Early Life
James Newton was born in England in 1777. When he was a boy, his family moved to the United States. They settled near Morristown, New Jersey. Later, James moved to Pennsylvania. In 1804, he moved again to Ohio. He became a Colonel in the Ohio militia. He led soldiers during the War of 1812. He was in charge of both Fort Black and Fort Meigs at different times.
George Newton's Life and Public Service
George Newton, James's son, was born in 1810. He was born in Preble County, Ohio. In 1830, both George and his father moved to Cass County. They became farmers there. James Newton helped write the first Constitution of Michigan in 1835. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives. James Newton passed away in 1844.
George Newton married Esther Green in 1837. They had two children together. George followed his father into public service. He was elected to many local government jobs. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives in 1858–59. In 1865, George Newton hired an architect named Christian G. Haefner. He asked Haefner to design this house. George Newton died in 1883.
The House Becomes a Museum
In 1931, a man named Fred Russ bought the house. He also bought 580 acres of nearby timberland. In 1942, he gave the land to Michigan State University. The University's Forestry School used it as the Fred Russ Experimental Forest. The Cass County Historical Commission later restored the house. By 2013, the house was open to the public. It operated as a museum called the Newton House Museum.
What Does the House Look Like?
The George Newton House is a great example of an Italianate country villa. It is very well-preserved. The house has two stories. Its outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. It has a hip roof, which slopes down on all four sides. On top of the roof is a small tower called a belvedere.
A veranda (a covered porch) runs across the front of the house. There is also a part of the house that sticks out to one side. The roof has wide, overhanging eaves. These are the parts of the roof that hang over the walls. Under the roof, there is a classical cornice. This is a decorative molding that runs along the top of the walls.
