THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411110325
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
It was an important event for the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
On Thursday, the Constantia Chapter sponsored the unveiling and dedication of a memorial tablet marking the original site of the John Constant House in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
The historic building was bought by Robert Baker, who removed and restored it in December, moving it behind Baker Funeral Home on West Washington Street.
The historic wood-frame building, constructed around 1720, wound up in disrepair at the turn of this century and was then destroyed by the city as Suffolk began using the surrounding property for a cemetery site.
Two years after the local chapter of the DAR was founded in 1924, its members raised enough money to rebuild the home's main section atop the original brick foundation.
DAR literature describes the original building as ``probably the first house to be built in what was to become Suffolk Town. This house stood through the Revolutionary War and the War Between the States.
``After John Constant's death and, several years later, the death of the widow Constant, the family name disappeared from Suffolk records.''
In later years the edifice was referred to as the Pest House because its isolation made it ideal for placing smallpox victims there.
Still later, the house itself became a victim. Vandalism was so severe that the Constantia Chapter couldn't afford to repair and maintain the structure.
Thursday, the city promised to properly maintain the marker that stands at the site of the house.
``We'll provide the maintenance,'' said Suffolk Councilman Thomas G. Underwood. ``The people will know where the city started.''
It started in an area called Constantia, a farm overlooking John Constant's Warehouse on the Nansemond River.
Constant and his family were the first English-speaking people to establish themselves in the area. Trade developed because of the warehouse, in what is known, appropriately, as Constant's Wharf.
It was chartered in 1742, growing from that time into Suffolk.
The warehouse was destroyed during the Civil War.
The home was saved by Baker, who told the gathering at the plaque dedication, ``I'm glad to be able to save a little bit of Suffolk's history.''
Some historical artifacts were not saved.
``When the original house was torn down, a lot of stuff was put in the cellar,'' said Marion Watson, a DAR member and historian. ``The city didn't do any digging - they just bulldozed it down this spring.''
The plaque is now in its place, and there is also room for three cemetery lots.
``I'm sorry the house couldn't have been saved at the same site,'' said Margaret H. Moore, ex-regent of the DAR.
``The house won't be open for visitors,'' Watson said.
Baker said he is not sure how he will use it.
One man attending the ceremony was most interested in the event: Jamie Constant came up from his Georgetown, S.C., home.
``I'm the great-grandson of John Constant, seven or eight times removed. I visited Constant's Wharf for the first time just a few years ago. Then, I discovered the house.
``There was a plaque'' - a historic marker - ``on the chimney,'' Constant said. ``What a thrill it was to see that.'' ILLUSTRATION: The John Constant House was perhaps the first built in Suffolk
Town. The DAR rebuilt the home in 1924. In December, Robert Baker
moved and restored the historic building.
by CNB