Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Ranchito & Fred Harvey Farm

Our Lady of Guadalupe

In 1920, St Mary's Catholic church parish erected a church for the Mexican settlement on W 1st. The wood framed building was 18x40 feet and cost slightly over $2000. The intention was that this would also be used as a school for the children in the settlement.

(Newton Kansan, 2 May 1920)

Ranchito

Beginning in approximately 1911, the Santa Fe Railroad provided housing to Mexican laborers and their families on west 1st in Newton. The area east of Sand Creek and south of 1st Street was known as the "Mexican Camp" or the Ranchito by those that lived there. The earliest homes were poorly constructed using "scrap or second hand" materials.

In 1926 new buildings featuring a brick exterior were built by the Santa Fe. The buildings were torn down in 1959-60.

Kristine Schmucker, Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives, published, 11/11/2016, Voices of Harvey County.

Fred Harvey Farm

In about 1905, the Fred Harvey Company moved facilities from Kansas City, MO to Newton, KS to a location on west First near Sand Creek establishing the "Fred Harvey Farm."

The large three story structure that housed the produce and carbonating plant was built in 1918. Facilities to process poultry was located on the first floor and the north side of the second floor. The carbonating and bottling plant was located on the south side of the second floor.

1918 was a peak year for Fred Harvey operations with fifty-four lunch rooms, thirty-seven dining rooms and twenty-six hotels in an area that included Chicago, California and Texas. During this time, the Fred Harvey Farm in Harvey County covered 500 acres and employed 150 people. In 1921, 60,000 gallons of milk, 20,000 gallons for cream, half a million pounds of poultry, a half a million dozens of eggs and 45,000 cases of soda were shipped.

The Fred Harvey Farm ceased to operate in 1960.

The Fred Harvey Building was razed in 2022.

Kristine Schmucker, Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives, published 12/12/2014, Voices of Harvey County.