HomeMy WebLinkAbout301 W. Main Nomination �= lK7NTANA HI.STORICAG/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY #I ayC-tAq 1(D
HISTORIC NAME: Gallatin County Courthouse - iv i
ADDRESS: 301 W. Main
LEGAL BOUNDARY: Tracy's Blk D
Lots 1-9
OWNER'S NAME: Gallatin County Commission
OWNER ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1905, Bozeman, Mr
SPECIFIC DATE: 1935-1936
ARCHITECT: Fred F. Willson
BUILDER: Unknown -
ORIGINAL OWNER: Gallatin County
ORIGINAL USE: courthouse i� 1•� t,,
PRESENT USE: courthouse
UTM REFERENCE: 12/496800/5058260
ACREAGE: less than one _
U.S.G.S. QUAD: Bozeman, 1953
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Applicable Criteria: A and C
Areas of Significance: government,architecture
Number of Contributing Properties: 1
Bozeman's most notable example of the Art Deco style, this monumental regional landmark is
also one of the most significant examples of the work of local architect Fred F. Willson.
The building bears hallmarks of the style such as a large central pavilion, a compositional
emphasis on vertical bay divisions, lettering and other designs cast in the concrete walls
and ornamental, metal spandrels. Willson, -whose practice in,Bozeman lasted from 1900 to
1956, designed the majority of architect-designed buildings in the city during that time,
and many in the surrounding region as well. The new Courthouse was built between 1935 and
1936, although the design probably dates to 1933 - when this project was listed on the Fred
Willson Job List. Across the street stands the Willson School, originally the Gallatin
County High School, to which was built a large addition also designed by Willson. That
addition is of equal impact,- and was built one year later than the Courthouse.
The Gallatin County Courthouse, as well as many of Bozeman's public schools, was built with
PWA assistance during the Great Depression to replace an earlier, 19th century building on
the same site. Although the previous brick Gallatin County Courthouse, which was designed
by architect Byron Vreeland, was only 55 years old, the sponsors of the new building had
the old one condemned in order to justify the cost of new construction. A powerful group
of Bozeman businessmen had formed to promote the city's interests and their attempts to
attract federal money to Bozeman during the Depression met with considerable success.
Prominent names such as Graf, Kenyon, and Chambers dominated the group.
The building remains very well preserved, inside and out, with the exception of some window
replacement that has been accomplished with modern casement units that fit well into the
original window openings.
Gallatin County Courthouse (cont.)
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
This three-story civic building in the Art Deco style has a square plan with bronze panel
spandrels located at the building floor lines in the window friezes. The three-part facade
is symmetrical and consists of a central front entrance with vertical windows patterned
after the entrance on the main level. Many of the original windows were replaced in 1983
using vertical, aluminum retrofit 4-paned windows similar to the original. Operating
sashes in the new windows and air conditioning units are not part of the original design.
The stone construction is finished in limestone veneer with a granite base and sets on a
concrete foundation. Art Deco style stone light bases flank the entrance steps. The flat
roof is of built-up material. A ramp was cut into the granite steps in 1976.
BIBLICGRAPHY: --
Fred Willson Job List: 1933, Job # 3325, "Gallatin County Courthouse - -Bozeman".
Merrill Burlingame, interview, October, 1985
Bozeman Chamber of Commerce, brochure, 1942, p. 16
FORM PREPARED BY: James R. McDonald, P.C. (19 83-84) ; Matthew Cohen (1985-86 revision) ;
_Patricia Bick (1987 revision) , State Historic Preservation Office, 225 No. Roberts, Helena,
Montana 59620 (406) 444-7715