HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-4-8-10-12 E Main 1985 i�IONTANA HISTORICAL AND
ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY Site# ,
Legal Description: Original townsite Lots 1 and 1-4/Blk A
Address - 2-4-8-10-12 East Main
Ownership:name:
Masonic Temple Inc.
❑ pr;vate address: 14 South Tracy Roll# 77 Frame# 26
❑ public
l�Pl E�0
D�1S Historic Name -Story, Block '.
1 (� Common Name: �knnwn
L� ®I \® A f� Y El estimated
Date of Construction: 1890 ❑ documented
v Architect: Galbrait`i
T T� — r -7rT Builder: llnknnwn
J I Original Owner: Nelson Story
M , 4 Original Use: Story Building
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Present Use: Commerri al Strllrtltrp _
Research Sources:
Elabstract of title ❑ city directories
1 I I ❑ plat records/maps ❑ sewerlwater permits
❑ tax cards ❑ obituaries
Uj
r I ❑ building permit ❑ biographies
Z 11-Y 1�""' '—•"• Z �"' R; Sanborn maps—dates' 1890
j Bibliography:
la1 U-i l Avant-Courier September 18, 1890;
QQ l April 28, 1890
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PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Describe present appearance of structurelsite,then contrast and compare that with it's original appearance,
noting additions,alterations,and changes in materials.Discuss significant architectural features.
This attached two-story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with an original
brick and limestone facade showing through the arched entrances cut into the
stucco covering. The symmetrical facade consists of six arched entrances with
glass doors and aluminum storefront windows. One of the arched entrances has
been completed in natural wood and ceramic tile. The brick construction is
finished in stucco and rests on a foundation that is not visible. The flat
built-up roof lies parallel to the street.
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HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Justify how the persons,important events,and/or historical patterns associated with the structure/site
and surrounding area lend the property significance.
This property is significant because it is associated with a person important
to Bozeman history, Nelson Story. Story, an early Bozeman merchant who
amassed a fortune in cattle, built several business blocks on Main Street.
The block at 2-12 East Main was the site of Story's first house, built in
1869 and moved in 1889 to make way for the block. An architect from Livingston,
Galbraith, designed this building. Other business blocks built by Nelson
Story on Main Street include 33-39 East Main, the Story Block in 1901 ; and
the building at 23 West Main in 1903.
a
This structure is a neutral element within a potential historic district.
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 not been retained due to change
in original design and materials.
INFORMATION VALUE: Explain how the extant structurelsite may demonstrate or yield information about its historic use or construc-
tion.
None.
FORM PREPARED BY: GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:
Name !AMES R. M,CC�idr,.-� ARCHITECTS P.C. Acreage:
Address: P. h. EUX 8163 uses Quad:
date:. _ f+ASSOULA, MONTANA 59807 uTM's:
REVISED
AU G 1984 Matthew A. Cohen
Bor.eman, Montana
JULY - DFrEMBER 1985
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2- 12 E . Main
1985 revision
Matt Cohen , surveyor
This large , non-contributing commercial block , which bears three
progressively simplified layers of architect-designed exteriors , has
high historical significance as probably the first of numerous real
estate ventures by millionaire and Bozeman pioneer Nelson Story
( two others are 33- 39 E . Main , and 23 W . Main ) . It is also significant
as the home , since 1950 , of one of Bozeman ' s two Masonic Lodges ,
Bozeman Lodge #18.
The building was built for Story on the site of his first , modest ,
1- story frame house , which was moved in order to clear the site for
this building ( see 322 W . Mendenhall ) . By about 1886 , Story had
moved into his exceptional , High Victorian Gothic style house on W .
Main ( demolished in 1938) . According to the Sanborn Map of 1890 ,
which labels this building as "being built" , construction of this
commercial block filled the last gap in an otherwise solidly built
up commercial district from Tracy Ave . east to Rouse Ave .
The once quite elaborate brick block ( see attached photo ) was initially
designed by an architect named Galbraith (Weekly Courier , April 24 ,
1890 ) , and comprised " six elegant store rooms , each with separate
basement and second story" ( Weekly Courier , September 18 , 1890 , p . 3 ) .
While a diversity of small businesses occupied the stores of the first
floor , the second floor remained empty for over fifty years , until
occupied by one of the two Masonic Lodges in Bozeman , Bozeman Lodge
#18 .
Bozeman Lodge was formed after conflicts among immigrants from the
eastern states over Civil War sympathies caused a rift among Bozeman ' s
earliest Masons . Those sympathetic with North sarcastically claimed
that even Jesus Christ would have been denied membership to the first
lodge , Gallatin Lodge _#6 , since only Confederates and sons of
Confederates were allowed to join ( Bill Beasly , interview , 9/ 19/85 ) .
A new lodge , known as Bozeman Lodge #18 , was granted , if reluctantly ,
by Grand Master J . R . Weston in 1872 . This new lodge rented the hall
in the log building built in 1866 by Gallatin Lodge , on the site of
their present temple , but soon became dissatisfied and rented several
halls , including the Ford & Cooper Hall upstairs in the then-newly
constructed Black Building at 118 E . Main . After this hall , they
rented the hall in the present Gallatin Lodge Building when it was
completed in 1883 ( 137 E . Main ) , and various other locations until
finally settling into the upper story at the Chambers- Fisher Building
in 1906 ( 7 W . Main ) .
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Culminating two years of final planning , many more years of considera-
tion , and a $ 10 , 000 gift plus judicious terms of agreement by the Story
family , the Bozeman Lodge signed a contract in 1950 for a $176 , 000
remodeling of the upper floor interior , they were to lease that
floor , and eventually buy the entire building . Architect Fred Willson ,
with the assistance of H . C . Cheever ( listed as " associate architect"
on the architects ' rendering ) , remodeled the exterior of the building
in concrete , converting it to a simplified version of the Art Deco
style . The design included 23 norrow , vertical and deeply recessed
windows , an addition which extended the building south to the alley ,
and a new temple in the second floor , which included a mezzanine ,
two lodge halls , dining and kitchen facilities , and several meeting
rooms , offices , and other rooms . The plan also included remodeled
storefronts , and a Streamline Moderne marquee over the Tracy Ave .
entrance which led to the temple upstairs - the only ornamental
exterior feature of the design that survives . I . M . Johnson was
the contractor for the remodeling .
The most recent remodeling occurred in 1982 or 1983 , according to
Max Hunke , and was designed by architect Bert Cheever , of the P1SU
architecture department , and the " associate architect" who collaborated
with Willson on the previous remodeling . All upper story windows
were sealed , and the building was completely covered with several
coats of stucco . The storefronts below were spanned by an arcade of
segmental arches , each outlined by a single header course of brick .
The building currently forms a major non-contributing gap in the
historic district as a result of this remodeling , the reversibility
of which is questionable .
Bibliography
The Weekly Courier , April 24 , 1890 , p . 3
The Weekly Courier , July 31 , 1890 , p . 3
TheWeekly Courier , September 18 , 1890 , p . 3
Sanborn Maps , 1890 , 1891
Bozeman Chronicle , July 31 , 1949 .
" Dedication : New Masonic Temple , January 27 , 1951" , flyer printed
by Bozeman Lodge #, 18.
Gallatin County Tribune , 5/ 17/71 , p . 7
ax Hunce , nterview , 9/5/85
Bill Beasly , interview , 9/ 10/85
Application for Sewer Connection , October 12 , 1906 , Nelson Story , Jr .
Fred Willson , transcript of radio show ; refers to this building as
the " Etha M. Story Building" .
Fred F . Willson Job List :
1931 , job #3135 - "Masonic Hall at Story Building - Bozeman" .
( Probably a preliminary study) .
1935 , job #3506 - "Alterations to Story Block - Masonic #18 -
Bozeman" . ( May possibly refer to 33-39 E . Main ) .
1943 , job #4304 - " Repairs Etha M. Story Building - Pease Front"
( See attached photograph ; this may be the date of the entire
building remodeling , as well as the corner storefront . )
! 1945 , job #4553 - "Addition to Etha M . Story Building "
1947 , job #4727 - "Masonic Building #, 18" ( probably the plans
which were completed in 1950) .