Off Main Street Tours Preview

128 E 6th Street

Newton Carriage WorksToday, 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.

John Jacob Krehbiel Memorial Park

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

Military 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)

1880 Engine in Military Park

Moved to this site in 1955.Steam Locomotive Santa Fe 1880Prairie (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 Middle DivisionsConverted to Oil: September 11, 1941Out of Service: May 2, 1953Placed in Military Park: November 18, 1955Dedicated to City of Newton: August 21, 1956

Axtell Christian Hospital