Mill Town Messenger | Jan 2013

Overview

The Newport Historical Society newsletter reports on organizational life, volunteer efforts, and museum needs for 2013. It highlights membership activity, fundraising successes, upcoming meetings and programs, and specific collection needs—like yearbooks, town reports, and Winter Carnival buttons—while thanking volunteers and sponsors.

A historical profile of Austin Corbin II traces his legal and banking career, Coney Island developments, and philanthropic land purchases for Corbin Park, concluding with family details and his accidental death. The issue also requests volunteers and lists membership and donation information.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.

Main Points

• Newport Historical Society Activities: The NHS offers museum exhibits, volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, and membership drives to preserve and share Newport’s history.
• Nettleton House Museum: Since 2011, the Nettleton House has served as the NHS museum, displaying exhibits and welcoming both new and returning members.
• Volunteer Needs: The society seeks volunteers for roles such as docents, event staffing, research, and digital archiving of museum materials.
• Collection Gaps: NHS is actively seeking Winter Carnival buttons (pre-1941, various years), old town and county reports, Newport school yearbooks (various years), business directories, and a sturdy folding step stool.
• Austin Corbin II: Born in Newport in 1827, Corbin became a prominent banker, railroad executive, real estate developer (notably at Coney Island), and founder of Corbin Park, a large game preserve.
• Corbin Park: Corbin purchased over 26,000 acres across five townships to create a game preserve, which at one time had the largest buffalo herd and was the largest of its type in the country.
• Tragic Accident: Austin Corbin II died in 1896 in a carriage accident caused by spooked horses, resulting in his and the driver’s deaths, while his grandson and the teacher survived.
• Annual Fundraising: NHS raises funds through sales of Newport memorabilia, hand-painted ornaments, and local merchant gift certificate drawings to support museum operations.

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