Mill Town Messenger | July 2013

Overview

The Mill Town Messenger issue reports Newport Historical Society activities, museum updates, and local heritage stories. It highlights preservation efforts at the Nettleton House, volunteer and docent needs, acquisitions, and upcoming programs and sales to support operations.

Feature articles recount local history—Hurd Block, Tipping Rock folklore, and the Edgell family’s Knolls—while practical notices cover membership, fundraising, merchandise, and roof-repair planning to sustain the society’s mission.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Nettleton House: The Newport Historical Society’s museum is located in the historic Nettleton House, built around 1826, and serves as a hub for 228 society members, showcasing Newport’s past.
• Community Involvement: Members and the public are encouraged to contribute artifacts, volunteer as docents, and assist with maintenance to help preserve the museum and Newport’s heritage.
• Historic Buildings: The Hurd Block, originally known as Little’s Block, has served as a drug store location for about seventy years and has undergone architectural changes, such as the transition from a mansard to a flat roof.
• Tipping Rock Legend: Tipping Rock, a large balancing boulder on Oak Hill, is tied to Native American folklore involving ceremonial use and vision quests, supported by surrounding geological features.
• Edgell and The Knolls: George Stephen Edgell, connected to the prominent Corbin family, owned “The Knolls” estate in Newport, which hosted President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902; the house was dismantled in 1926.
• Museum Growth: The museum’s collection is expanding due to donations from the community, including historical items, photographs, and memorabilia; there are ongoing requests for specific items like yearbooks and medical uniforms.
• Fundraising and Sales: The society raises funds through the sale of ornaments, postcards, note cards, cookbooks, and tee shirts at events like the Farmers Market and Apple Pie Craft Fair.
• Membership: The Newport Historical Society has 228 members and holds an annual membership drive with raffle incentives; memberships are available in various categories for individuals and businesses.

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