then and now

posted on 27 July 2010

This post is linked to Wednesday’s Walk. Click the link to join in with your own walk down memory lane.

Last week I promised I would do a “then and now” post with a few of the photos from my Dad’s albums. I had found three that had subjects in them that still exist today.

This first photo is the grain elevator over on East Broadway Street (center of town)… the left is 1930s, the right is now. I showed a gentleman at the elevator my Dad’s photo and he assured me it’s the same grain elevator, just with several building changes over time. I couldn’t get the photo taken at the same angle as Dad’s due to lots of trees in the way!

Across the street (behind me as I took the grain elevator photo), is the grounds of the Newton Public Library. On the south side of the library is a Civil War cannon and cannon balls. Here are two “then” photos of those with some of Dad’s pals from the 1940s being goofy. Notice the homes and trees in the background.

And here is the “now” photo of the cannon and balls. You can see the library replaced all the trees and homes that used to be in the area.

There is a plaque that was placed with the cannon in 1922 by the local historical society (photo below). It reads:

“Coastal Defense Cannon. A Civil War Memorial. This cannon used in coastal defense during the Civil War was secured through the efforts of Judson Kilpatrick Post No. 36, G. A. R. and Congressman Chester I. Long. Presented to Mayor George W. Young for City of Newton by Hon. J. G. Wood, Topeka, on behalf of Post No. 36 on Oct. 4, 1899. At this ceremony “East Park” was rededicated “Military Park” and is so known today. On Oct. 5, 1899, a city wide celebration and parade were held by the citizens of Newton in honor of the dedication of this Civil War Memorial. Harvey County Historical Society. 1922.”

And lastly, the photo on the left below shows a couple fellows playing in Sand Creek in the late 1930s, long before the city of Newton reconstructed the whole creek corridor from north to south in 2008, which is the photo on the right. Everyone in town knows this as the First Street Bridge. I’m standing on the bike/walking path in Athletic Park to take the photo.

Hope you’re enjoying these photos as much as I enjoy sharing them with you! And I do still have plenty more for future posts. Later, kids!