Thanks to Boingboing.net for posting this. If you want, after you sign the petition, Digg this! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi there,
My name is Aaron Newton and I'm writing because the state of South Carolina wants to put a freeway through my grandfather's home (google map link). His house was originally built by his grandfather and is around 200 years old. In the 1950's, my grandparents remodeled part of it and because of these changes we couldn't get the historical building society to declare it a landmark.
My father, Don Newton, who lives nearby, has spent time with several officials of South Carolina and has worked out an alternate route that takes the freeway down the west side of the farm instead of through the center of it, leaving the house completely intact.
Unfortunately, the bureaucracy involved in changing things like this is quite thick and though we've managed to convince all the parties that it should move, they need some sort of public "outcry" to be able to rubber stamp the change.
Which is why I'm setting up this petition to get signatures. Signatories don't even have to live there. The don't even have to have ever visited. I'm currently located in San Francisco and it doesn't matter. They just need "the public" to demonstrate the need for the change in plans.
So please, take a moment and share your information in this petition so we can save his house.
According to the privacy policy of this site, your name, city, state, country, and comments will be shared with the Governor's office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Historical Significance of the Farm
(Written by Don Newton)
My original ancestor, Giles Newton, emigrated from England to Virginia and finally to the land on which the home was built and still stands today. The land was part of two 640 land grants awarded to Giles Newton by colonial Governor Moultrie. He granted the first property in 1785. By the very early 1800's, Giles' two sons, James and Younger I, owned approximately 3000 acres, much of which still is owned and farmed by Giles' descendents. My 91 year old father, Lt. Col. (Retired) Peter J. Newton, Sr., still owns over 300 acres of the original land and the ancestral home. Historical statements from generation to generation date the building of the home by Younger I around 1800. While there is no specific written evidence to properly date the home, there are two entries in archived records placing Younger I in a home on the land around 1790, and that is corroborated by family lore. (From Which Newton Are You Or How Are You Connected by David F. Newton, pg 210)
THE HOME
The home was built from trees that were cleared from the forests that now are open fields of fertile farmlands. The underpinning of the home was and still is hand-hewn logs held together by 10" wooden pegs. The original structure consisted of four equally sized rooms and the kitchen was separated from the home in the back to save the home in case of a fire in the kitchen.
In the late 1940's, the kitchen was joined to the rear of the home and three other rooms were added across the back of the house. The floors of this section were not joined evenly, and there is an approximate ten inch step down from the original section of the home to this rear section. The porch was also extended across the front and down the West side of the house. In 1957, my father, who was actually born in the home in 1916, remodeled the home, leaving the basic four rooms of the home but installing oak hardwood floors. He also left most of the original windows in rooms and by the front door, which were hand-blown glass with "wavy" imperfections and bubbles. The chimney on the East side of the house is also original which, according to family lore, has brick laid with "salt crete". It was covered with a thin layer of concrete years ago to protect it from weathering. Around 1965, dormers were added to the roof of the house and the attic was opened to house two bedrooms. And the final remodeling occurred around 1985 when the kitchen was remodeled and a carport was attached at the kitchen entrance.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
From the date of the land grant until the present, no one but Giles Newton descendents have lived in this house and worked this farm. The only other inhabitants of this land were native Americans. And from the family record Which Newton Are You or How Are You Connected, researched and compiled by David F. Newton, archived documents clearly show that the descendents of Giles Newton have played a significant role in South Carolina's and our nation's history, namely:
Three men, Giles, James, and Younger Newton, fought in the Revolutionary War. Three men, Henry C., Giles II, and Younger II, fought in the War of 1812 Eighteen fought in the Civil War: John C. Newton was killed at Drury's Bluff in May 1864 H. H. Newton was wounded at Haw's Shop, VA in May 1864 Peter L Newton died as a POW in Georgetown Cornelius D. Newton was a POW at Point Lookout Joseph Newton John W. Newton lost fingers while serving Richard Newton died in the War Robin Newton died in the War Smith Newton Thomas B. Newton Peyton Newton Benjamin Newton James E. Newton died in the War John H. Newton died in the War William S. Newton died at Sullivan's Island Belton Terry died in the War David D. Newton was a POW at Elmira, NY Dudley C. Newton
(Many fought in WWI and WWII for which I don't have definitive records. My father fought with General Marshall and General Patton and because of his valor and duty, he was promoted from 2nd Lt. through the ranks to Lt. Col. by the age of 30. He was wounded three times and was finally medically discharged.) I have cousins that fought in Korea. My brother and I are Vietnam Veterans as are many of our cousins.)
Cornelius Newton was a SC State legislator from 1880-1882 and served as Solicitor, 4th Circuit, for six years. Joseph Newton was a patent holder for a medicinal pill Giles Y. Newton served as a US representative to the Philippines in 1924, and
Elizabeth Newton was the first woman to be admitted to the Bar and licensed to practice law in the courts of the United States.
The home place and the nearby family cemetery still play an important role in this family, much greater than that of the home of one family residence. It is quite common for a relative who is researching their family history to learn that the family originated from this area and drive to the home to see for themselves. Even though they don't know who resides in the home now, they arrive and find that it is the earliest known residence of their ancestors, and that most of those ancestors are buried in family cemeteries about one mile away. Two recent unusual events further verify this significance.
About three years ago, an elder family member, who moved away in 1928, had her nephew drive her from Phoenix, Arizona over a ten day period to arrive at the local (and home) church on the first Sunday in August to attend the Newton family reunion, the oldest continuous family reunion in SC. She had attended the very first reunion in 1927, and wanted to attend and reacquaint herself with family again. She came without a call - just knowing that the reunion is always held on the first Sunday in August. After the reunion service at the church, she visited with my dad at the home place to reminisce and learn more of her genealogy.
In the 1800's, Giles' grandson, Giles II, moved to Georgia and then to Alabama, where we lost track of that entire limb of the family tree. About seven years ago, one of his descendents was doing genealogical research and learned of a Newton family reunion at Boykin Church in our community. She called the church in the middle of the week (when no one would ordinarily be there). By the providence of God, a cousin was in the church, answered the phone and shared family info. A few months later, the relative visited the reunion, reuniting that limb of the family for the first time in almost two hundred years. She, too, visited the old home place, and shared family genealogy with my dad and with family historian, David Newton, before visiting the cemetery to see the graves of her ancestors.
Thanks to Boingboing.net for posting this. If you want, after you sign the petition, Digg this! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi there,
My name is Aaron Newton and I'm writing because the state of South Carolina wants to put a freeway through my grandfather's home (google map link). His house was originally built by his grandfather and is around 200 years old. In the 1950's, my grandparents remodeled part of it and because of these changes we couldn't get the historical building society to declare it a landmark.
My father, Don Newton, who lives nearby, has spent time with several officials of South Carolina and has worked out an alternate route that takes the freeway down the west side of the farm instead of through the center of it, leaving the house completely intact.
Unfortunately, the bureaucracy involved in changing things like this is quite thick and though we've managed to convince all the parties that it should move, they need some sort of public "outcry" to be able to rubber stamp the change.
Which is why I'm setting up this petition to get signatures. Signatories don't even have to live there. The don't even have to have ever visited. I'm currently located in San Francisco and it doesn't matter. They just need "the public" to demonstrate the need for the change in plans.
So please, take a moment and share your information in this petition so we can save his house.
According to the privacy policy of this site, your name, city, state, country, and comments will be shared with the Governor's office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Historical Significance of the Farm
(Written by Don Newton)
My original ancestor, Giles Newton, emigrated from England to Virginia and finally to the land on which the home was built and still stands today. The land was part of two 640 land grants awarded to Giles Newton by colonial Governor Moultrie. He granted the first property in 1785. By the very early 1800's, Giles' two sons, James and Younger I, owned approximately 3000 acres, much of which still is owned and farmed by Giles' descendents. My 91 year old father, Lt. Col. (Retired) Peter J. Newton, Sr., still owns over 300 acres of the original land and the ancestral home. Historical statements from generation to generation date the building of the home by Younger I around 1800. While there is no specific written evidence to properly date the home, there are two entries in archived records placing Younger I in a home on the land around 1790, and that is corroborated by family lore. (From Which Newton Are You Or How Are You Connected by David F. Newton, pg 210)
THE HOME
The home was built from trees that were cleared from the forests that now are open fields of fertile farmlands. The underpinning of the home was and still is hand-hewn logs held together by 10" wooden pegs. The original structure consisted of four equally sized rooms and the kitchen was separated from the home in the back to save the home in case of a fire in the kitchen.
In the late 1940's, the kitchen was joined to the rear of the home and three other rooms were added across the back of the house. The floors of this section were not joined evenly, and there is an approximate ten inch step down from the original section of the home to this rear section. The porch was also extended across the front and down the West side of the house. In 1957, my father, who was actually born in the home in 1916, remodeled the home, leaving the basic four rooms of the home but installing oak hardwood floors. He also left most of the original windows in rooms and by the front door, which were hand-blown glass with "wavy" imperfections and bubbles. The chimney on the East side of the house is also original which, according to family lore, has brick laid with "salt crete". It was covered with a thin layer of concrete years ago to protect it from weathering. Around 1965, dormers were added to the roof of the house and the attic was opened to house two bedrooms. And the final remodeling occurred around 1985 when the kitchen was remodeled and a carport was attached at the kitchen entrance.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
From the date of the land grant until the present, no one but Giles Newton descendents have lived in this house and worked this farm. The only other inhabitants of this land were native Americans. And from the family record Which Newton Are You or How Are You Connected, researched and compiled by David F. Newton, archived documents clearly show that the descendents of Giles Newton have played a significant role in South Carolina's and our nation's history, namely:
Three men, Giles, James, and Younger Newton, fought in the Revolutionary War. Three men, Henry C., Giles II, and Younger II, fought in the War of 1812 Eighteen fought in the Civil War: John C. Newton was killed at Drury's Bluff in May 1864 H. H. Newton was wounded at Haw's Shop, VA in May 1864 Peter L Newton died as a POW in Georgetown Cornelius D. Newton was a POW at Point Lookout Joseph Newton John W. Newton lost fingers while serving Richard Newton died in the War Robin Newton died in the War Smith Newton Thomas B. Newton Peyton Newton Benjamin Newton James E. Newton died in the War John H. Newton died in the War William S. Newton died at Sullivan's Island Belton Terry died in the War David D. Newton was a POW at Elmira, NY Dudley C. Newton
(Many fought in WWI and WWII for which I don't have definitive records. My father fought with General Marshall and General Patton and because of his valor and duty, he was promoted from 2nd Lt. through the ranks to Lt. Col. by the age of 30. He was wounded three times and was finally medically discharged.) I have cousins that fought in Korea. My brother and I are Vietnam Veterans as are many of our cousins.)
Cornelius Newton was a SC State legislator from 1880-1882 and served as Solicitor, 4th Circuit, for six years. Joseph Newton was a patent holder for a medicinal pill Giles Y. Newton served as a US representative to the Philippines in 1924, and
Elizabeth Newton was the first woman to be admitted to the Bar and licensed to practice law in the courts of the United States.
The home place and the nearby family cemetery still play an important role in this family, much greater than that of the home of one family residence. It is quite common for a relative who is researching their family history to learn that the family originated from this area and drive to the home to see for themselves. Even though they don't know who resides in the home now, they arrive and find that it is the earliest known residence of their ancestors, and that most of those ancestors are buried in family cemeteries about one mile away. Two recent unusual events further verify this significance.
About three years ago, an elder family member, who moved away in 1928, had her nephew drive her from Phoenix, Arizona over a ten day period to arrive at the local (and home) church on the first Sunday in August to attend the Newton family reunion, the oldest continuous family reunion in SC. She had attended the very first reunion in 1927, and wanted to attend and reacquaint herself with family again. She came without a call - just knowing that the reunion is always held on the first Sunday in August. After the reunion service at the church, she visited with my dad at the home place to reminisce and learn more of her genealogy.
In the 1800's, Giles' grandson, Giles II, moved to Georgia and then to Alabama, where we lost track of that entire limb of the family tree. About seven years ago, one of his descendents was doing genealogical research and learned of a Newton family reunion at Boykin Church in our community. She called the church in the middle of the week (when no one would ordinarily be there). By the providence of God, a cousin was in the church, answered the phone and shared family info. A few months later, the relative visited the reunion, reuniting that limb of the family for the first time in almost two hundred years. She, too, visited the old home place, and shared family genealogy with my dad and with family historian, David Newton, before visiting the cemetery to see the graves of her ancestors.
We the undersigned have been informed that the Department of Transportation has moved the route of the I-73 corridor to bisect the historic Newton Family Farm. It is our desire that this route be moved to the western most route as drawn by Don Newton in a letter to Governor Mark Sanford. Any route without impact to this historical farm would be acceptable to us. Thank You.
We signed the "Freeway vs. My grandfather's Home " petition!
# 2,201:
2:01 pm PST, Feb 11,Stephanie Burt, Florida
You can't replace history. Come people have a heart!
# 2,200:
10:49 pm PST, Feb 9,James Rudy, New York
# 2,199:
6:16 pm PST, Feb 8,Name not displayed, Colorado
Our architectural heritage depends on preservation of simple homes made by our forefathers. Please keep this important treasure of our past.
# 2,198:
6:09 pm PST, Feb 7,Johnny GILBERT, New Jersey
# 2,197:
4:37 pm PST, Feb 7,Frances Tan, Kansas
# 2,196:
4:09 am PST, Feb 7,Christopher Mention, South Carolina
The house contains too much historical value to be destroyed. Please move the highway.
# 2,195:
11:14 pm PST, Feb 6,Michael Sandstrom, Tennessee
# 2,194:
8:23 pm PST, Feb 5,Scott Pierce, Alabama
# 2,193:
8:28 am PST, Feb 5,Name not displayed, Tennessee
# 2,192:
4:11 pm PST, Feb 4,Name not displayed, Texas
This man's grandfather's grandfather built this house with his bare hands. HIS BARE HANDS
# 2,191:
2:45 pm PST, Feb 4,Jessica Fox, Massachusetts
# 2,190:
9:15 am PST, Feb 4,Phill Wright, Pennsylvania
It saddens me when an agenda is pushed forward with little or no care for the human impact it has.
# 2,189:
8:56 am PST, Feb 4,Nancy Groff, South Carolina
Move the highway!
# 2,188:
4:47 am PST, Feb 4,Valerie Rich, Ohio
I can't imagine that some remodeling would make the house not be considered a historic landmark. That is ridiculous. You can completely restore a car and get historic tags for it. How is this fair?
# 2,187:
6:38 pm PST, Feb 3,Barb Keryan, South Carolina
It seems like more care should be made to preserve historic buildings in SC. I strongly concur that the highway in this case should be moved.
# 2,186:
4:45 pm PST, Feb 3,Maureen Gerrish, Massachusetts
Redo your your freeway plans. This house was built by the Newton family and has been lived in by them for 200 years. Mr. Newton has even made a plan for you to go through the west side of the farm and not destroy his family's historic home. For every American I urge you to do the right thing.
# 2,185:
3:06 pm PST, Feb 3,Ardath M Grotto, South Carolina
# 2,184:
7:03 am PST, Feb 3,Daniel Licata, Pennsylvania
# 2,183:
9:09 pm PST, Feb 2,Leia Bess, Missouri
# 2,182:
1:13 pm PST, Feb 2,Shawna Christian, California
# 2,181:
8:51 am PST, Feb 2,Veronique Dupont, Canada
# 2,180:
1:46 am PST, Feb 2,Arusa Shaishana, Thailand
# 2,179:
10:37 pm PST, Feb 1,Vance Snelson, Washington
This house is one of a kind, do not destroy it.
# 2,178:
5:30 pm PST, Feb 1,Marķa Del Carmen Bregante, Argentina
# 2,177:
7:54 am PST, Feb 1,Name not displayed, Florida
This should be a no-brainer.
# 2,176:
7:58 pm PST, Jan 31,Kathryn Rogers, Rhode Island
For more impact, add a personal comment here
# 2,175:
11:23 am PST, Jan 31,Andrew Karlson, California
Please help these people to preserve their family heritage and values.
# 2,174:
5:56 am PST, Jan 31,Marjory Cahill-Shelton, Florida
# 2,173:
5:06 am PST, Jan 31,Kyna Crain, Montana
# 2,172:
5:56 pm PST, Jan 30,Roxie Schliesmann, Wisconsin
# 2,171:
5:35 pm PST, Jan 30,Laura Mathis, California
The Newton family, their ancestral home and farm are some of the few and finest examples of how God used families like theirs to build such a great nation as the United States. I'm ashamed and sad that our own government has such little regard for this family and their contributions to our country. I've been to the Newton home and farm, and I know there are other ways they can route this highway. I pray they will find the route that has the least negative impact on families.
# 2,170:
9:34 am PST, Jan 29,Jonathan Johnson, Kentucky
Good luck with that. This is your family history and you should have the right to contol something that belongs to you.
# 2,169:
4:25 am PST, Jan 29,Name not displayed, United States Minor Outlying Islands
# 2,168:
8:11 pm PST, Jan 28,Elizabeth Fleming, South Carolina
I don't see any reason that this family should not be able to keep their home if an acceptable alternate route has been proposed that does not destroy anyone elses home.
# 2,167:
6:27 pm PST, Jan 27,Jack Hanington, New Jersey
Please do not destroy history to save a couple minutes on the road
# 2,166:
11:44 pm PST, Jan 26,Malynda Francis, West Virginia
awesome history here!!!!
# 2,165:
8:13 pm PST, Jan 26,Mary Mcmullen, California
# 2,164:
1:28 pm PST, Jan 26,Kimberly Drake, Georgia
The government has no right to do this. What makes them think they can destroy someones home and life. This would be like knocking down Romes Colosseum to build a mini mall. This country has no care for our history, and only wants things "modern and better". Historic homes give us a glimpse into the past where, no were putting up cookie cutter housing to make a buck. These homes were built with love and patience, making sure the job was done right. It is a crime for anyone to think that a freeway is more important than this mans lively hood. The place his ancestors built and raised their families. This is a blessing and we should all be so lucky. Time for the Government to learn to keep their HANDS OFF WHAT DOES NOT NOR WILL EVER BELONG TO THEM! My prayers are with you!
# 2,163:
12:42 pm PST, Jan 26,Chris Griswold, Ohio
Please make the change and preserve history.
# 2,162:
6:35 pm PST, Jan 25,Name not displayed, Connecticut
This is one of the oldest homes in the county that is still in the family of the builder. It would be shameful to disturb it if there is an alternative.
People; Show it the respect it deserves.
# 2,161:
3:48 pm PST, Jan 25,Hugo Flores, California
There are somethings more valuable than a freeway. This isn't just any house, it is a hand built 200 year old home with descendants of the original builder still residing in it. Have a heart and protect what should really be a historic site.
# 2,160:
11:45 am PST, Jan 25,F Self, South Carolina
I, too, live in an old family home. Good luck!
# 2,159:
10:22 am PST, Jan 25,Kevin Thomas, Virginia
# 2,158:
8:53 am PST, Jan 25,Jennifer McCrork, Ohio
# 2,157:
8:38 am PST, Jan 25,Name not displayed, South Carolina
Good Luck Aaron, I hope you can save the farm!
We're bulldozing our history in the name of progress. I hope your Grandfather's farm will be an exception and remain standing for future generations.
# 2,156:
7:44 am PST, Jan 25,Julie Washburn, Arkansas
# 2,155:
1:45 am PST, Jan 25,Candy LeBlanc, California
# 2,154:
8:57 pm PST, Jan 24,Bob Tiehes, California
It just seems that a house, built by an individual that long ago and despite any remodeling, should be preserved.
# 2,153:
8:16 pm PST, Jan 24,Florbela Cunha, Canada
its your land! not the state. power to the people & whats rightfully yours.
# 2,152:
7:25 pm PST, Jan 24,Laurie Brown, Georgia
# 2,151:
6:38 pm PST, Jan 24,Thomas Coulton, Wisconsin
Think we have enough roads in this country. Save some of the land for future generations and a piece of history with the house.
