Newstead Historical Society

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Newstead Historical Society Preserving the history of Newstead in Akron, NY, and maintaining the Rich-Twinn Octagon House Rich-Twinn Octagon House, 145 Main St. Akron. Also open every Wed.

Open on the first and third Sunday, April through October from 1 - 3 pm. Knight-Sutton Museum, 123 Main St. Open on the first and third Sunday April through September from 1-3 pm. from 10am - 1pm through September.

Did you know?On the corners of Main Road (Rte 5) and South Newstead Road, there was an area known as Tuttle's Corners. I...
10/13/2026

Did you know?

On the corners of Main Road (Rte 5) and South Newstead Road, there was an area known as Tuttle's Corners. It was also referred to as Newstead Center. John Tuttle Esquire owned a wagon and blacksmithing shop.

He owned the Newstead Parade Ground where he trained local young men in the basics of field warfare that was obligatory in the early 19th century. He was also a veteran of the Civil War where he was Captain in the Union Army.

On the corners of South Newstead Road and Buckwheat Road was an area known as South Newstead, being the most southern part of the road. It had its own church and school. It had a store, tavern, dance hall, hotel, post office, blacksmith shop, and creamery. George Schworm was the postmaster from April 6, 1870 until it was discontinued on June 29, 1907 when mail for the area went to Crittenden.

At one time, before the road was known as South Newstead Road, it was Swartz Road and Schworm Road. (source: The Town of Newstead Bicentennial book)

The Octagon House was dedicated 45 years ago. Were you there? What are some of your memories of the event?
10/12/2026

The Octagon House was dedicated 45 years ago. Were you there? What are some of your memories of the event?

10/08/2026

Don Shonn, Paul Winnie, and Terry Abrams continue the historical timeline as the Tonawanda Senecas face boarding schools, school consolidation, modern commerce, and threats to their sovereignty

People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history. - Dan Quayle...
10/08/2026

People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history. - Dan Quayle

10/06/2026

Did you know?

In the late 1830s, Julius S. Swift situated himself on a tract of land consisting of 500 acres near Murder Creek located on Swift's Mills Road and Mill Road. He immediately erected a sawmill and gristmill, and then opened a small store.

A large part of business for the northern portion of the Town of Newstead was done at the settlement that became the hamlet known as Swift's Mills. In addition to the mills, a tannery and a wagon shop were also active businesses. From 1884-1886 they even had their own post office. Related family members began to settle and build homes and soon after a school was needed for their children, thus schoolhouse #2 was established.

In 1854, a train depot in the village of Akron was erected upon the completion of Niagara Falls and Canandaigua Railroad and the businesses were diminished along with the importance of Swift's Mills. Still, many farmers had their grain ground there until the early 1900s. The mill was eventually torn down in the early 1980s. (source: The Town of Newstead Bicentennial book)

Looking at The Newstead Historical News, Vol. 4, No 1: Winter 1983, we have a listing of the first few Century Homes ack...
10/05/2026

Looking at The Newstead Historical News, Vol. 4, No 1: Winter 1983, we have a listing of the first few Century Homes acknowledged, some photos of the Herman T. Newton house, mastheads of the various Akron newspapers through the decades from 1877 onward, and another snapshot of the progress on the Octagon house.

Address

123 Main Street
Akron, NY
14001

Telephone

+17165427022

Website

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