J.S. Dillon Archives - Harvey County Historical Society

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.