Mathew H. Ritchey House

Last updated

Mathew H. Ritchey House
Mathew H. Ritchey House.jpg
Mathew H. Ritchey House
USA Missouri location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationMill St., Newtonia, Missouri
Coordinates 36°52′39″N94°10′58″W / 36.87750°N 94.18278°W / 36.87750; -94.18278 Coordinates: 36°52′39″N94°10′58″W / 36.87750°N 94.18278°W / 36.87750; -94.18278
Area4.5 acres (1.8 ha)
Built1840 (1840)
Built byMathew H. Ritchey
NRHP reference No. 78003399 [1]
Added to NRHPDecember 5, 1978 [2]

Mathew H. Ritchey House, also known as Mansion House and Belle Starr House, is a historic home located in Newtonia, Newton County, Missouri. It was built about 1840, and is a two-story, brick dwelling with a two-story rear wing built using slave labor. The house rests on a sandstone block foundation and has a side-gabled roof. It features a one-story front portico and interior end chimneys. Also on the property is the contributing Ritchey family cemetery, outbuildings, and a well. During the American Civil War, the site saw fighting during both the First and Second Battles of Newtonia, which required its use as a hospital after the battles. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is a contributing property in the First Battle of Newtonia Historic District. The building was damaged by a tornado in 2008.

Contents

History

Mathew H. Ritchey's gravesite, near the house Mathew H. Ritchey gravesite.jpg
Mathew H. Ritchey's gravesite, near the house

Mathew H. Ritchey, the original builder of the house, is credited with the founding of Newtonia, Missouri. Ritchey owned slaves, but was also described as a "staunch Union man." [3] The house, constructed in 1840 and located on Mill Street in Newtonia, was built using slave labor. The home has been described as "truly a mansion for those frontier times." [4] In 1862, the First Battle of Newtonia was fought in the area, with some of the fighting taking place around the area of the house itself. The house saw use as a hospital after the battle, resulting in the floors becoming bloodstained. [3] These bloodstains are believed to be the reason the woodwork in one of the home's rooms was later painted black. Additionally, reports from the time of the battle suggest that the house was damaged by cannon and small arms fire during the fighting. [4] In 1864, as Confederate troops commanded by Sterling Price were retreating southward after a failed invasion of Missouri, the Second Battle of Newtonia was fought in the area, with the Ritchey farm again being the site of some of the action. While the First Battle of Newtonia had resulted in a Confederate victory, the Second Battle of Newtonia was a victory for the Union army. [5] Female outlaw Belle Starr is claimed to have been briefly captured and held at the Ritchey House by Union soldiers in 1862, the story has Starr escaping from the soldiers and reaching the safety of the town of Carthage. The house also survived a fire which took place in Newtonia in 1868. [4]

The house has undergone several changes since the 1860s and remained in the Ritchey family until 1948. The upper story, accessed from a staircase in the kitchen, was added in the 1880s. Some of the house's woodwork was removed during the 1940s to be burned for heat. The most substantial changes to the structure occurred after 1961. The shingles on the roof were replaced and new electrical and plumbing systems were added. Some of the wallpaper in the house was replaced, and the floor of the east first-story parlor was replaced as a result of termite damage. An opening in the second floor of the center hall was added, creating an access to the attic. In 1963, part of the extension was remodeled, replacing a bedroom with a hallway and bathroom. Some of the ceilings and flooring were replaced in that same year, and a portion of the exterior wall was stabilized. [4] The building was severely damaged by a tornado in 2008, with the chimneys, the roof, and portions of the exterior walls suffering damage. [6] After repairs from the tornado, the house was again determined to be in need of repair in 2018 due to old age and water leaks. [7]

Architecture

The house is L-shaped and has two stories. The main portion of the house's floor approximately 50 feet (15 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m), and about 2,000 square feet (190 m2) of living space is in the structure. Sandstone forms the house's foundation and the walls are made of layers of brick. The inner bricks were produced through sun-drying, while the outer bricks were produced in a kiln. Six openings for windows are found on each story of the house, and the windows are decorated with lintels. Entrances are found on both the north and south sides of the first floor. Both entrances contain pine doors, and screen doors are also present at the north entrance. The north entrance is decorated with a lintel, while a transom is above the south entrance. The door present at the south entrance was originally part of the Newton County Jail. [4]

The north entrance is sheltered by a portico (added in the 1950s), which in turn is supported by four columns and two pilasters. On top of the portico is a small balcony, which is accessed by a second-story door. The house is roofed with a gable roof, which is covered with asphalt shingles. Chimneys are present on the exterior of the east and west sides of the house, these chimneys are aligned with the center of the roof. [4]

A main wing and an extension towards the east compose the main portion of the house. Two rooms and a central hallway are found on the first story of the northern portion of the main wing of the house. These rooms have wood floors and the walls are decorated with plaster and wainscot; the hall has wallpaper. The east fireplace has a stone hearth original to the house, as well as a mantel that is not original. A bookcase is located on either side of the fireplace, although 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 provides access to the second story. [4]

The floor plan of the second story of the main wing is similar to that of the first story. Two rooms used as bedrooms are present on either end, with a hall in between. Both of the rooms and the hallway are wallpapered. The floors are also made of wood. Fireplaces similar to those on the first story and also present on the second story. The woodwork in the east bedroom has been painted black. [4]

The southern portion of the main wing contains a dining room that has been converted to a kitchen. The kitchen is floored with wood covered with carpet, and a fireplace is also present. A stairway leads to a bedroom on the second story. The lower portion of walls in this bedroom are covered with wainscot; three of the walls have wallpaper above the wainscot, but the north wall has painted plaster in place of the wallpaper. There is no fireplace in this room and the floor is wooden. The floor of this bedroom is set slightly lower than that of the bedrooms on the north portion of the wing. The east extension contains a hall and a bathroom, the floor surface is made of linoleum. [4]

National Register of Historic Places

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978. In addition to the house itself, the site contains a well, some outbuildings which were constructed later than the house, and two cemeteries: one for the Ritchey family and another for the slaves owned by the Ritchey family. [4] The house is privately owned, and changes to the structure, including the addition of a porch, have occurred since the NRHP listing. [2]

In 2004, the First Battle of Newtonia Historic District was also added to the NRHP. The district contains parts of the First Battle of Newtonia battlefield, as well as other historic features in the area, including the barnyard associated with the Ritchey House at the time of the battle. While the Ritchey House is located within the First Battle of Newtonia Historic District and is a contributing property to the district, it retains its separate listing on the NRHP. [2]

The Ritchey House and 25 acres of the battlefields including the Old Newtonia Cemetery were added to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in 2022 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, despite National Park Service opposition due to the lack of connection, need for protection, or enhancement of public enjoyment. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Newtonia</span> 1862 battle of the American Civil War

The First Battle of Newtonia was fought on September 30, 1862, between Confederate soldiers commanded by Colonel Douglas H. Cooper and a Union column commanded by Brigadier General Frederick Salomon near Newtonia, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Cooper's force had moved into southwestern Missouri, and encamped near the town of Newtonia. The Confederate column was composed mostly of cavalry led by Colonel Joseph O. Shelby and a brigade of Native Americans. A Union force commanded by Brigadier General James G. Blunt moved to intercept Cooper's force. Blunt's advance force, led by Salomon, reached the vicinity of Newtonia on September 29, and attacked Cooper's position on September 30. A Union probing force commanded by Colonel Edward Lynde was driven out of Newtonia by Cooper's forces on the morning of the 30th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Newtonia</span> 1864 battle of the American Civil War

The Second Battle of Newtonia was fought on October 28, 1864, near Newtonia, Missouri, between cavalry commanded by Major General James G. Blunt of the Union Army and Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby's rear guard of the Confederate Army of Missouri. In September 1864, Confederate Major General Sterling Price had entered the state of Missouri with hopes of creating a popular uprising against Union control of the state. A defeat at the Battle of Pilot Knob in late September and the strength of Union positions at Jefferson City led Price to abandon the main objectives of the campaign; instead he moved his force west towards Kansas City, where it was badly defeated at the Battle of Westport by Major General Samuel R. Curtis on October 23. Following a set of three defeats on October 25, Price's army halted to rest near Newtonia on October 28.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson's Creek National Battlefield</span> National battlefield in Missouri, United States

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, located near Republic, Missouri, preserves the site of the Battle of Wilson's Creek. Fought on August 10, 1861, the battle was the first major American Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi River. In the battle, a Confederate army commanded by Benjamin McCulloch and Sterling Price defeated a smaller Union army commanded by Nathaniel Lyon. However, the Confederates were unable to hold much of Missouri, and a Confederate defeat at the Battle of Pea Ridge effectively solidified Union control of the state. Major features include a five-mile automobile tour loop, the restored 1852 Ray House, and "Bloody Hill", the site of the final stage of the battle. The site is located near Republic in southwestern Missouri just southwest of the city of Springfield. It has been a unit of the National Park Service since 1960, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachelor's Hope (Centreville, Maryland)</span> Historic house in Maryland

Bachelor's Hope is a historic house in Centreville, Maryland. Built between 1798 and 1815, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Rider House</span> Historic house in Connecticut, United States

The John Rider House is located on Main Street in Danbury, Connecticut, United States. It is a wooden frame house dating to the late 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wythe House</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The Wythe House is a historic house on the Palace Green in Colonial Williamsburg, in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Built in the 1750s, it was the home of George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence and father of American jurisprudence. The property was declared a National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol County Jail</span> United States historic place

Bristol County Jail is a historic jail at 48 Court Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, and home to the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wynkoop House</span> United States historic place

The Wynkoop House is located on New York Route 32 just north of an offramp from the New York State Thruway and its junction with NY 212 in the town of Saugerties, New York, United States. It is a linear stone house built in two sections by the descendants of Dutch settlers around 1740, and renovated in later years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suntop Homes</span> House in Ardmore, Pennsylvania

The Suntop Homes, also known under the early name of The Ardmore Experiment, were quadruple residences located in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and based largely upon the 1935 conceptual Broadacre City model of the minimum houses. The design was commissioned by Otto Tod Mallery of the Tod Company in 1938 in an attempt to set a new standard for the entry-level housing market in the United States and to increase single-family dwelling density in the suburbs. In cooperation with Frank Lloyd Wright, the Tod Company secured a patent for the unique design, intending to sell development rights for Suntops across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Roy House and Union Free School</span> Historic buildings in New York, United States

The Le Roy House and Union Free School are located on East Main Street in Le Roy, New York, United States. The house is a stucco-faced stone building in the Greek Revival architectural style. It was originally a land office, expanded in two stages during the 19th century by its builder, Jacob Le Roy, an early settler for whom the village is named. In the rear of the property is the village's first schoolhouse, a stone building from the end of the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Hogeboom House</span> Historic house in New York, United States

The Stephen Hogeboom House is located on NY 23B in Claverack, New York, United States. It is a frame Georgian-style house built in the late 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcomb–Brown Estate</span> Historic house in New York, United States

The Newcomb–Brown Estate is located at the junction of the US 44 highway and Brown Road in Pleasant Valley, New York, United States. It is a brick structure built in the 18th century just before the Revolution and modified slightly by later owners but generally intact. Its basic Georgian style shows some influences of the early Dutch settlers of the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H. R. Stevens House</span> Historic house in New York, United States

The H.R. Stevens House is located on Congers Road in the New City section of the Town of Clarkstown, New York, United States. It is a stone house dating to the late 18th century. In the early 19th century, it was expanded with some wood frame upper stories added later. The interior was also renovated over the course of the century.

The Salome Sellers House is a historic house museum at 416 Sunset Road in Deer Isle, Maine. Its oldest portion dating to the 1770s, the house is locally distinctive as a well-preserved 19th-century Cape, and as the home of Salome Sellers, one of Deer Isle's longest-lived residents (1800-1909). The house has been a museum property of the Deer Isle-Stonington Historical Society since 1960, and is believed to be the only house of its type in the state that is open as a museum. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Thayer House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Benjamin Thayer House is a historic house at 200 Farm Street in Blackstone, Massachusetts. Built around 1790, it is the best-preserved property associated with the Thayer family, who were prominent landowners and one of the first Pilgrim families. Benjamin Thayer and his descendants lived and farmed here until about 1920, when the property, much reduced in size, was sold out of the family. The house and its surrounding 9 acres (3.6 ha) of surviving farmland was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mansion House, Hurstpierpoint</span> Human settlement in England

Mansion House is a prominent and historically significant Grade II* listed Georgian village property in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, England. The substantial family home is situated in the heart of Hurstpierpoint with the High Street at the front and South Downs to the rear. The brick faced timber framed building has surviving medieval sections dating back to the mid to late 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Watson House (Hiram, Maine)</span> Historic house in Maine, United States

The John Watson House, also known as the Intervale Farm, is a historic house on Benny Babb Hill Road in Hiram, Maine. Built in 1785 by one of Hiram's first settlers, it is now the oldest building in the town, and is a well-preserved example of late Georgian architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elkins Tavern</span> Historic tavern in Vermont, United States

The Elkins Tavern is a historic house on Bayley-Hazen Road in Peacham, Vermont. Built in 1787 by one of Peacham's first settlers, it has one of the best-preserved 18th-century interiors in the state of Vermont. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Newtonia Historic District</span> Historic district in Missouri

The First Battle of Newtonia Historic District, near Newtonia, Missouri, is a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) site that preserves the location of the First Battle of Newtonia, an 1862 battle during the American Civil War. The battle saw Confederate troops under Colonels Douglas H. Cooper and Joseph O. Shelby defeat a Union force commanded by Brigadier General Frederick Salomon. The historic district contains some Civil War-period structures, as well as the Mathew H. Ritchey House, which is listed separately on the NRHP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Newtonia Site</span> United States historic place

The Second Battle of Newtonia Site is a battlefield listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) near Newtonia and Stark City in Missouri. In late 1864, Major General Sterling Price of the Confederate States Army began a raid into Missouri in hopes of diverting Union troops away from more important theaters of the American Civil War. After a defeat at the Battle of Westport on October 23, Price's Army of Missouri began retreating through Kansas, but suffered three consecutive defeats on October 25. By October 28, the retreating Confederates had reached Newtonia, where the Second Battle of Newtonia broke out when Union pursuers caught up with the Confederates. Confederate cavalry under Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby was initially successful, but after Union reinforcements under Brigadier General John B. Sanborn counterattacked, the Confederates withdrew. The Union troops did not pursue, and Price's men escaped, eventually reaching Texas by December.

References

  1. "Newtonia Battlefields Special Resource Study" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: First Battle of Newtonia Historic District" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. 1 2 Ostmeyer, Andy (February 18, 2011). ""Damnable" Time". Joplin Globe. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Breme, Nancy B. (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Mathew H. Ritchey House" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2017-01-01. (includes 10 photographs from 1977)
  5. Skalicky, Michele (September 6, 2018). "Sense of Place: The Battles of Newtonia". KBIA. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  6. Brown, T. Rob; Ostmeyer, Andy (May 15, 2008). "Group Vows to Rebuild Historic Ritchey House". Joplin Globe. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. Younker, Emily (May 9, 2018). "Newtonia Group Seeks Donations for Repair of Ritchey Mansion". Joplin Globe. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  8. "S. Rept. 117-185 - Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Addition". Congress.gov. October 18, 2022.
  9. Ostmeyer, Andy. "Fight to preserve Newtonia continues, but with new sense of urgency". Joplin Globe. Retrieved 2022-12-28.