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Home My WebLink About120 S. Black Nomination United States Department of the Interior <<= : �' National Park Service �� - - --�- - F For NPS use National Register of Historic Places _.__:_rec-e-i-- Inventory--Nomination Form ed - enter ' date a . . :. : See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms v ? °' _,L ti �ws Type all entries—complete applicable sections i Name C a historic Blackmore Apartments and/or common l 2. Location street & number 120 South Black iE �c nanot for publication city, town Bozeman n �aricinity of r state Montana code 01 county Gallatin code 3. Classification011 Category Ownership Status ., district �public x Present Use x occupied agriculture building(s) xprivate � unoccupied — museum structure —both work in progress —commercial —park site Public Acquisition Accessible —educational —private resident f object — In process entertainment —religious yes: restricted —government —scientific being considered yes: unrestricted — industrial _ n a —no transpartatiorql military other: rant al-� 4. Owner of Property en ai_ name Page and Suzanne Wellcome street& number101 Sourdough Ridge Road City, town Bozeman itavicinity of state Montana 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds,etc. street& number Main $tregt city,town Bozeman state f. Representation in Existing surveys title none has this property been determined eligible? yes x nc date federal —state —county loca depository for survey records city,town ___.__ state 7. . Description Condition Check one Check one excellent deteriorated —unaltered original site �good ruins x altered moved date —fair unexposed It 1% Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance The Blackmore Apartments has served Bozeman as a private apartment complex since its construction in 1913. Overall, the building retains a high degree of historic arch- itectural integrity. A comparison of the present appearance of the building with historical photographs (ca. early 1920's) and the original facade elevations drafted by Fred Willson in 1912 indicates that few alterations have occurred in the exterior detailing beyond the enclosure of the first and secondlevel exterior balconies with fixed, multipaned glass, the enclosure of the exterior openings to the southern stair- _ ways with fixed, single--paned glass, the replacement of the original doors at the pri- mary entrances on the two building wings, and the removal of the original brick retaining wall 'and brick light standards which once defined and enhanced the building's courtyard. It appears that the copper marquises and flower boxes with trellis window surrounds, as called for in Willson's plans, were never installed. The building is presently in very good condition and has been well maintained over the years. The Blackmore Apartments is U-shaped, three stories in height, and features a daylight basement. The building is of concrete construction with red brick running bond veneer. Every fifth brick course at the basement level is recessed, giving the base a rusticated and more substantial appearance. This pattern terminates at the level of the first floor concrete window sills, where a sol.diar course encircles the building. Above . this point, the brick is laid in running bond until the walls reach just above the win- dows of the third and uppermost level. The cornice treatment on the slightly projecting brick parapet reflects -a Prairie Style design influence. The horizontal band formed by the cornice line unifies and ties the main body and the projecting wings of the building together. The parapet wall is terminated by a continuous concrete coping which serves both as a material seal and as a visual stop. The sides of the building which do not face a public street are faced with a brick of different texture, color and lesser quality. A portion of the rear of the building was never gaced with brick, but remains a bare concrete wall. The three facades of the building which face into the courtyard are vertically divided by projecting three story wooden porches that are painted a cream color. As mentioned, the lower two levels of these porches have been enclosed with glass while the third level remains a ,balcony. The original balustrades have been left in place at each level. Each of t:he enclosed porches is separated at the center of a full wall which provides for a private, separate sun room for each apartment. Access to the sunrooms and the balconie is obtained through French doors. The main entrancesto the building are located in the center of each of the building wings and at the pointswhere the wings and the main body of the building join. At these corner locations, the entrances are recessed with recessed balconies above. Once inside the building, access to the upper and lower levels and the rear exits is provided by cast iron stairs. Entrances to each apartment apd the outdoor balconies set in the corners are located at each landing. The exterior entrances to the wing portions of the building are defined by the three level projections at the center of the wings. Multi-light windo provide daylighting for the centrally located public stairways in these projections. The window treatment of these projections features half -round windows at the top. To either side of the wing entries and stairs are located additional private, enclosed sunrooms wit balconies again at the third level. 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance—Check and justify below prehistoric archeology-prehistoric X community planning landscape architecture— religion 1400-1499 archeology-historic conservation law s,c fence 1500-1599 —agriculture economics literature sdulpture T 1600-1699 x architecture _education _military _social/ 1700-1799 art ____engineering — music humanitarian 1 B00-1899 —commerce _exploration/settlement philosophy theater X 190U- communications industry _politics/government _transportation Invention _ other(specify) Specific dates Builder/Architect Fred -.;r architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Newspaper headlines in 1913 announced the plans for the first apartment building to be bui in Bozeman, Montana had been drafted by the local, noted architect, Fred Willson. The cam pletion of this commodious building heralded a new era in residential construction in the community. Described in 1914 as having all the finest, most up-to-date conveniences, incl ing kitchens equipped with electric stoves and ice boxes, a chute to take the garbage to t basement where it was burned in the heating apparatus which also heated the water for the building, and rear doors for deliveries, the Blackmore Apartments housed many of the growi number of well-to-do professional people who were, at: that time establishing themselves it Bozeman. All units of the Blackmore were designed to be spacious, with a choice among fil room, four-room, or two-room units. The Bozeman Investment Company, which constructed anc owned the building for many years, consisted of prominent local citizens who were committe to the longterm growth and development of Bozeman as a stable, active, and innovative com- munity. The members of this group were businessmen George Cox, T.B. Story, O.E. Myers, Sudge W.R.C. Stewart, and Fred Willson. In conjunction with the construction of the Black more and the YWCA Building which was completed a few years later, streets of Bozeman were undergoing the dramatic change from dirt roads to paved streets, illustrating a committ- ment by residents to the permanence and prosperity of the community. This period was one of substantial growth and the Blackmore Apartments stand as a significant testimony to the period. Fred Willson the architect of the Blackmore Apartments played a significant role in the dE elopment of Bozeman, as well as the nearby communities of Three Forks and Belgrade. A nat of Bozeman, born in 1877, Willson studied at Montana State College and later transferred t Columbia University where, in 1902, he graduated with a degree in architecture. Willson c tinned his studies at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. After working with the New York of Vissher and Burley, Willson returned to Montana and worked for the firm of Link and Hai in Butte for four years before opening his own office in Bozeman. For over fifty years, F Willson was Bozeman's most prominent architect. Local architiects often play an extra- ordinarily important role in the shaping of the character of small Montana cities, and the influence of Fred Willson is still very evident on most of the major streets of the city t The Blackmore Apartment building was named for Lord and Lady Blackmore who, while travelli to Yellowstone Park, stayed over night with General and Mrs. Lester Willson. Lady Blackmo became ill and died at the Willson home. The Blackmores had agreed that .should either of them die on a trip, they would be buried at that place. In commemoration of his wife and in appreciation of the kind of reception they received in Bozeman, Lord Blackmore bought seven and ore half acres east of town and donated it to the city to be used as a cemete.ry. 9: Major Bibliographical References National Register Nomination: Belgrade City Hall, June 1, 1981 prepared by Kingston Heat Plans : Blackmore Apartments Plan (copy) 1913.- Sandborn Fire Insurance Maps, September 1912, and September 1927, (Bozeman) Newspapers: Republican Courier, 1/23/13, & 4/23/13; Weekly Courier, 1/14/14, 4�1/14, & 6 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property approx. one-half acre Quadrangle name RozamaM Quadrangle scale 1,62500 UMT References i A L. 2j 14[9]7 4 0 0 5 10 I5 18 �0 15 10 B Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing C W I I i I L ,L 1? W I t I l l l l 1 E F L_L J c W L l t 1 _ l l i l t �!.._� H Verbal boundary description and justification see attached sheet List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state n/a code county code state code county code Form Prepared By namettitle Suzanne Wellcome, Kelly Ritter . organization date February 22, 1983 136 East Main telephone 406-586--4747 � street �number p city or.town Bozeman state Montana 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state Is: i national — state focal As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966(Public Law 89-- 665), 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature U title fl ' "' S t�Q�• date -�J „For NPS use only . . ax�7 # :[hereby certify that this property is Included In the National Register date Keeper of the National Register - r f Attest: date NPS Form 10.900•m OMB No.1024-0018 f A Exp.4O-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NPs use only National Register of Historic Places' eceive E Inventory—Nomination Form date entered pp yx Continuation sheet Item number 7 Page 1 Almost all of the windows in the building are of 3/1, double hung construction, set in asymmetrical pattern, both singly and in pairs. Even the basement windows conform to this sash configuration. The formal ordering of the building breaks down to some degree on the side and rear facades. Here, the placement of the windows responds more directly to function and the .rear exits are provided with wooden fire escapes. r .r 1 NPS Form 10-900•rr OMB No.1024-0018 a821 Exp.10-31-d4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NP5 use only National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form dateentered Continuation sheet Item number 7 Page 1 The original house had five full baths and a � bath on the main floor. The bath- rooms were tiled about three-fourths of the way up the walls and the remainder, plastered. The floors of the second floor baths are covered with Italian octagon tiles. The orig- inal silver plated light fixtures on either side of the mirrors, the inset medicine cab- inets, and the tdwel racks still remain. The house' s interior has been altered. Today there are six apartments. The major al- terations other than those listed above include a bath in the hall area leading from the portd cochere. The large opening from the library and dining room into the entrance hall has been enclosed. The original kitchen on the main floor was divided into a kitchen on the northside and a bedroom on the south. The south living room has been divided to accomodate a kitchen, the sunroorrb and a corner- bedroom. The billard room and thF the wine cellar, which was a small area under the front porch, is now a kitchen. The attic, with its sloped roof, is the sixth apartment. A kitchen has been added, but the bath is the same, with plaster-etched "tiles" three-fourths of the way up the wall. In all of the baths the original tubs and sinks remain. The ceilings on the two main floors arq approximately 101 in height. • The property was originally one half block in size. The house is situated on the north- west end of the block. The three car garage which faces north on the east end of the property, is not included in this nomination. The remainder of the yard to the east was once a tennis court, which in the winter was used as an ice rink for the youngsters in '. the neighborhood. NVS Form 10-OW-P OM6 No.1024-OO1$ 042) Exp.10-31-d4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NPs use only' National Register of Historic Places received • Inventory—Nomination Form gate entered Continuation sheet Item number 8 Page 1 of a large and elaborately appointed residence, designed by Gibson and responsive to these two popular architectural traditions of the early Twentieth Century. • KPS Form 10.900-a OMS No.1024-0018 r 1 Exp.10-w-m United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NPS use only National Register of Historic Places receives Inventory—Nomination Form ` date entered Continuation sheet Biblidgraphical Item number 9 page I Stout, Tom, Editorial Supervisor, History of Montana Page 349: The American Historical Society 1921 INTERVIEWS H. 0. Worden, nephew, used to drive Mr. Sterling and Anaconda and Power Company officials to duck hunting lodge at Ravalli. Various interviews 1982-1983. Margaret Sterling Brooke, Ronan, neice. 4/10/83. Dr. R. A. Sterling, Missoula, great nephew. 4/8/83. Robert T. Sterling, Polson, nephew, 11/10/82. Mrs. Barry Hogarty, Billings, Montana, daughter, 11/2/82 and 4/10/83. Mrs. Richard Loughran, Asheville, North Carolina, daughter, 4/10/83. Mrs. John Boyle, Missoula, grandaughter 11/2/82. Mrs. Lillian Cyr Ferrlan, Missoula, nurse who cared for Mr. Sterling the last two years of his life, she lived in the house. • NPS Form ID-W a OMB No.1O24-O01B p.821 Exp.10-31-d4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NP5 use.only z National Register of Historic. Places recel Ve d F Inventory---Nomination Form date entered Continuation sheet Item number 10 Page 1 Verbal Boundary description and justification Following is the legal description: Lots 1, 2, 3, .4, 6, and 7, and that portion of Lot 5 of Block B of Black's Addition to the City of Bozeman, Montana described as: Beginning at a point on the West line of said Lot 5, 12� feet South from the Northwest corner of said Lot 5, thence extend- ing South along the west boundary of said Lot 5, a distance of 16 feet; thence along the south boundary of Lot 5 a distance of 140 feet to the east boundary thereof, thence North along the east boundary of Lot 5 a distance of 28� feet to the Northeast corner of said lot;: thence West along the North boundary of a said Lot 5, for a distance of 20 feet; thence South 12' feet; thence West a distance of. 120 feet to the point of begin- ning, according to the map and plat thereof on file and 'on record in the office of the County Clerk and Recorder of Gallatin County, Montana. ° f Blackmore Apartments Bozeman, PIT West Side Photo : Suzanne Sdellcome Neg: PIT Historical Society March 1983 BOZFMAN QUADRANGLE MONTANX—GALLATIN Co. 1.9k0k 15 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) Klb 193 5' 194 1 197 * 600 EEt r 00 1 lam_ S db. W45' 15 Aq hyon ;Pas %1166 CO I Beek 610 COO FFFT Pit s plv x A 1 22 23 24 TA'alley Center t02 0 ems= Giy• 5064 r 4.."0 j: 2 25- 30 29' Blackmore Apartments age "Of-- Bozeman, M'r UTM References: 8wen 12/497400/5058050 ssn �4 34 6 E 6ao —31 36 u Township 2S; Range 6E Harper Wades "4729 MAIO School'4' 'A 471 P'l !F atron Section 7 #713 al *71(k - 2 5%0 It A ROAD J1 N[\; J IL N 1059 4 BOZEMAk�":" (ale lo -jk,'L T ofty J 13D' -J� 41 � .JC-OjTl�l Sunset L it Hills Country Club j Cry 466, E r 01 4 14 'k. IjI ljj .0 99 A IF M i0i P,q. P.1 r 1,fa 7-7 M Jn ueu ri ,- - �-M0 MONTANA HISTORICAL SO CALTY H HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE 225 NORTH ROBERTS STREET* (406)449-4584• HELENA,MONTANA 59601 i ! Marcella Sherfy, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer 225 North Roberts Helena, MT 59620 Dear Marcella, This is to confirm that I am fully aware of the effects of listing a property in the National Register of Historic Places. I recognize that, under the National Historic Preservation Act I am entitled to object to the proposed listing of my property by notarized writtet statement. If I am the sole owner and I object, my property will not be listed. If there are multiple owners of this property and one of the owners objects, the property will not be listed. Following is the address of my property: 120 South Black Bozeman , MT 50715 I hereby concur in and request I do not concur in and re— that my property be listed in gikest that my property not the National. Register of His be listed in the National tor.ic Places. As part of my Register of Historic Places. concurrence, I hereby waive my right to object to the Signed, proposed listing. Signed, Notarized by: Date: 15 March 1983 (Notary signature is needed for all objections to National Register listing.) • 1,, +;.. rr 73'G'�"'�1�!' 1y1F' f :.qqrr4 .� i 1••r �'�� art' i ',I.• 1 SMIN „�;h t. `ter �� '�` •-,''-a , � ,.. �..• y.i g� fir. T ia;;" }••.. .wi .r.. •"'... r fe.4.L.( JI 31 i A. }lY�-J��"IM - h�,.�.�. M.- �.wr '.��.. ,- �• " "'fit�� ;Tt4'JY�'" �.. i°'SY�'� r'"� +"+i.- v � 7, #e;M} v „t� �` i�'i k��4 'r. 11� �' T �',..r.�i •r��,s��,,�' r - k �' ..4� r- �.��}:d�;�4 }}��' �}�T r.�1 �Y} F y < t~� � s i� ��.7 sae+ 't•"��}'x."Pi"wen":. 1 1 .t { ass .` t�6t<�',�f,L,,��!frt S.YtA,. 'ws '' akS p � - — '�I'fi� �1 i A•• r. y, t. ID LI.�; Blackmore Apartments Bozeman, MT South side Photo: Suzanne Wellcome 4 Neg: MT Historical Society March 1983 1 • I , i i E � o i !1 Blackmore Apartments j' Bozeman, i•Tr Looking northeast Photo: Suzanne Wellcome. Neg: MT Historical Society March 1983 i