Clay Center was home to the Spic & Span Store, Inc., a hardware chain that was in operation for nearly 96 years. The company went out of business in 1930, at which time they donated a mower to the local high school as a “farewell gift.” It was presented to the school’s caretaker of the time, Mr. Webb.

At that time, the store was purchased by an employee at the WD Vincent Hardware Store in Junction City. 

In total, there were eight Spic & Span Store locations, to include Ottawa, Chanute, Concordia, Marysville, McPherson, Manhattan, and their headquarters in Topeka. 

The Manhattan store was the last to open, in 1929, and hosted a grand sale that offered a steel paring knife for $.25. For women, it was free with purchase. 

Sitting at 428 Lincoln, the building was erected in 1887 in the Italiante architecture style. 

Today, the building now serves as an attorneys’ office. In the 90s it was a hair salon, then a joint insurance and tax preparation office, before undergoing a facelift that changed the exterior of the building.  

Historically its neighbor at 436 Lincoln, was known as the Boston Clothing Co. Building and was built in 1884. While hosting Boston Clothing Co., a men’s clothing store, its phone number was 179. 

In 1916 they sold suits from $15-$27. ($434 to 781 today.) The same year, they offered a prize of Carhartt overalls and jacket for the best 10 ears of corn at the county fair. The following year was a $3 hat (today that’s nearly $74). 

It has also undergone front layout changes and now serves as the office for State Farm.

Coleman Shoes was also located at the same address, as was the longstanding floral shop, We Three Flowers, which was owned by Martha “Mickey” Snideman and her daughter and son-in-law, Emalu Browning and Jr. Bigler. The shop opened in 1979, and soon after Snideman had the upstairs converted into an apartment in which she lived. 

Next door sat Morlong’s Optometry. The door to enter the apartment can still be seen to the west of the building today.