First Saloon

In 1871, 4th & Main was the site of Newton's first saloon run by Henry Lovett, others soon popped up with names like "The Mint", "Alamo" and "Bull's Head" along Main street.

A reporter for the Wichita Tribune (24 August 1871) observed that Newton had ten bawdy houses “in full running order and three more underway. Plenty of rotten whiskey and everything to excite the passions was freely indulged in . . . Rogues, gamblers, and lewd men and women run the town.”

The O.K. Saloon was located on 5th Street with two additional “houses” located east of the OK. One writer claimed that every third building was a saloon.

The Gold Room, owned by future Newton mayor James Gregory, was located between 5th & 6th on Main and was considered the "grandest."

At one point in the summer of 1871 Newton had an estimated twenty-seven saloons.

By 1873, the number of saloons had diminished to six.