The story of the Newell House starts in the 1980s, when several Black professionals bought land in Pleasant Garden, NC, and built houses on it. Newell’s family moved into their newly-constructed, five-bedroom home during the holiday season of 1983. Michael was born in January 1984. Over the years, his childhood home and its 16-acre lot were a celebratory place his parent’s friends gathered at the house for homecoming parties, his sister got married there, and the home hosted countless family reunions. After the kids grew up and moved out, Michael’s father passed away. The house sat unoccupied for many years.