Barton Street

This short street located in Fitzroy was developed in the 1930s when Mr Eustacius Griffiths, a breeder of jersey cows, subdivided his farm. His home overlooking the farm was named “Barton’s” and when the farm was subdivided, the street leading to the house became Barton Street.

There are two reports of why the homestead was named as it is.  One suggests that Mr Griffith’s middle name was Barton and the other suggests that it was the maiden name of one of his two wives. Records show that neither of his wives’ maiden names were “Barton” so we are left with Eustacius’ middle name, although we haven’t been able to confirm this.

Early in 1940 Mr Griffiths sold the homestead to a local builder and moved to Pendarves Street, where he died in 1943.  Surviving him was his wife Sybil, three sons and two daughters.  He is buried in Te Hēnui cemetery.

With the change in ownership came the urban legend.  The story goes that this builder created hidden passages and rooms in the house to hide his son, who apparently was an army defaulter.  Neighbours recalled seeing fleeting glimpses of a person on the grounds, but when police were called nothing was uncovered.  When the builder sold the house in 1951 the new owner, Mr Donald Frederick Sandys Wunch, OBE, a well-known scientist and entrepreneur, discovered a series of elaborate, well-constructed tunnels and rooms. These became objects of curiosity and visitors came to inspect them from all over Taranaki. Then rumour has it that the army defaulter in question was captured in Auckland, where he had secretly relocated with his family.

Eventually the secret compartments were destroyed but not before a great many tall tales of mystery had been created. 

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.