Mathew H. Ritchey House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Mathew H. Ritchey House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Mill St., Newtonia, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | 1840 |
| Built by | Mathew H. Ritchey |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003399 |
| Added to NRHP | December 5, 1978 |
The Mathew H. Ritchey House, also known as the Mansion House or Belle Starr House, is a historic home in Newtonia, Missouri. It is located in Newton County, Missouri. Built around 1840, this two-story brick house has a two-story back section. It was built with the help of enslaved people.
The house sits on a sandstone foundation. Its roof slopes down on two sides. It features a one-story front porch and chimneys built into the ends of the house. The property also includes the Ritchey family cemetery, other small buildings, and a well.
During the American Civil War, the house was a key location. It saw fighting during both the First Battle of Newtonia and the Second Battle of Newtonia. After these battles, the house was used as a hospital. The Mathew H. Ritchey House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is also part of the First Battle of Newtonia Historic District. A tornado damaged the building in 2008.
Contents
History of the Ritchey House
Mathew H. Ritchey built this house. He is also known for founding the town of Newtonia, Missouri. Mr. Ritchey owned enslaved people. However, he was also known as a strong supporter of the Union during the Civil War. The house was built in 1840 on Mill Street in Newtonia. Enslaved people helped construct it.
People at the time described the home as a "mansion" for the frontier. In 1862, the First Battle of Newtonia took place nearby. Some of the fighting happened right around the house. After the battle, the house became a hospital. Reports say the floors became stained with blood. This is thought to be why the wood in one room was later painted black. The house was also damaged by cannon and small arms fire during the battle.
In 1864, another battle happened here. Confederate troops led by Sterling Price were retreating. They had failed in their plan to invade Missouri. The Second Battle of Newtonia was fought on the Ritchey farm. The First Battle of Newtonia was a Confederate victory. But the Second Battle of Newtonia was a victory for the Union army.
There is a story about the famous female outlaw Belle Starr. It is said that Union soldiers briefly captured her in 1862. They supposedly held her at the Ritchey House. The story claims she escaped from the soldiers. She then reached the safety of Carthage. The house also survived a fire in Newtonia in 1868.
Changes Over Time
The Ritchey House has changed several times since the 1860s. It stayed in the Ritchey family until 1948. The upper story was added in the 1880s. You can reach it from a staircase in the kitchen. In the 1940s, some of the house's wood was removed. It was burned for heat.
The biggest changes happened after 1961. The roof shingles were replaced. New electrical and plumbing systems were installed. Some wallpaper was replaced. The floor in the east first-story parlor was replaced due to termite damage. An opening was made on the second floor. This created access to the attic.
In 1963, part of the house's extension was updated. A bedroom was changed into a hallway and bathroom. Some ceilings and floors were replaced that same year. A part of the outside wall was also made stronger. In 2008, a tornado severely damaged the building. The chimneys, roof, and parts of the outer walls were hurt. After repairs from the tornado, the house still needed more work in 2018. This was due to its age and water leaks.
House Design and Features
The Mathew H. Ritchey House is shaped like an "L". It has two stories. The main part of the house is about 50 feet (15 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. The house has about 2,000 square feet (190 m2) of living space.
The foundation of the house is made of sandstone. The walls are built with layers of brick. The inner bricks were dried in the sun. The outer bricks were made in a kiln (a special oven). Each story of the house has six window openings. The windows are decorated with lintels, which are horizontal supports above them.
There are entrances on both the north and south sides of the first floor. Both entrances have pine doors. The north entrance also has screen doors. The north entrance is decorated with a lintel. The south entrance has a transom window above it. The door at the south entrance was originally from the Newton County Jail.
Porches and Roof
The north entrance has a porch, called a portico. It was added in the 1950s. This porch is held up by four columns and two pilasters (flat columns on the wall). On top of the porch is a small balcony. You can reach this balcony from a second-story door.
The house has a gable roof. This roof is covered with asphalt shingles. Chimneys are on the outside of the east and west sides of the house. These chimneys are in line with the center of the roof.
Inside the House
The main part of the house has a main wing and an extension to the east. On the first floor of the northern part of the main wing, there are two rooms and a central hallway. These rooms have wood floors. The walls are decorated with plaster and wainscot (wood panels on the lower part of the wall). The hall has wallpaper.
The east fireplace has a stone hearth that is original to the house. It also has a mantel that was added later. There is a bookcase on each side of this fireplace. Only one of them is original. The west fireplace has a wooden mantel that is original to the home. The ceilings of the first-story rooms are made of lath and plaster. A staircase in the hall leads to the second story.
The second story of the main wing looks similar to the first floor. There are two bedrooms at each end, with a hall in between. Both bedrooms and the hallway have wallpaper. The floors are also made of wood. Fireplaces like those on the first story are also on the second story. The wood in the east bedroom has been painted black.
The southern part of the main wing has a dining room. This room has been changed into a kitchen. The kitchen has wood floors covered with carpet. A fireplace is also in this room. A stairway leads to a bedroom on the second story. The lower part of the walls in this bedroom has wainscot. Three of the walls have wallpaper above the wainscot. But the north wall has painted plaster instead of wallpaper. This room does not have a fireplace. The floor is wooden. The floor of this bedroom is a little lower than the bedrooms in the northern part of the wing. The east extension has a hall and a bathroom. The floor in this area is made of linoleum.
National Register of Historic Places
The Mathew H. Ritchey House was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978. Besides the house, the site includes a well and some other buildings. These buildings were built after the house. There are also two cemeteries: one for the Ritchey family and one for the enslaved people they owned. The house is privately owned. Some changes have been made to the house since it was listed, including adding a porch.
In 2004, the First Battle of Newtonia Historic District was also added to the NRHP. This district includes parts of the First Battle of Newtonia battlefield. It also has other historic features in the area. This includes the barnyard that was part of the Ritchey House property during the battle. The Ritchey House is inside this historic district. It is considered a contributing property to the district. However, it still has its own separate listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Images for kids
-
Mathew H. Ritchey's gravesite, near the house
