Creswell Building

300 South Summit Street

In 1884, a two-story frame structure occupied by a luncheonette was on the lot at 300 S. Summit St.

In 1886, the site contained a two-story brick structure called the Creswell Building, with a basement and a frame awning.

A drug store occupied the first level and a billiards room was in the basement.

In 1898, A.H. Fitch’s music store was located at 300 S. Summit St.

A furniture store occupied the first level in 1905 and the building’s name was changed to the Trimper Building.

A new address appeared on the north side of the building (101 E. Washington Ave.) and an undertaker was on the second level.

An elevator also was installed by this time.

The People’s Store, a department store managed by W.S. Carter, occupied 300 S. Summit St. in 1925.

In 1928, W.T. Head opened the Brownbilt shoe store, selling Buster Brown shoes at that address.

Two years later, Ted Hedges bought the store.

In 1933, Hedges announced he had completed a course in foot culture and he began offering lightweight arch supports for customers.

In 1947, Froelich Shoes opened a store at 227 S. Summit St. and sold several shoe brands, including Buster Browns.

This store was located at 300 S. Summit St. from about 1966 until 1969, by which time the store had changed names to Taylor’s Shoe Store.

Shear Success salon operated at the South Summit storefront from 1989 until at least 2016.

Remedies Salon and Boutique has operated at the location in more recent years, and a separate hair and nail salon has occupied the East Washington storefront.

The two-story brick building built in the Commercial Vernacular style has been altered significantly through the years.

The segmentally arched window heads have been boarded up and downsized, and the corbeled trim is obscured by a large fixed awning and replacement storefront.

Although this currently is listed as a contributing building, these changes make it likely that it would become noncontributing if the district is ever amended, despite its status as one of the oldest buildings still standing in Arkansas City.