HomeMy WebLinkAbout24 W. Mendenhall Nomination MONTANA HISTORICAL/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY #s -
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HISTORIC NAME: Bozeman Armory
=- ADDRESS: 24 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman
LEGAL BOUNDARY: Tracy's Blk A, Lots 17-21 -
OWNER'S NAME: State of Montana Armory Board
Adjutant General
Armory Building
.OWNER ADDRESS: 24 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman Y '
SPECIFIC DATE: 1940-1941 44= 1�! €fir''
ARCHITECT: Fred F. Willson I "'' IT-I
BUILDER: Unknown
ORIGINAL OWNER. State of Montana �y«
Armory Board ; yy `
_ORIGINAL USE: Armory _ _ ll � 'll
PRESENT USE: Armory
UTM REFERENCE: 12/497100/5058300
ACREAGE: less than one °-
U.S.G.S. QUAD: Bozeman, 1953
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STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Applicable Criteria: A and C
- Areas of Significance: government, architecture
Number of Contributing Properties: 1 _The Bozeman Armory is of exceptional significance as one of only a few examples of the Art
- , Deco style in Bozeman, and one of only three buildings directly associated with World War
.II. Like virtually all major, architect-designed buildings in the city, this one was
designed by Fred F. Willson.- Bozeman's prolific local architect whose career spanned from
1910-1956.
The armory was built as part of a nationwide response to the Japanese attack on Pearl =
Harbor. The $off Daily Cbcoaicle commented in 1942, just before the building was -
dedicated: "At least this spacious, $137,661 reinforced, monolithic, concrete structure of
modern and functional design represents this community's resolve that never again shall our
nation be caught off-guard and ill-prepared to meet the enemies of democracy. "
The building was constructed as a WPA project, sponsored by the Montana Armory Board, as
the home for the Bozeman National Guard units of Montana's 163rd Infantry, which was in
combat at the time of construction. It was one of six built in Montana, the construction
of which were announced by the state legislature in 1940. -_ - - - -- -
Built to the specifications ofthe War Department, the 128'x 108' armory, which was to -
provide "up-to-the-minute" protection, contained several novel features. Among the F
National Guard facilities were a maple block drill floor running the full width of the
building, capable of accommodating military trucks as well. The blocks were laid in
contrasting patterns, with no nails or glue. In the basement was a rifle range. A sound
proof music room was built for the 163rd Infantry Regimental Band, and general facilities
such as offices, lounges, and an officers' club were also included. Public facilities such
as a Chamber of Commerce Room, meeting rooms and lounges were also included. The design
originated with the Armory Board's Architects, Hugenin & Associates, whose resident
architect was Fred Willson, and WPA Engineers. _ - -
The war years posed certain problems to completion of the building. Materials were
-- difficult to obtain, ' and construction personnel, mostly WPA workers who gained skills on
the job, were constantly being absorbed by private industry. Travertine and terrazzo work
"originally specified by Willson had to be abandoned due to the difficulty of obtaining
_skilled workmen and necessary materials. -- _
The building remains well preserved today, and in use as an armory. The other three -
buildings in the city associated with World War U are the American Legion Building (1948) ,
225 E. Main, and the west wing of the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, built in 1944 as a nurse
training facility.
-PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: _This detached two story commercial building is a reinforced, cast concrete structure that ~
exhibits elements of the Art Deco style of architecture, such as the linear and hard edges
of the building and the vertical emphasis of the windows and entrance. --The metal sash
casement windows were popular in the period as were the chevrons and decorative elements of
- the facade. - —The central entrance oriented toward West Mendenhall Street is flanked by massive concrete
piers. The original doors have been replaced with modern aluminur# frame glass doors, and
this remains the only major alteration to the building. 'A pair of original cylindrical
light fixtures are set to each side of the doorway. The overall facade organization is
symmetrical, with vertical 9-light, metal sash windows set at the daylight basement level, -
and sets of 12-light, double metal casements with 12-light transoms on the first and second
—level. The north section of the building has a flat roof while the roof of the south half T
is a barrel vault, which covers the drill room/gymnasium.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
—Fred Willson Job List: 1939, Job # 3928, Job # 3949; 1940, Job # 4059.1 -
Bozeman Daily ale, April 14,-`1942, Vol. XXXI, No. 113, Sec. 21 pp. 9-16 - - -
FORM PREPARED BY: James R. McDonald, P.C. (1983-84) ; Matthew Cohen (1985-86 revision) ;��` - -
Patricia Bick (1987 revision) , State Historic Preservation Office, 225 No. Roberts, Helena,
_Montana 59620 (406) 444-7715
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