Families of Newton Falls

Another family that was important in the Newton Falls community were the Butts/Porter family. The Butts and the Porters were among the early residents of Newton Falls.

After Cornelius DuBois expressed his disapproval of Henry's construction of the DuBois home on the West Bank of the Mahoning River (built between 1832-1834), the home was sold to Horace Stevens, who later sold it to Dr. J.F. Porter. This home became known as the Porter-Butts home. The house was located around the area where the current Dairy Queen sits at 377 West Broad Street. However, the address for the home back then was 200 Charleston Rd.

The home was remodeled between 1880 to 1890, when a back area and porch were added. Rumor has it that the upstairs hallway was wide enough to fit a team of horses. I am unsure of where that rumor started, but it's an interesting one.

J.F. Porter's daughter Edna Porter married Addison Butts in 1875, and they had four daughters: Ethel, Alice, Lillian and Althea.

J.F Porter left the house to his daughter and her husband, who in turn left it to their daughters. According to Alice's obituary, she and Ethel lived at that home from 1900 until their respective deaths, Ethel in 1941 and Alice in 1966. 

J.J, Butts, Alice's grandfather served as mayor of the village for several terms, and her father Addison according to his obituary was one of the civic leaders of the community and held several offices in the town and township.

Alice Butts studied at Kent Normal College, now Kent State University, and taught elementary in both Paris and Braceville Townships before teaching in Newton Falls for 40 years.

After Alice passed away in 1966, she left the house for her nephew Norman Root, son of Althea. He passed away a year later and left the house for his widow, Eva. The house was then rented out for a few years until a routine inspection of rental properties in Newton Falls found that repairs needed to be made for the safety of the renters. Eva and her husband denied the repairs and instead choose to give a 60-day notice to the renters. Many tried to buy the house and move it to be restored, but that fell through. The home was demolished in late 1975.