Off Main Street Tours Preview

Newton Carriage Works

Today, the Newton Carriage Works, is an art gallery with the name Carriage Factory.

In 1879, John Jacob Krehbiel come to Newton, Ks with his family from Iowa. He purchased tha Angood Blacksmith shop on E 6th with his partner, George L. Epps. In 1883, he bought out Epps and turned the business into a carriage factory, using skills he had learned as a wagon maker and wheelwright for the Union Army in the Civil War.

Krehbiel was active in the Newton community. He was one of the founding directors of Bethel College, N. Newton. He also provided support for the Bethel Mennonite Deaconess Hospital founded in 1908.

To the east of the building is the John Jacob Krehbiel Memorial Park. The same fence that original surrounded his home, now surrounds the park.

The factory fell into disrepair over the years, but in the 1990s descendants and local supporters worked to restore the building. The building was deeded to the Newton Fine Arts Center in 1993.

East of the Carriage Factory is the John Jacob Krehbiel Memorial Park. The same fence that original surrounded his home, now surrounds the park.

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 up, the Newton Town Co, would deed the ground to the city with the provision that "the property should be perpetually maintained as public parks." (Newton Kansan 50th Anniversary Ed., 22 August 1922)

First known as East Park, and then Military Plaza, the Commercial Club formally named the park, Military Park in 1898.

(Kristine Schmucker)

Moved to this site in 1955.

Steam Locomotive Santa Fe 1880

• Prairie (2-6-2) Type
• Built: Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, PA, August 1907
• Cost: $24,500,000
• Miles Run: 1,022,667
• Used in freight service: Missouri-Eastern-Southern Kansas Middle Divisions
• Converted to Oil: September 11, 1941
• Out of Service: May 2, 1953
• Placed in Military Park: November 18, 1955
• Dedicated to City of Newton: August 21, 1956