Newtons were active in community, business
By JOYCE LESLIE
Special to the Tribune
September 26, 2003
From 1845, the list of arrivals streaming into Cheboygan seems endless, as do the rapid developments that were taking place. Even with all the hardships and difficulties of roads and housing and starting businesses, it must have been an exciting time.
Coming to Cheboygan from tiny St. Helena Island was Archibald P. Newton , who, with two brothers, had bought the island and developed a fuel and supply stop for passenger, cargo and fishing vessels. It became a base for shipping and fishing activities. The Newtons prospered.
By 1873, the brothers had established a new business in Cheboygan, extracting juices from the bark of hemlock trees for tanning leather. Their factory on Mullett Lake built in 1873, burned in 1875 and they rebuilt it in 1876.
The business developed a production of 900 tons of extract per year. Their offices were located at Main and Second streets (Mackinaw Avenue), built by Archibald Newton. The business prospered through the 1920s.
Active in the community, A.P. Newton served as first village president and then three subsequent terms.
In 1871 he built the two-story Italiante structure on Dresser Street for his wife, Cornilia Allaire Newton, at a cost of $8,500. The home was featured in 1984 in The Michigan Assessor, which is the source of this information. Described in great detail are the lovely appointments of the early Victorian home. Mr. and Mrs. Newton's descendents, great-grandnieces Kathleen Allaire Jarvis and Miriam Allaire Fairchild, now occupy the home and have beautifully maintained it.
The Newton-Allaire house at 337 Dresser is one of two historical homes that will be open for tours during Autumn Fest days on Oct. 4 and 5. The J.J. Post home at 528 S. Huron St. also will be on the tour. It was built in 1886. It, too, reflects the elegance of the period of prosperity in Cheboygan in its early growth. The Post home is occupied by Betty Brown.
Jacob J. Post, a successful hardware merchant, was featured in last week's column with lumber baron M.D. Olds. Their "widows" will be at tea in the dining room at the Victorian house, formerly the sheriff's residence, at the Historical Museum of Cheboygan County complex during Autumn Fest days to talk about early Cheboygan.
Admission to the museum activities will be by donation.
Tickets are $8 for Oct. 4, when both homes will be open, and $4 for Oct. 4, when the Post home will be open only. They are available at the Log Mark Book Store, Shanty Boy Gifts and Framing and the Historical Museum on Court Street, which is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Autumn Fest days.
All proceeds will benefit the Historical Society of Cheboygan County, which maintains the museum complex.
Source: http://www.cheboygannews.com/articles/2003/09/26/news/features/feature4.prt
Submitted by Pat Mixen [20 May 2004]
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