History of the Newtown Historic District

Staunton, founded in 1747 along the Indian Trail down the Shenandoah Valley, slowly but surely grew and prospered as a stop along the colonial frontier for those headed west.

By 1787, however, all the building lots in Staunton were full, so Alexander St. Claire, a leading Staunton businessman, deeded a twenty-five acre tract to the city, which became known as Newtown.

Over the years Staunton continued to grow and expand, becoming the county seat, and a hub for business. By the late 1960's Staunton was swept up in the urban development movement, and started pulling down old buildings in numbers that became alarming to some of Staunton residents. When urban development took several blocks of the downtown, between Central Avenue, and Augusta Street, several people joined together in an attempt to save the historic character of the city.

The outcome of this effort was the formation of The Historic Staunton Foundation in 1971 and the creation of five historic districts in the city, the largest of which is the Newtown Historic District. Stretching from Lewis Street to Thornrose Ave, to the west and from the Wharf to Churchville Ave north and south, this district includes both the historic Trinity Presbyterian Church and Thornrose Cemetery.

The Newtown Historic District, rich in architecture, contains the oldest residence in the city, the James Lyle, Jr. house which was standing in 1788, and contains just about every style of home imaginable, with the newest house, a Cape Cod, being built in 2006.