Pitt, Newton M., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1851 on Harwood Drive in the village of Sandy Creek, this two-story frame house is a temple-front Greek Revival residence with an L-shaped plan, gable roof and wide cornice. Its north front has a pedimented portico carried by two square pillars and two Ionic columns, and the side entry has sidelights and a transom. The builder, William E. Howlett, showed individual skill by combining square pillars with fluted Ionic columns and carefully carved capitals. The house was built for Pitt M. Newton, a local merchant who ran one of the village's two general stores and served as town supervisor, village president and Justice of the Peace. It is the earliest of three surviving Howlett buildings in Sandy Creek, and it served as a model for two later houses in the nearby historic district. An early twentieth century rear wing is subordinate to the original house. A two-story late nineteenth century carriage house remains in use as a garage, and the property retains strong exterior integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an outstanding temple-front Greek Revival residence in Sandy Creek and an important surviving example of master builder William E. Howlett's craftsmanship. It is the earliest of three surviving Howlett works in the town and served as a model for two later residences. It was built for Pitt M. Newton, a prominent merchant and civic leader, and recalls the village's mid-nineteenth century prosperity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88002209, listed November 15, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8114 Harwood Dr., Sandy Creek |
|---|---|
| County | Oswego County |
| Listed | November 15, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002209 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: None; Builder: William Elliot Howlett |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In residential use and in excellent condition, with the carriage house still used as a garage; no threats are known. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Coordinates | 43.64354, -76.08302 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88002209.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7020306
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.