409 N. Main - The Clark Hotel

From the "finest hotel in the state" to the site of murder and raids by law enforcement, the buildings at the corner of 4th & Main had a unique history.

The southwest corner of 4th and Main was a ideal location for a lodging, and since the mid-1870s a hotel had been located at this corner. Business men of the late 1800s preferred rooms in downtown boarding houses or hotels within easy walking distance of the business district and railroad. For several years, the Rasurre House, located at 4th and Main, provided a place for travelers to stay that was conveniently next to the depot and railroad tracks.

In 1869, Illinois native, George Clark settled near Fort Riley, Kansas. Clark later moved to the new "hamlet" of Wichita where he worked as a messenger for several years. During that time, he visited the growing community of Newton, and with the help of his sister, Mrs. Mary L. Howard, decided to enter the business of running a hotel.

George Clark purchased the two story Rasurre House in 1876. The hotel was renamed "Howard House" after his brother-in-law, Lt. Ruben Howard, who died in 1875. Clark began to make improvements almost immediately. For a time, Mary, assisted him in the running of the hotel and lunch room.

Due to the efforts of the Clark siblings, the reputation of the "Howard House" grew over the years.

Newton Daily Republican noted in the 6 August 1886 issue:

"We can conscientiously advise our friends to visit the Howard House when at Newton. It is just across from the depot, and is strictly first-class and the proprietor, Mr. Clark would be sure to make you feel at home."

In 1886, Clark decided to expand. He hired Varney Bros from Detroit, as architects.

The result was a grand four story structure with a basement. The hotel had a frontage of 64 feet on Main and 69 feet on 4th with a circular tower extending to the roof. Clark Hotel, a stone, four story, turret-clad structure, was regarded as one of the “finest hotels in the state.”

The interior was also luxurious. The basement housed bath rooms, water closets, and a barber shop in addition to a boiler and laundry. The first floor included a dining and lunch room, reading room, sitting room and clerks office.

The dining room was described as the "handsomest in Kansas" with mahogany finished wainscoting on the walls and a ceiling of imitation hammered brass. The separate lunch room was near the front entrance facing Main and was "fitted up with all the modern conveniences and will seat about forty persons." An elevator was located near the clerks office. The second floor contained a bridal parlor, "richly carpeted and furnished." A private residence for the Clark family was also on the second floor. The rest of the second and third floor was contained bedrooms with closets, 76 in total, and each floor had a bathroom.

The first floor had both gas and electric lights, and only gas lights on the upper floors. The furniture was also quality.

[It came] "direct from the factory at Grand Rapid's, same as that in Coronado House. It is of antique oak and mahogany finish. The carpets are velvet, Wilton and body Brussels, . . . the mattresses . . . were manufactured in the house under the person supervision of Mr. Clark."

The Clark Hotel officially opened on Sunday, November 27, 1887 at noon with an elaborate meal and guests from as far away as London.

In 1892, George Clark retired from the hotel business for health reasons. George Clark died of consumption a year later on 25 November 1893. He was 50 years old.

Thomas J. Simpson from Fredonia, Kansas "assumed charge of Clark's hotel." For the next 20 years, the impressive building at the corner of 4th and Main would undergo changes in management and ownership and eventually be condemned and torn down.

In December 1898, it was announced that the Santa Fe Railroad had purchased the Clark Hotel. The Santa Fe used the upper stories of the Clark Hotel building for offices and the Fred Harvey General Store was located on the lower floor.

For the next 14 years the building served as headquarters for the Santa Fe railroad. The "spacious dining room was partitioned off into suitable rooms, stairways were blocked and rebuilt, the sleeping rooms were changed and hallways rearranged." Over the years, the structure deteriorated and by 1913 it was "well known . . . that the office building was badly in need of repairs." In a letter published in Evening Kansan Republican Judge Bowman noted that "the building [Clark Hotel] became wind shaken and the officers fearing a wreck vacated the building."

On April 19, 1913, the Santa Fe moved the offices to the Dotson Building on East 5th. Initially, the move was temporary, "pending the completion of repairs on the old quarters." However, the needed repairs proved more extensive and expensive than the Santa Fe expected and the once grand landmark was demolished.

Kristine Schmucker,Curator, Harvevy County Historical Museum & Archives, published 04/21/2016, 05/07/2016, & 05/025/2016.