509 N Main

According to advertising, the Commercial Bank was established at this address in 1878 by E. H. Hoag. Hoag was so successful in business endeavors that he was able to build a beautiful home at 303 W Broadway in 1885. The privately owned home is a beautiful example of Queen Anne architecture with a distinctive wrap around porch along W Broadway.

Hoag was able to amass a great deal of wealth prior to 1890. His bank, however, did not survive the financial crash of 1890 and may have been one of the first banks in Newton to fail. Following the bank's closure, this building was home to another well-known business, Century Clothing Company. H.M. Walt established a men's clothing store at 509 N Main in 1893. He sold it to a corporation of local businessmen in 1901 and the store was named Century Clothing Co. The business remained at this address until sometime between 1922 and 1944 when it moved to 523 N Main. In 1971, due to the expansion of Midland Bank, the business relocated to 505 N Main where it remained until closing for good in the mid 1990s.

Century Clothing Co has the distinction of the longest continuously operating clothing store in Newton.

(Billie Wilson, Kristine Schmucker)