5th & Main - First Businesses

First Businesses at 5th & Main

Walton Blacksmith

The first business that opened in what would be Newton was a blacksmith shop owned by Robert Walton. Walton left his home in Darlington, WI, for the vast prairies of Kansas in 1871. He arrived in the area before the exact location of the railroad and town site was known. He took a chance and began building his blacksmith shop three miles northeast of present day Newton. When he learned the exact location site of the new town, he dismantled his nearly complete shop, moved to what would become W 5th, 2 blocks from Main. (opposite side of the street)

A. F. Horner's Supply & Storage

Located at 5th & Main, A. F. Horner's Supply & Storage store is believed to be the first building located in Newton. Horner moved the structure from Florence, Ks to Newton in the spring of 1871. A year later he moved it to Hutchinson. Legend has it that Horner received three monetary prize in contests sponsored by the railroad company for erecting the first building in each of these towns.

Photo 1: Blacksmith Geabhart, mid 1880s.

Photo 2: East side of Main

***Note: The first building in Newton is either A.F. Horner's, Peter Luhn's or Robert Walton's depending on the source.

(Kristine Schmucker)