
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 6, 1994                   TAG: 9402070261
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By BECKY HEPLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEWPORT: `HELL'S HALF-ACRE' GETS CHARM

Mike and Tina Dawson own the Epling-Dunkley-Smith house in Newport. Built in the 1820s, it is one of the oldest houses in the town and is cited in the registration report for its unique structural system as well as its collection of intact domestic outbuildings. It was their interest in historic preservation and their love for this area that guided the choice.

Part of the fun in owning an old house is finding out about its history. ``It's like unraveling a sweater,'' Mike Dawson said. ``One thread leads to another and then to another, all of which help to fill in the story.''

The Smiths who owned the house from 1902-1936 operated a large distillery that employed a dozen people, Dawson's research shows. Once their big distillery was closed down by the local option vote, the Smiths opened a smaller operation for personal use in the slave quarters on their property.

Dawson suspects they were the target of federal ``revenooers'' during Prohibition. The agents probably closed down the smaller operation by first locking it up, then tearing down that part of the building. Dawson found a seal lock, the kind with no key or tumblers, with ``IRS'' printed on it in a box of artifacts from the property. Also, only half of the slave quarters is standing, though the foundation stones for the remainder of the structure are still there.

Dawson sees the historic preservation registration process as accomplishing several important goals, such as finding and designating structures that are worthy of preservation. More importantly is what it doesn't do. ``People are afraid of having restrictions placed on them and their property, but there are no strings attached to the designation,'' he said. ``The hope is that if you let people know that what they have is precious, they will take pride in it and protect the historic fabric of their community on their own.''

by CNB