One of Newport’s oldest and most recognizable landmarks is one step closer to becoming a historic designation.
The Newport Historic Preservation Commission unanimously took the first step in approving the local historic designation of the “Southgate-Thompson House” at a special meeting on July 15. Final approval will require two readings by the Newport Board of Commissioners at a later date.
The Southgate-Thompson House, sometimes referred to as the “Thompson House,” is located at 24 E. Third St. and is an iconic, over 200-year-old historic mansion that has most recently served as a live-music venue.
The over 19,000 square-foot-property was listed for sale in January for $1.5 million (now $1.19 million) but has yet to find its new owner. Newport Historic Preservation Officer Jennifer Williams said she contacted the realtor in May and informed them of the city’s intent to create the historic landmark designation.
“I think this is one of the most significant properties, if not the most significant, in the city of Newport,” said Newport Historic Preservation Commissioner Mark Ramler. “I mean, this has direct ties to the barracks that were here. The reason the city was founded. There’s no question in my mind that this building deserves to be preserved, and it is our responsibility to landmark this building.”
Williams said the historic landmark designation guidelines would apply to primary and secondary facades, roofs, and architectural features visible from the public right-of-way.
During the commission’s vote, it had to determine the building’s name and the architecturally significant periods. It ultimately settled on Southgate-Thompson House as the name and deemed the period 1814-1914 significant architecturally and the period 1814-2025 for cultural significance.
When the Southgate family first settled the area in the early 1800s, the property was occupied by a log cabin. Between 1814 and 1821, that cabin was replaced with a brick home (by Richard Southgate), likely built in the Federal architectural style, according to Williams.
Richard Southgate served as Kentucky’s commonwealth attorney, a state representative and a state senator. His family’s legacy can still be seen today in the city of Southgate and Southgate Street in Newport, both named in the family’s honor.
Williams said that the Southgate family is also relevant to the larger conversation about the history of enslavement and anti-slavery activity in the Ohio River Valley.
“Richard Southgate was himself an enslaver,” Williams said. “His daughter Anne married an anti-slavery activist, a proponent of the end of slavery, and their son Nathaniel Southgate Shaler became a prominent paleontologist and geologist who went on to work at Harvard and wrote about the evils of slavery and it being right that it ended, while also promoting scientific racism.”
The home remained in the Southgate family for generations.
Frances Mary Southgate Taliaferro Parker became the second owner in 1857, followed by Julia Maria Taliaferro Thompson in 1869. The house is also reportedly the birthplace of John Taliaferro Thompson, who was born there in 1860 and later invented the Thompson submachine gun, commonly known as the “Tommy gun.” The weapon would go on to gain worldwide military significance and become closely associated with Newport’s organized-crime era.
During the late 19th century, likely under the ownership of Julia Maria Taliaferro Thompson and later Fanny Maddox, the house underwent a dramatic transformation. Originally built in the Federal style, it was remodeled into the Second Empire style, adding the distinctive mansard roof, central tower, decorative window hoods and other architectural features that Williams said define the home today.
Fanny Maddox eventually sold the property to the Knights of Columbus, which acquired the building in 1914.
The organization replaced the original wooden front porch with the brick porch that remains today and used the building as its headquarters for more than six decades. From 1914 until about 1976, the house served as a community gathering place, hosting civic meetings, fundraisers, performances and events for organizations throughout Newport and the Greater Cincinnati region.
The Knights of Columbus sold the building around 1977, and Ross Raleigh purchased the property and opened the Southgate House music venue. Williams said that the venue became one of the region’s most influential live music destinations, welcoming local performers alongside nationally and internationally recognized acts for more than three decades.
Ross Raleigh’s daughter, Morrella Raleigh, owner of the music venue Southgate House Revival on 6th Street in Newport, spoke at the meeting. She asked the commission to approve the landmark designation.
“All those years that my dad had it, it made its mark,” Raleigh said. “We had famous performers there, everyone from Kitty Wells and Johnny Paycheck to bands like the White Stripes, getting their start there, and it served very much as a nurturer and incubator of local music and of touring bands.”
Raleigh said the landmark is known nationally and internationally, and she believes it helped put Newport on the map as a positive cultural hub.
Around 2010, the property changed ownership again and reopened as the Thompson House, continuing to operate as a live music venue until approximately 2025.
“This is really the most significant building in our city, and it is perhaps the oldest building,” said Newport Historic Preservation Commissioner Mary Beth Crocker. “Although this is not historically relevant, it’s the first historic building that you see coming across the bridge, and it’s iconic.”
