Town mulls Monk House ownership

Chase Jordan, The Sampson Independent, Clinton, N.C.
·2 min read

Feb. 13—Dr. John Carr Monk (1827-1877)

Photo courtesy of Albert and Ann Herring

The home of Dr. John Carr Monk; wife Euphemia and daughter Catherine Monk are pictured.

Photo courtesy of Albert and Ann Herring

NEWTON GROVE — The famous home of Dr. John Carr Monk, a historic physician and Catholic religious leader of the 1800s, could soon be managed by the Town of Newton Grove. The matter is being further researched.

During a recent meeting for the Newton Grove Board of Commissioners, Mayor Stephen Jackson reported that a local historical society is requesting town officials take over the Monk House and the property associated with it. They were contacted by Ann Herring, a member of the group involved with moving the house (previously at Erwin Drive), to its current location next to the park off U.S. 701.

"She is very willing to work with us to take on that and we want to," Jackson said about Herring, who is the last living group member.

He recently communicated with the zoning board about the matter and what the town could do with the home. Jackson said he will present additional details and legal matters at the next board meeting regarding a possible ownership. Another reason involved avoiding questions and confusion about ownership.

"It's going to be a free-for-all and I prefer for us to be proactive today to be able to build it up and use it the best way for the town," Jackson said.

Jackson said the town is already taking care of the property, with assistance from Hog Slat, a nearby business, and other residents. It's been a joint effort over the years, with work such as cutting grass. The historical group is ready to turn over the deed to the town.

"They want us to look after the Monk House," Jackson said. "It's got some wear and tear on it. We looked at a couple of carpenters with the zoning committee."

Additional details regarding costs and maintenance will be presented at another meeting to help preserve history.

Monk was born in 1827 in the Westbrook Township of Sampson County. In 1850, at the age of 23, Monk went to Philadelphia, where he enrolled in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. Monk returned to Sampson County to practice medicine and later made his home in Newton Grove.

Around the Civil War, he got into politics and Catholicism. As a result of Monk's contributions and his church (now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church), the town of Newton Grove is the most solidly Catholic rural community in North Carolina.