K.P. Castle Block

226 South Summit Street

The three-story stone building at 226 S. Summit St., now occupied by Schmidt Jewelers, was constructed in 1889.

It was known as the K.P. Castle Block. K.P. stood for the Knights of Pythias, a secretive men’s fraternal order that met on the third floor of the building.

The K.P. Block replaced a previous structure known as the Pottle Building, named for the W.H. Pottle Dry Goods Company that operated there.

By 1928, the K.P. Block also was called the Whittle Building, for the family that owned it.

In addition to the K.P. hall on the third floor, there was a clothing store operating on the ground level and a bowling alley in the basement, according to the 1890 Sanborn Fire Insurance map of downtown Arkansas City. 

By the end of the first decade of the 1900s, The Globe, a ready-to-wear women’s clothing store, occupied the ground floor.

Incorporated as part of the store was Lessem Mercantile, and in 1909, The Globe provided added room for the Lessem store’s expanded stock of women’s hats.

By 1910 or 1911, L.D. Mitchell, a dentist, had an office in the building. 

The K.P. and dentist are not listed as occupying the building on the 1920 Sanborn Fire Insurance map, which shows a clothing and millinery store and furnished rooms on the third floor.

In October 1926, the Brown & Miller Furniture Co. held an open house after remodeling the 226 S. Summit St. building. 

The entire building, from the basement to the third floor, was occupied by the furniture company.

In the late 1960s until 1974, Richardson Interiors operated at 226 S. Summit  St. before moving to a North Summit Street location.

In 1999,  Arkansas City native Luke Schmidt announced the opening of Schmidt Jewelers at the 226 S. Summit St. location.

This vernacular-style structure with Richardsonian Romanesque influences features arched windows and masonry rustication, fitting for one of the oldest surviving buildings in Ark City.