225-227 N Main

The late 1880s was a time of growth and optimism in Newton. The Ragdale brothers built a grand opera house at the corner of Broadway and Main in 1885. Many of Newton's wealthy built homes along East 1st and West Broadway. Business were also growing along Main street on both sides of the tracks.

On the south side of the tracks, E. L. Parris opened the Bank of Commerce at the corner of Main and 3rd, in 1888.

An 1884 Sanborn map shows a small stone structure at 225 Main identified as a furniture store. A much larger stone structure is indicated at 225-227 Main on the Sanborn map in 1886. In 1886-87, Tin Works with George C. Jones, Tinner, and Bradt & Hubbard Hardware advertised a "New Hardware Store" located at 227 Main.

Next door, at 225 Main, the Metropolitan Hotel with restaurant opened in 1886, C. B. Chapman proprietor. The Newton Daily Republican noted "the dining room is handsomely fitted up. The Metropolitan should do good business." L.W. Warner worked as clerk and Mrs. Lizzie Beekwith was the cook. There were two waitresses, Miss Ella Grove and Miss Bertie Ingol according to the 1887 directory.

In 1887, Mme. French, a fortune teller, returned from Europe. The Metropolitan became her headquarters where she told "the past and future by planets and astronomy, brings parties together; places the charm upon the head and gives luck and prosperity."

By summer 1887, the Metropolitan Hotel was for sale. Described as "a large 3-story stone building of 30 well arranged and well ventilated rooms, and everything is in first-class order; is situated on Main street, south of the depot and is doing a fine business, every room being occupied."

Over the next several years, the hotel underwent several changes of management. In 1888, under the management of J. Wilson the hotel was "thoroughly renovated" and renamed the Globe Hotel.

The 1890s were something of a reality check for Newton businessmen. On November 27, 1890 “fortunes were swept away in an instant,” when a financial panic swept through Newton. Eight banks closed and real estate plummeted. Many prominent businessmen went bankrupt, including E.L. Parris, financier of the Commerce Block at the corner of 3rd & Main.

The Newton Kansan noted that “men who retired at night happy in the thought that they were on the road to wealth, awoke in the morning to find that the boom had busted and their wealth only a myth."

No doubt the bust played a role in the turnover of owners and managers at 225-227 N. Main for the next seven years.

Optimism returned when the Santa Fe division headquarters relocated to Newton in 1897.

The editor of the Newton Daily Republican observed, "Now that prosperity has invaded Newton, some one should start up the old Globe hotel. With the right kind of a man in it, there's money in it."

Someone took him up on it. A June 26, 1897 notice in the Newton Daily Republican announced the "Re-opening of the Globe Hotel." The hotel under the management of Goodyear & Short from Nickerson, Ks had "refitted from top to bottom" including interior improvements and new furniture "making it one of the finest hotels in the city."

In 1898, the building became the Hotel Newton or more commonly the Newton Hotel. City council spent time at the May 19, 1898 meeting discussing the "exceedingly deplorable" conditions around Newton. First they discussed "the cellar of the Newton hotel and the building adjoining it to the south, . . . it was thought best to fill them up, as they were of no used and filled with odorous water." They also planned to "tour the city and notify property owners to remove manure piles and clean out-houses. . . before warm weather sets in."

The Weekly Republican reported July 1, 1898 on the meeting of the Newton Cyclists' Association, which had chosen the Newton Hotel along with Frank Tyson's restaurant, as "the official hotels for bicyclists" for an upcoming event.

Throughout this time, the proprietors of the hotel frequently changed. In 1902, Davis & Evans were proprietors and in 1905 W.C. Simmons took their place. By 1911, successful Newton hotelier J.W. Murphy was managing the business.

The Fire Marshal reported in November 1911 that several of the larger buildings in Newton including the Newton hotel, Duff & Son Furniture Co and the Opera house were adequately equipped with fire escapes.

Several other business were located on the first floor of the building including Lee & McDaniel New & 2nd Hand Furniture, and the Home Furnishing Store.

The Newton Hotel Building, a landmark for 84 years, was razed in 1972.

by Kristine Schmucker, Curator, Harvey County Historical Museum & Archive, published May 7, 2020, Voices of Harvey County