The beginning of Newton County Historical Society was on December 6, 1953 by a group including Walter Lackey and O. Clute Braswell. The Society was revived in 1971 by a group including Thomas House, Columbus Vaughn, Rhonda Teter, and Leland Smith. In 1981 they filed for, and received non-profit corporation status for the Society. In the late 1980's the Society was donated a home in the old Washateria in Jasper by its owner, Betty Blackwell Erwin. In the early 1990's Dr. W. A. Bradley's family home and office, located on Clark street, was purchased through a donation from his grandson, and became the home of the Bradley House Museum and the Historical Society.
The Historical Society's office and genealogy library are located in the Museum. The Library's shelves hold information not only about families from Newton County but also has records from several adjoining counties.

Some highlights of our collection and exhibitions in the Bradley House Museum include: the first telephone switchboard in Newton County; the original set of post office boxes from Lurton's post office; Indian artifacts and a collection of labeled fossils; an extensive collection of historic photographs; early farm implements and home furnishings.

In 1995, the Newton County Historical Society began reconstructing the Chaney House, a two-story, double-pen log cabin, on the grounds of the Museum. Future plans include completing the restoration of the Chaney House, and preparing it for exhibition.

The Newton County Historical Society's main goal is to collect, preserve, and display the history of Newton County. We are striving to interpret those documents, relics, and artifacts typical of the historical and cultural heritage of the area and make them available to the public through museum exhibits, books, oral histories, newsletters, and any other way possible.