Tour of Historic Newton, Ks

Historic Newton

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Tour of Historic Newton, Ks

Newton, Kansas 67114, United States

Created By: Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau

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In the opening paragraph of the “Newton” section in his History of Harvey County, (1881) Judge RWP Muse wrote,

“It is an old saying, that a bad beginning insures a good ending, and if this be true, then will the infamous character, which the town justly earned, in the early days, fore-shadow an after career of unexampled greatness and prosperity”.

Newton definitely had a rocky beginning.

On July 17, 1871, the first AT&SF train stopped at the latest shipping point on the Chisholm Trail, Newton, Ks. Texas long horns and cowboys following the Chisholm Trail from Texas through Indian Territory (Oklahoma) to the newest shipping point established early Newton as a rough and tumble place. Prior to 1871, most long horns were driven to Abilene, Ks.

One cowboy later recalled, "the town seemed to go up overnight." He had passed through the area in May 1871 and only saw a few settlers. Later in the summer he came back and he encountered the rowdy cowtown called Newton.

The first three businesses were Robert Walton's blacksmith shop (W 5th) Davis & Steele's Bakery (block north of railroad site) and Peter Luhn's Pioneer Store (6th & Main).

Other businessmen quickly set up establishments to cater to the needs of the homesteader and cowboy a like.

By August, the town had four lumber yards, several grocery, drug, and dry goods stores, restaurants. hotels, twenty-seven saloons and eight gambling halls.

Joseph McCoy's stockyard were located a mile and half southwest of Newton with a large tract of land to the west for grazing up to 40,000 head of cattle.

The most famous part of town was located south of the railroad tracks and known a "Hide Park," because the girls showed so much hide. Although there were saloons along Main street north of the railroad tracks, Hide Park was the most lawless. Early Newton history is filled with stories of violence, corruption and rowdy entertainment, giving rise to the nickname "Bloody Newton and the "wicked town west of the Mississippi.


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What You'll See on the Tour

Carnegie Library Building, 1904. NR KR  Architect: W.W. Rose, Kansas City Newton's Carnegie library is one of fifty-five built in Kansas by Andrew Carnegie. Completed in 1904, the cost for the new  library was $16,000. Choosing the c... Read more
Today, Auto Parts and a bank are located at this address, but at one time a fire station, hotel and Peter Pan Ice Cream store were part of this busy intersection. 119 N Main From approximately 1926 until 1948, Fire Station # 2 was locate... Read more
Hide Park Marker Even before the first train arrived in Newton, the town had a reputation. Tales of constant gunfire and lawlessness were spreading already. One can imagine the heat, dust and smell that surrounded the town with herds of c... Read more
August 20 marks the date of  the most violent days in the history of Newton, Kansas.  "Newton's General  Massacre" captured the attention of the nation and gave the new town the reputation as "Bloody Newton."  The events of the early Su... Read more
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 ... Read more
It has been said of Newton that there is a church on every corner and First Christian Church located at the corner of 1st and Main helps prove the point. The congregation has worshiped at this corner since 1895, first in a wood frame buildi... Read more
E. C. Gavitt opened Gavitt Automobile Co in 1907 at 118-120 N. Main. The  Evening Kansan Republican  noted that the newly constructed brick building was "a regular city garage, as modern in arrangement and as fully equipped as the bigge... Read more
The building at 200 N. Main was the last structure built on the east side of Main in the 200 Block. The 1909 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map notes "2 story brick building to be erected here." Between 1910 and 1926, the two-story brick building... Read more
204-206 N Main, 1886 NR KR The buildings at 204-206 N Main are among the oldest buildings on Main and one of the few that retain the original facade.The double Italianate building with its two bay windows capped by pointed roofs, is one o... Read more
Constructed in the 1920s, this building served as a automobile garage  for most of its history.  Smith's Garage opened in 1920 and in the 1940, Stewart Tire & Battery took over. In 1967, the building was home to Wiebe Tire & Sup... Read more
The buildings at 212-214 N. Main were constructed between 1887 and 1891.  212 N Main After the construction of the current buildings, Toevs Bros Groceries & General Merchandise called 212 N. Main home until 1913-1915. 214 N Main Accor... Read more
The buildings at 216-220 N Main  are among the oldest buildings on Main that retain much of their original facade. According to the 1884 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps there was a wood frame building at this address. By 1899, the building had... Read more
Constructed between 1886 and 1889, the structure at 224-226 N. Main was built with abundant optimism.  In April 1889 the editor of the Newton Daily Republican declared; "this will be one of the finest business blocks in the city when fini... Read more
The building that once stood here was constructed between 1891 and 1896. It appears to have started as a grocery store. By the early 1920s, it was the Newton Baking Co., which lasted throughout the 1940s. In 1948, it was listed as Deal's C... Read more
All three of the buildings - 300 - 304 N. Main were constructed between 1886 and 1891. The building at 302 N. Main is the former home of the VFW Post #971, which formed in October 1930. The VFW later moved to 507 1/2 N. Main and sometime ... Read more
Dillons Grocery Store has a long history with Newton. In 1910, a man with new ideas for grocery stores came to Newton. J. S. Dillon was a successful businessman from Sterling, Ks where he operated a wagon and buggy repair shop since the 1... Read more
Swartz Lumber Building  In 1884 H.S. Dean Lumber Yard was listed at this address. In 1889, the property was sold to Chicago Lumber Company. Samuel M. Swartz was an employee of the lumberyard and in 1895 he purchased interest in the company... Read more
Taken in the fall of 1871, this is the earliest photo known photo of Newton. The photographer was standing in the middle of Main looking over the railroad tracks to the north with a view of the 400 Block of N Main.  A.F. Horner Store is th... Read more
Santa Fe Depot, 1929-30   Architect E.H. Harrison, Santa Fe Railroad Building: M.R. Stauffer, Newton. National Register, Kansas Register The Santa Fe Depot, serving the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad is located at the intersect... Read more
Fred Harvey & Newton Kansas Newton's Harvey House was in operation from 1882-1955, making it the longest continuous Harvey House in the system. The Newton Harvey House was first located in the Arcade Hotel and Depot (5th & Main) and... Read more
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. At one point in the summer of 1871 Newton had an estimated twe... Read more
This photo from the 1911 A.H.T.A. meeting in Newton show the 400 Block of Main before the 1930 Santa Fe Railroad Depot was built, when all of these buildings were demolished. Prior to 1929, the 400 Block was the home of several businesses, ... Read more
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 ar... Read more
Fire on Main, Aug 4, 1914 On the morning of August 4, 1914, Harvey County residents woke to devastating news that a massive fire was burning "the most populous block" in Newton. By the time the fire was put out the entire east side of the... Read more
Railroad Savings & Loan Building, 500 N Main, 1925 Architect: Samuel Greenebaum, Newton Native NR NK This elegant building is in the the Renaissance (Beaux Arts) style. A monumental building faced with cut limestone, it has numerous cl... Read more
In 1885, the People's Grocery  occupied the building at 502 N. Main in addition to "L. P. Spencer, Justice of the Peace. Lizzie Coult's Bookstore was located at 504 N. Main. These buildings burned in the 1914 fire. From 1938 to 1997, thi... Read more
The Western Star Theater opened in Newton at Broadway and Main in January 1907.  It was sold in 1908 and reopened at 507 Main. In July 1909, it was sold again and remodeled. It was bought by Chris Wagner and moved to 506 N. Main in the spr... Read more
Following the fire of 1914, this building was home to the Palace of Sweets, a confectionery. It appears in directories at this address until at least 1928 when it became El Patio Sweet Shop. By 1940, it had become El Patio Cafe. In 1952, ci... Read more
Originally owned by the Duff family, the 3-story building at 510-514 N. Main, was a dominating structure on Newton's Main street. The Duffs sold the department store to T.H. McManus. He sold everything from men's and ladies' clothing and... Read more
520 N Main The history of movie theaters in Newton can be traced almost to their invention. In 1910, the Gem Theater was opened by H. E. Herbert at 621 N. Main. It was considered somewhat of a gem in downtown as it had elevated seats, "fin... Read more
Founded by Jarius Edward Neal in June 1873, the Harvey County Savings bank opened their doors at 604 N. Main. They were the first bank in Harvey County. In 1879, a group of Newtonians purchased majority stock and it was renamed Newton City ... Read more
An early businessman, C.A. Swenson established his first business, a grocery store, at 600 N. Main as early as 1875. In 1886, C.A. Swenson replaced his wood frame store front with a three story brick structure that anchored the south corne... Read more
First Businesses - Lehman's Hardware Samuel Lehman arrived in Newton from Ohio in June 1871. He purchased the lot at 604 N Main and built a 25 foot wood frame structure and opened his hardware and implement business. With business expansi... Read more
The building at 610 N. Main was constructed around 1910 with modifications to the facade in the 1920s. 612 N. Main appears to have been built in the 1880s and housed a harness shop until the 1920s.  In the 1920s, two brother from Greece ar... Read more
 In 1888, C.F. Claassen started a loan and bond business, hiring J.G. Regier in 1896. Mr. Claassen became involved in the Kansas State Bank and sold his interest to Regier in 1904. Regier, with his brother, W.W. Regier, grew the organizati... Read more
Today's building was constructed in the early 1970s. Originally five buildings stood offering a variety of businesses throughout the years. M.M. Herbert opened and confectionery called Herbert's in 1906, selling candy and cigars. He moved... Read more
The Masonic Lodge No 142 was organized in 1873 with their first meeting held in a school house.  The commissioned the construction of the building at 700 N Main in 1879 with the lodge rooms located on the second floor.  The main floor was... Read more
704 - 706 N Main has a long history of businesses. In 1887, the Angood family had a store at this location. Up until the mid 1920s, the Angoods operated businesses in 704 and 706 N Main. Other businesses that were located in the buildings ... Read more
These buildings appear to be in place when the Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. drew their first map of Newton in 1884.  708 N Main In the 1880s, the building at 708 N Main served as the Palace Meat Market owned by Joseph Steinkirchner. From t... Read more
These buildings have lost their historic facades, but have stood since at least the 1880s. The building at 712 N Main has been a variety of businesses from shoe repair to journalism and even a tire store. 714 N Main was more consistent with... Read more
C.H. Northfoss Furniture and Undertaking, which appears to have started at 712 N Main, once operated a successful furniture business in this building in combination with undertaking services. The building probably dates from 1919 but underw... Read more
NR NK The Mennonite Buildings, 716 - 722 N Main, 1914.   In the 1960s, it was common to cover the original brick facades with metal or other materials. These building were no different. For years the brick was covered with a blue metal si... Read more
J. S. Dillon & Sons opened their second location at this address between 1934 and 1937. It served the north part of the community until the new store was built at 12th & Main. (Billie Wilson)
World War 1 Memorial Bench and bell is from the 1906 courthouse. 
From 1907 to 1965/66, some of the grandest structures in Newton were located in the 800 Block of N Main,  including  the 1st Presbyterian Church, the Harvey County Courthouse, and at the corner of 7th and Main St. Mary's Catholic Church... Read more
Despite the early history of violence in Newton, there was not a county jail until 1880. Prisoners deemed "real bad men"  were either guarded or taken to prisons in another county. Less violent, "ordinary culprits" were locked up in "ma... Read more
On the southwest corner of the block stood the 1st Presbyterian Church. The Richardsonian Romanesque style building was designed by architect Charles W. Squires. The square shape of the church was defined by the towers protruding from the c... Read more
The courthouse was actually the last building built of the trio. Prior to building the courthouse in 1906, the business of the county took place in various other locations, including the Jackson building and Hamill Building on N Main.  In ... Read more
St Mary's Catholic Church, 1902-04 The Romanesque Revival style church was built by local parish members, William and George Hanna, The interior has notable stained glass and murals. The nearby school was constructed in 1909 and the recto... Read more
From the Newton Kansan, April 6, 1978. "A familiar Newton landmark, the 'wishing well' [water fountain] long located in front of the Amtrak station, took a ride down Main Street yesterday afternoon.  Employees of the Curteman Construction... Read more
Prior to 1915, the home of H.H. McAdams was located at 821 N Main. In 1915, Becker built a  home with a grocery store at 819 N Main. Later, it was the location for Fey & Son Grocery and in 1958, a Sherwin Williams store.   The curr... Read more
In the early 1880s, Newton was growing.  The 'rougher' cowboys and the businesses associated with them had moved south to Wichita with the cattle trade.  Town leaders focused on building a community with stable businesses.  Several busin... Read more
Standing next to 815 N Main was a three story structure built in 1888 known as the Bretch Building. The architect was William L. Ross and the building served as the county courthouse for several years. The Bethel Business College was later... Read more
First United Methodist Church, 801 N Main, 1916-17. NR KR Architects: Hawk & Parr, Oklahoma Contractors were E.C. Fox & Son. Proving the point that there is a church on every corner in Newton, the intersections at 8th & Main, an... Read more
Preaching in the Wickedest Town  in the West The 1st Methodist Church got it's start when Rev. Milton Haun decided to hold church in the Gold Room Saloon located in the 500 Block of Main in the fall of1871. According to several sources, ... Read more
 Newton Post Office, 1909-10 Architect: James Knox Taylor NR KR. In 1909, a new Post Office was constructed at 725 N Main in the Renaissance Revival style. The architect was James Knox Taylor. Previously the post office was located in the ... Read more
715 N Main Sanner Feed & Seed Store was established in by James Sanner at an unknown location.  After being open a year, they moved to the Masonic Temple Building at 770 N Main. Business continued to grow and they moved to a location ... Read more
Built between 1909 and 1915, this building is identical to 709. In 1916, this building houses an auto service station. In 1921, it is listed as Modern Electric Equipment and in 1923 as the Royston Motor Equipment. (Billie Wilson) ...
Built between 1909 and 1912, it was home to Marten's Motor Co, the building suffered damage in the days following the fire that destroyed the Ragsdale opera house. A wall damaged by the fire collapsed into the showroom destroying several au... Read more
Early in the morning on New Year's Day in 1915, Hal Somers and Mary Russell, ran out of gas on their way home from New Year's Eve festivities. As a result, they were walking through Newton at about 2:30 am.  They had reached Broadway and ... Read more
Today's buildings were built sometime between 1915 and 1918 following the fire that destroyed the Ragsdale Opera House.  (Billie Wilson) 
This building was built in 1883 and still retains most of the original floor plan including a sliding ladder used to retrieve merchandise. In the early days, J. C. Penney's was at this location. Note the Penney's slogan when you enter the ... Read more
This building appears to be on site in 1896 with a remodel in 1930. Weis & Holinde Billiard Hall was listed at this address in the late 1800s through the 1940s. In the 1963 photo, the photographer is looking south down Main street and D... Read more
Today, 619 N Main is home to the Et Cetera Shop, a thrift store operated by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Over the years many businesses have come and gone from this building originally known as the Boyd Building.  In 1886, Ezekiah Pa... Read more
These three buildings were all remodeled in the 1920s to this more flat appearance.  615-617 N Main - These buildings appear to be on site between 1896 and 1901. 617 N Main The Sheridan Cigar Co was located here from 1902-1920, then Sche... Read more
Dickey's Drug Store, 1871 Redesign 1920s, Architect Ed Forsblom. . NR KR One of the most distinctive buildings on N Main is 611 N Main, sometimes called the "Terra Cotta building," it features exceptional terra cotta tile facade with tiles... Read more
In the late 1890s and early 1900s, Hanlin's filled the storefronts from 601-607. In 1909, directories list Conrad & Dutcher, a dry goods, millinery and ladies furnishings store at 607. Dutcher had a new partner in 1917 and the name chan... Read more
In 1883, the German National Bank called this building home along with a land office, law office, the Golden Eagle Clothing House, Bowman & Butcher Attorneys, J.W. Murphy, real estate agent and several other businesses. The words "Bent... Read more
Several Newton's earliest business, including some of the most notorious, were established in the 500 Block of N Main. Since the east side of the 500 block had a major fire in 1914, the buildings on the west side of the street are some of... Read more
Midland National  Bank opened in March 1893 at 500 N Main. In 1907, they purchased the building at 527 N Main from Peter Luhn. The building at 527 N Main can be seen in photos as early as 1879. When Midland Bank bought the building, they r... Read more
517 N Main This building can be dated to 1878 with altered store front in the 1920s or 30s. N. Barnum & Co.  was one of the best known businesses to locate at 517 Main. A dry good store, Barnum's opened in 1878 in the building next ... Read more
The 515 N Main address was a notorious one in the early days of Newton's history, but by 1876 it had gained respectability  and was known as the Diamond Block 1876. The Public Library was located on the second floor in the 1890s.  The fa... Read more
 Saloons, Prayers, and Drug Stores: the building at 515 N Main.  The Gold Room Saloon 1871 - 1873 In 1871, Isaac Thayer opened the Gold Room Saloon  at 515 N Main. Described by a Topeka Commonwealth reporter,  the Gold Room Saloon  ... Read more
Dating from around 1890, this building was home to B.C. Johnston & Co, a dry goods store.  Between 1902 and 1905, the Newton Music Company moved to this address.  They sold and repaired pianos and organs, sheet music, and based on adv... Read more
The facade of this building was remodeled in the 1920s or 30s.  Reese's Drug Store moved to this address in 1928 from their original location when the Santa Fe bought the remainder of the east side of the 400 block to build the depot that ... Read more
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... Read more
The original building at this address was a one-story wood frame structure. The more substantial  structure that stands today was likely built in the 1890s.  In 1893, J. P. Weigand and W. A. Hillenbrand operated a cigar factory at this l... Read more
These building appear on the Sanborn  maps as early as 1886. An early photo from 1890 gives clues to the original entry for 503 N Main. Both facades have been heavily modified from their original appearances. In 1890,  the Land Loan &... Read more
Randall Building, 1911 Architect: C.W. Terry General Contractor: F.C. Bordon. NR KR The Randall Building , built in 1911,  is a large three-story Renaissance Revival building, clad  in red brick and ornamented with white glazed terra co... Read more
The Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway served the people and businesses of Newton, Wichita, Hutchinson, and all of the communities in between.   The Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway (AVI) was an interurban railway that served the pe... Read more
The buildings from 421 to 427 were constructed at the same time and appear to have been designed along the same lines in the Italianate style.  All were present by 1886.    425-427 N Main The ground floor has been altered with the insta... Read more
Murder on Main Shortly before 10:00 on Thursday morning, February 14, 1895, Thomas Williams, the head cook for the Clark Hotel,  stepped out of P. Byer's Store at 421 Main after placing an order.  He walked south toward the Clark Hotel an... Read more
417 N Main Constructed in 1885 by H. L. Hart, this building was originally the Brunswick Hotel.  419 N Main In 1905, the Newton Telephone Co relocated to the second floor of this building.  According to the Evening Kansan Republican, o... Read more
411 - 413 N Main One of three large hotels built in in Newton was constructed in the 400 Block on the west side. The July 13, 1883 issue of the Newton Democrat  reported that Frank Zurcher removed the old buildings from his lot opposite t... Read more
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 s... Read more
Prohibition In Newton In 1913, the editor of the Evening Kansan Republican took some time to reflect on memories of one of the "finest hotels of the middle west." In his musings, he highlighted a forgotten story from Harvey County history.... Read more
The Santa Fe Land Office was located on the south side of the track on the west side of Main. Constructed in 1871, the stone structure was torn down in 1967.  Muse & Spivey were land agents for the Santa Fe and sold land to early resi... Read more
Warkentin Mill, 1879 NR KR  Monarch Mills was built in 1879 by D. Hamill. The large building with the mansard roof  was purchase by Bernhard Warkentin in 1886 and renamed the Newton Milling Co. Warkentin is known for his encouragement of... Read more
The west side of the 200 Block of N Main has seen perhaps the most changes other than the east side of the 500 Block of N Main. No original buildings from the 1880s remain, yet there is a significant building located here, the Carnegie Lib... Read more
The late 1880s was a time of growth and optimism in Newton. The Ragdale brothers built a grand opera house at the corner of Broadway and Main in 1885. Many of Newton's wealthy built homes along East 1st and West Broadway. Business were also... Read more
217-219 N Main Today, guests can enjoy a wonderful German buffet at the Breadbasket restaurant. Throughout history, several buildings and businesses have called this address home.   In 1880, J.W. Lyon built a small house where he lived un... Read more
The Newton Air Dome was located at 213 & 215 N Main. The Newton Air Dome was advertised as having a seating capacity of 1000 in 1909, and "play(ed) Nothing But First-class Attractions." Built in approximately 1909, also known as the "Pe... Read more
In 1875, two city parks were established one in Block 24, N Poplar & 7th, and in Block 30, Broadway & Oak.  The city council contracted with the Newton Town Co. to assume care of the parks for five years. When the five years were... Read more
Moved to this site in 1955. Steam Locomotive Santa Fe 1880 Prairie (2-6-2) TypeBuilt: Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, PA, August 1907Cost: $24,500,000Miles Run: 1,022,667Used in freight service: Missouri-Eastern-Southern Kansas Midd... Read more
In 1875, two city parks were established one in Block 24, N Poplar & 7th, and in Block 30, Broadway & Oak.  The city council contracted with the Newton Town Co. to assume care of the parks for five years. When the five years were... Read more
Many minority businesses were located in the 100 Block of W 4th including barber shops, pool parlors and restaurants. In 1968, these buildings were torn down under urban renewal that swept through the state destroying places where the Bla... Read more
When the railroad laid tracks through Newton in the early 1870s, one of the many necessities that followed was a locomotive roundhouse. The first was built in 1871 but it burned in 1880. It was rebuilt in 1888 with nine stalls. Four more st... Read more

 

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