The Most Enjoyable Home Talent

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

In 1902, seven year old Forrest Williamson, son of John & Lillie, said, “I do” to young Irene McManus in a “Tom Thumb Wedding” performance at the Newton Opera House in front of friends and family.

Photo taken by Murphy Studio, Newton, Ks, 1902.

Tom Thumb Ceremony

The July 2 edition of Evening Kansan Republican  described the event as

  “one of the most enjoyable home talent performances ever presented in Newton. The actions of the little tots who appear for the first time before a large company are always interesting, but last night their performances were peculiarly amusing as they attempted to ape the manner of their elders.”

Guests were escorted by the“gallant ushers.” The “old maids (Hazel St. John, Mable Cobb and Marguerite Fritz) separately and singly, each exhibiting some eccentricity which literally ‘brought down the house.’ One found it necessary to stop just before she stepped up on the stage, remove a hand glass, and arrange her bangs. Another carried with her through the ceremony and fondled now and then her pet cat.”  

The wedding party consisted of bride’s maids, Gladys Duff and Grace Reed with Yuarda O’Rourke who “tripped lightly before the bride carrying the ring.”

Next the bride, escorted by her father, “was a veritable picture of childish beauty.”

The ceremony took place on the stage “quickly performed by the minister, and the groom placing the ring on the bride’s finger” during which “the bride’s mother shed copious tears.”

Friends and relatives “crowded up to offer congratulations . . . the old maids  gave the bride a frigid handshake.”

Throughout the performance “each of the little ones seemed to understand the character he was to impersonate and acted it out well.”

Following the wedding supper and a closing by A.J. Duff, the Evening Kansan Republican editor noted: “A better pleased audience never filed out of the opera house.”

Tom Thumb Weddings

Tom Thumb weddings became popular after the 1863  marriage of an ultra-diminutive 19th century actor, Charles Stratton — whose stage name was Gen. Tom Thumb – to super-tiny Lavinia Warren in New York.  Stratton was a national celebrity for his performances in a P.T. Barnum  sideshow.

The couple received wedding presents from wealthy Americans, including a miniature horse-drawn carriage fashioned by Tiffany & Co. Barnum sold tickets to the wedding reception. The newlyweds were invited to the White House by President Abraham Lincoln.

As a result, Tom Thumb weddings became a popular program for children. For the mock marriage, a little boy puts on a tuxedo and a little girl dons a bridal gown. They walk down the aisle together and exchange “vows.”

Churches and organization used the productions to raise money and to teach young people about formal fashion and wedding etiquette, or just for celebration’s sake.

 

South of the Tracks: J. S. Dillon Stores

Posted on by hchm-curator

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

The post continues the series South of the tracks. The east side of Main was the home for several grocery stores over the years, including Dillons.

314 N. Main Location

In 1910, a man with a 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 1890s.

“Dillon’s Cash Grocery”

He bought out Lee-McDaniel Store, south of the tracks, and opened a grocery store on the east side at 314 Main.

Evening Kansan Republican, 30 June 1910.

With his new store, Dillon introduced Newton to a new way of doing business – cash and carry. Most businesses operated by allowing customers customers to charge their purchases and pay at a later date. Home deliveries were expected.  Dillon opened “Dillon’s Cash Grocery: Save Money by Buying on the Cash Plan Here.” Dillon’s store did not operate on credit, nor did he provide home delivery.

Evening Kansan Republican, 25 July 1916

In 1915, Dillon opened a cash and carry store in Hutchinson, Ks.  A year later, he closed the Newton store and focused all of his efforts on stores in Hutchinson.

Evening Kansan Republican, 27 September 1916

J. S. Dillon left Newton for 10 years.

200 N. Main Location

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.”

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1909 Clipping of 200 Main, Newton, Ks, east side.

Several stores were located in the building 1910-1924.

Star Grocery 1910-1917

Between 1910 and 1926, the two-story brick building  was home to many grocery stores. The first business was the Star Grocery which opened December 1910 at 200 Main.

Evening Kansan Republican, 31 December 1910

The Star Grocery moved to a location at the corner of Broadway and Main,  Newton in approximately 1917.

Livingstons 1918 – 1922

Evening Kansan Republican, 20 February 1918

Evening Kansan Republican, 3 November 1922

Glenn’s Grocery 1922 – approximately 1924

Evening Kansan Republican, 24 November 1922

J. S. Dillon & Sons Return to Newton

In approximately 1926, J.S. Dillon returned to Newton and located his business at 200 Main.

J. S. Dillons & Sons, 200 N. Main, Newton

Interior of J.S.Dillon & Sons at 200 Main, Newton, 1926.

Interior of J.S.Dillon & Sons at 200 Main, Newton, ca. 1930.

320 Main Location

Dillons, 320 N. Main, Newton, Ks, ca. 1956.

Inside the new store at 320 Main

Interior Dillons, 320 Main, ca. 1956

Today, Furniture Warehouse is located at 200 Main and the Dillons location at 320 Main is closed.

Dillons moved several more times.

  • 12/1936 – 6/ 1964: 700 Main, Newton
  • 7/ 1964 – present day: 1216 Main, Newton
  • Dillons also opened a store at 1410 Kansas Ave, Newton.

Sources:

  • https://www.kshs.org/p/john-dillon/19408

South of the Tracks: Bank of Commerce

Posted on by hchm-curator

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

With this post, we continue to explore the history of the buildings south of the tracks. Straight across from the Newton Hotel building at the corner of 3rd & Main,  E.L. Parris built a grand home for his new Bank of Commerce. Today, the building constructed between 1885-1889 is one of the oldest of the buildings along Main in Newton.

Note on construction dates:  The earliest photos of the building show “Commerce Block 1885” in the cornice; however, according to newspaper accounts the structure was not finished until spring 1889. The 1886 Sanborn map does indicate a small stone structure at 226 Main.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1886, detail of 3rd & Main, Newton.

Commerce Block

In April 1889 the editor of the Newton Daily Republican declared; “this will be one of the finest business blocks in the city when finished and the builders, Messrs Parris and Hanna are to be congratulated upon the enterprise shown by them.” The new Bank of Commerce, one of five banks in Newton, was scheduled to open May 1, 1889.

Drawing featured in the Newton Kansan, 19 December 1889

Newton Kansan, 19 December 1889

The Hanna Bros also completed their portion of the block where  W.C. Anderson opened a grocery in June 1889.

Newton Daily Republican, 28 March 1889.

Parris’ timing was bad. The Newton Panic of 1890 struck November 27, and brought down several Newton banks, the Newton Street Railway, and the Electric Light Company as real estate values plummeted.  Parris was one of several Newton businessmen that were bankrupt over night.

Newton Daily Republican, 13 December 1890

After the failure of the Bank of Commerce the building was home to several different businesses.

Parade, 200 Block of Main, east side, ca. 1890.

Powell & Krueger

In 1892, the partnership of Powell and Krueger opened a grocery to 214 Main and at some point  the store was moved to 226 Main.

Newton Kansan 16 July 1896

In his December 31, 1920 obituary, W. A. Krueger was hailed as “one of Newton’s successful businessmen, having been in the general mercantile business at 226 Main for the past twenty-nine years.”

W.A. Krueger Dry Goods, Shoes, Groceries, 226 Main, Newton, ca. 1910.

An early April wind storm caused damage in 1895 to the upper floors which may have been a rooming house with  F.P. Hinkle’s Drug Store on the first floor.

“Two large windows in the second story of the Commerce Block above F.P. Hinkle’s Drug Store on the corner of Main and Third street were blown out about 8 o’clock.. The room was occupied by Will Byers and J.B. Aubrey . . . standing under the glass when it fell, but were not injured.” (Newton Daily Republican, 6 April 1895)

In 1918, a post office sub station was located at Kruegers where “one of the daughters will give the attention desired by the southside patrons.”

Newton Kansan, 10 January 1918.

Main, looking north, ca. 1899.

Corner of Main & 3rd

At some point the cornice was removed and part of the windows bricked over.

200 Block, Main, 1961. Earl Brown Wholesale Candy & Tobacco, 226 Main; Supernois Furniture, 224 Main; Hazel Phillips, PA, 222 Main; Wiens Realty & Carl’s Barber Shop, 218 Main; Stukey’s Beauty Shop, 216 Main, Roxy Theatre, 214 Main.

Most people today likely remember  Supernois Furniture at 224-226 Main.

Supernois Furniture 224 Main, Newton, 1975.

Today, 226 Main is home the the Metcalf Sisters Antique Mall.

Then & Now: 1910 & 1992

Bird’s Eye View looking east down 3rd Street from Main.. Newton Hotel, lower left, Commerce Building 226 Main, German M.E. Church 215 E. 3rd in the background, 1910.

Bird’s-eye view from top floor of the Old Mill looking down E 3rd Street, 1992.

Additional Sources

  • Newton Daily Republican: 21 January 1890