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Home My WebLink About312 E Main 1985 AGN`ANA HISTORICAL AND _ ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY [Site Legal Description: gg final Totqnsitt, LQ t s 13. 1!.Qr t i on W 16 i of 14-L13I1c_C Address:__ 312 East Main �� k Ownership:name Oscar R. Burt — ;,rivate address: 612 West Story Roll>K 78 Frame N 6 pu[ihr. ,��l �'(�►�pIFW 144tL_. Historic Name: Featherston Block i r Common Name: Unknown r I 171 estimated Illi��lk t �y ur Date of Construction: 1898 JZJ documented Architect:— Unknown L LJ r Y— (� Builder: Unknown�� Original Owner. Dr. •J. H. Featherston Original Use: Milling; Post Office/Stationary Present Use: Commercial Structure Research Sources: ❑ abstract of title ❑ city directories I 1 I El plat records/maps ❑ sewer/water permits I I ❑ obituaries ❑ tax cards W i I J ❑ building permit ❑ biographies ® Sanborn maps—dales• 1904 — �� w Bibliography: Avant Courier, 3-26-1898, Ellsworth. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Describe present appearance of structure/site,then contrast and compare that with it's original appearance, noting additions,alterations,and changes in materials.Discuss significant architectural features. This two-story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with a symmetrical facade of three entries inset between storefront windows . The upper story is divided into seven bays, each with one double-hung window. The middle window is larger than the others, and two windows on one end are joined to form a double size window. There is a continuous sandstone sill across the front and a flat arch above each window. The brick construction is finished in stucco on the first floor and features an elaborate brick corbeling forming the cornice. Brick pilasters between each window continue the cornice design. The axis of the roof is perpendicular to the street. - 1 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Justify how the persons,important events,and/or historical patterns associated with the structure/site i and surrounding area lend the property significance. l This property was built for Dr. J. II. Featherston, a dentist who established a dental practice in Bozeman in 1893. The upper floor was used by Featherston for his practice and residence, the street level for shops. I This structure qualifies as a contributing element within a potential historic district due to its association with the commercial aspect of the Civic Phase of Bozeman 's historic/architectural development. 1 - INTEGRITY: Assess the degree to which the structure/site,and surrounding area accurately convey the historical associations of the property. The historic integrity of this property has been retained due to the survival of original materials and continuity of use, setting and location. t , INFORMATION VALUE: Explain how the extant structurelsite may demonstrate or yield information about its historic use or construc- tion. None. i FORM PREPARED BY: GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: IA.h��1, U, f,CL.0,,,f-`LD ARCI-'�ITECTS P.C. Name Acreage:_ , U. BCC P Address: USGS Quad:_ NI I$ UTM's: - — Date:_ - RFVIti'c--D 1984 h7atthen A. Cohen AUG Bozent<,n, rj"ontana 1111y, n� ��n��rR 19435 312 E. Main 1985 revision Platt Cohen, surveyor The Featherston Block built as the residence and office of Dr. J.H. Featherston, displays the extremely complex brickwork in the cornice that is a hallmark of the Commercial Queen Anne style. The first three bays of the upper floor survive in original condition, while the other four .have been altered in the past ten years. The first floor of the facade, which was originally rented and contained storefronts, has also been completely remodeled within the past decade. Featherston, a native of New York State, established a dental practice in Bozeman, known as the "Bozeman Dental Parlors" , in March, 1893. He is noted in Ellsworth' s 1898 history of the city and county as having then recently perfected "a dental appliance for the manufacture of seamless gold crowns" (Ellsworth, p. 26) . In March, 1898, Featherston applied for a building permit for this building, which was not granted until a committee investigated the possibility of water from Sour Dough Creek, which runs directly beneath the building, rising high enough to cause damage (Avant Courier, March 26, 1898, p. 1) . That committee did not envision another potential influence of the creek on the building, which was realized early in the next century, when a Chinese restaurant located here. As some long-time Bozeman residents recall , the Chinese used to throw food scraps from the restaurant into the creek, which attracted a substantial population of suckers. Local children harvested the fish for the restaurant, which cooked and served them. In return, the cooks purportedly told the children: "Youm come back Fliday if youm like flish" - the day the fish were cooked (Bozeman Chronicle, 1883-1983, Pt. IV, p. 15) . The original occupants of the two first floor stores were probably a stationary store and Post Office in the east, and a millinery (ladies hat store) in the west (Sanborn Map, 1904) . By 1927, a tire and auto accessories store was located here, along with the Chinese restaurant, while the upstairs was used as a lodge hall (Sanborn Map, 1927) . Bibliography Avant Courier, March 26, 1898, p. 1 Ellsworth, 1898, p. 26 Sanborn Maps, 1904, 1927 Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 1883-1983, Pt. IV, p. 15.