Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Newton – two years ago, in Kansas!

This year, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the City of Newton, Massachusetts, we can be inspired by another wonderful Newton sesquicentennial — celebrated two years ago by our namesake in Kansas. The town of Newton, Kansas — named for Newton, Massachusetts — was built on the site of the first depot of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (AT&SF) Railroad, where the railroad intersected with the great Texas cattle trail. It was incorporated as a city on February 22, 1872 — exactly 152 years ago today.

Two years later, the town of Newton, Massachusetts was incorporated as a city on January 5, 1874, leading to our own sesquicentennial this year.

Newton, KS named for Newton, MA

The railroad town of Newton, Kansas was in fact named for Newton, Massachusetts – the home of key investors and executives of the AT&SF Railroad that was key to the development of the town. Ten of the 14 AT&SF board members were from the Boston area, and five of those were prominent residents of Newton (MA):

• Thomas Nickerson, AT&SF President, lived on Centre Street, opposite what is now Franklin Street, and was treasurer of the Newton Theological Institution. His wife, Sylvina Nickerson, was a co-founder and president of the Woman’s American Baptist Home Mission.
• Alden Speare, AT&SF Director, lived on Waltham Street near Crafts Street, and was the second mayor of Newton (elected twice, the second time without an opposing vote) and vice president of the Newton Atheneum.
• Isaac T. Burr, AT&SF Vice President and Director, lived on Park Street near Church Street and was a bank president, one of the original trustees of the Newton Free Library, and a representative in the Massachusetts General Court. His heirs donated land for the Burr Playground in Newton Corner.
• Charles W. Pierce, AT&SF Secretary, Treasurer and Director, lived on Kenrick Street near the Brighton line and was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
• George B. Wilbur, AT&SF Director, lived on Waltham Street.

How did this connection come about? Thomas Nickerson retired from a successful career in shipping in Boston, became interested in the railroad business, invested in AT&SF, became its president, and along the way recruited other Bostonian investors to complete the funding needed to build the AT&SF railroad to the Colorado line, and later other railways.

The AT&SF Railroad needed to build its track to the Colorado state line by March 3, 1873 to win the company’s federal land-grant ownership of ten square miles for each mile of track built along the route. Initially, the track stopped four miles short of the state line due to errors in surveying, but it was extended to the true state line — just two months before the deadline — allowing the AT&SF Railroad to secure land-grant ownership of half of the land within ten miles on either side of its rail lines across Kansas. AT&SF thus came to own land in a checkerboard of square-mile sections totaling almost three million acres.

The Massachusetts investors in AT&SF ended up having considerable influence in Kansas: Along the path of the land grants, the Kansas towns of Nickerson, Spearville, Burrton, and Pierceville were named for the corresponding AT&SF Directors who resided in Newton (MA), and the towns of Cheney, Coolidge, Peabody, and Raymond were named for other Boston-based AT&SF board members/investors. Three of the first fifteen AT&SF locomotives were named for Newton (MA) residents: the Thomas Nickerson, the Alden Speare, and the I. T. Burr. And the town of Newton (KS) was named for the town of Newton (MA).

Newton, KS Sesquicentennial

In 2022, Newton, Kansas pulled out all the stops to celebrate its 150th anniversary – with the tagline “Waiting on trains since 1872.” Events included:

• 150th Birthday Party on February 22 (2-22-22): a free, come-and-go event with snacks, crafts, entertainment by local musical groups;
• A series of “Untold Stories” about local history finally told throughout a week in April at the Newton Public Library;
• A ribbon cutting on June 4 to celebrate a new historical mural to serve as a gateway to the downtown historic district;
• The Summer Bash – a downtown block party on June 4 with food trucks, street dance, beer garden, bounce houses, and a Ferris Wheel on Main Street;
• A golf tournament on September 30; and
• A time capsule sealed and dedicated at City Hall on December 8.

Newton (KS) sesquicentennial memorabilia items included wooden whistles that mimic the sound of train whistles, toy locomotives, golf balls, stickers, drink cozies, tote bags, pins, Christmas ornaments, and two styles of T-shirts.

Newton, MA Sesquicentennial

Newton (MA) kicked off a year of celebrating our 150th anniversary with a birthday party in the War Memorial Auditorium of City Hall on January 1 (see NewTV video), following the inauguration of the new City Council and School Committee. The celebration featured birthday cakes cut by Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and Police Chief John Carmichael, a brief history of the incorporation of Newton as a city, live music, costumed snowman and bear characters, tours of City Hall, and a juggling performance for kids.

Newton’s year-long celebration has just started!

Greetings from Newton, Kansas: Mayor Rod Kreie of Newton, Kansas sent this message to Newton, Massachusetts:

On behalf of the community of Newton, Kansas, I’d like to wish Newton, Massachusetts, all the best on your sesquicentennial. Our city’s celebration in 2022 was such a fun year, with our community coming together to honor our history, our progress, and all it means to be a Newtonian. To our namesake city back east, congratulations on 150 years and thanks for lending us your name!

Mayor Rod Kreie
Newton, Kansas

Greetings from Newton, Massachusetts: Mayor Ruthanne Fuller sent this message to Mayor Rod Kreie of Newton, Kansas:

A big hello to Mayor Rod Kreie and the Newtonians of Newton, KS. Thank you for your warm anniversary wishes as we begin the celebration of our 150th official year as the City of Newton, MA. We’re somehow both your older and your younger sibling as you’re named by a group of Massachusetts Newtonians who forged their way west building a railroad. It’s now our turn to follow the lead of our namesake, as Newton, Kansas celebrated their sesquicentennial two years ago in grand style. We’re going to have lots of fun and lots of gatherings to celebrate. Come for a visit!

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller
Newton, Massachusetts

Newton (MA) 150th Birthday Party– January 1, 2024