Matlack Building and Addition

201-203 South Summit Street / 109 West Fifth Avenue

The oldest building in Arkansas City’s Downtown Historic District — as listed in the 2017 resurvey by Brenda Spencer, of Spencer Preservation — is the Matlack Building, located at 201 S. Summit St. It was built in 1880.

It has been a drug store under the names of Albert’s, Long’s, and Sollitt & Swarts in previous years, and currently operates as Taylor Drug. In its earliest years, it was a dry goods store owned by Stacey Matlack, for whom the building was named. The adjacent brick building at 203 S. Summit St. was constructed by 1884.

The two buildings together are among the earliest brick structures built in Arkansas City.

At the time they were built, 203 was a one-story structure, while its neighbor to the north was two stories. 

A second story was added to 203 S. Summit St. by 1925, when C.R. Anthony Dry Goods occupied the ground floor; the top floor was occupied by a law office and investment company.

Matlack operated the dry goods store at 201 S. Summit St. from about 1879 until 1891. He was regarded as one of the most prominent, reliable and discreet pioneer businessmen in town.

In 1887, the Matlack Building was extended to the west, and a two-story extension was built with a front entrance facing Fifth Avenue. But hard times struck unexpectedly for Matlack in early 1891, when the American National Bank failed. The bank was put under receivership, and the receiver broke an agreement to help the respected businessman.

That situation broke Matlack, both in spirit and financially. He left town for Oregon and was thought to have settled in Portland.

By the mid-1890s, the Sollitt & Swarts drug store had moved into the Matlack Building from a location in the Colorado Building across the street.

Christopher C. “Kit” Sollitt came to Ark City in 1884 and became a prominent businessman and member of the city council before he died in 1928. Harry Long, who had started working at the store in 1907 as an errand boy and janitor while still in high school, bought the store in partnership with John Parker in June 1919.

Long acquired Parker’s interest in 1928 and became owner of a half-interest in the building; the other half was owned by the Swarts heirs.

Long became a registered pharmacist in 1917.

Like Sollitt before him, he also became a prominent businessman and civic leader. He served on the City Commission and as mayor. He concluded a 38-year career at the drug store in May 1945, when he sold the business to Bob Johnson.

The store continued in business as Long’s Drug until March 1962, when Albert Clemente moved his drug store from the Burford building to 201 S. Summit St. and combined his prescription stock with that of Long’s.

Albert’s Drug continued in operation until Clemente’s retirement in 1983, after 32 years as a merchant and civic leader in downtown Ark City.

“If there ever was a downtown businessman who did more for Arkansas City than Albert Clemente, that person is a well-kept secret,” wrote Stu Osterthun, The Arkansas City Traveler’s managing editor, in a story featuring Clemente in 1991.

In 1983, Clemente turned the business over to pharmacist Fred Taylor and Albert’s became Taylor Drug. Another prominent downtown business owner operated a men’s clothing store at 203 S. Summit St., the adjacent building to the south of Taylor Drug. Jack Kelley owned and operated Kelley-Gray Men’s Wear for 46 years, starting in 1940. 

Through the years, Kelley served on the City Commission (and was mayor from 1951 to 1955), as Arkalalah chairman for seven years, on the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and as the first president of the Arkansas City Industries Corporation.

Built in the early 20th century Italianate style, the Matlack Building is another key building in the Downtown Historic District.

It features corbeled trim and a stepped parapet top.

As for the Matlack Building Addition at what is now 109 W. Fifth Ave., early pictures show this structure having Queen Anne influence, with a distinctive turret roof area just behind the center arched window.

The sign “Matlack” was moved from an earlier building front at 201 S. Summit St. to its present location facing Fifth Avenue. This addition features arched hooded molds over the second-floor windows and its use of window groupings creates a symmetrical façade accompanying its elaborate cornice and corbeling.