HomeMy WebLinkAbout23 N Tracy 1984 MONT1ANA HISTORICAL AND Mn
I ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY SiteN
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Leqal Description: Tracy's Blk A/Lots: Portions of 22 to 25
Address- 23 Worth TracyI
Ownership:name: Chambers—Fisher
® private address: P.O. Box 1227 Roll q 81 Frame# 2
❑ public
Historic Name, Unknown
Ir Common Name: Pj7za Oven
• `�`l.�V�C/�11��Li� T � El estimated
I I L Date of Construction: r - 1906 ® documented
\• Architect, Unknown
.J� Builder. Unknown
T TN Original Owner. Rocky mountain Bell Telephone
I (\j t� Original Use: Rocky '.`fountain Bell felenhone C6.
Present Use, Commercial Structure
• • q Research Sources: `
G abstract of title i city directories
1 / I V T-- l i *4/_V ❑ platrecordslmaps KJ sewerlwater permits 1906
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I ❑ tax cards ❑ obituaries
❑ building permit ❑ biographies
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LAI' (<i Sanborn maps—dales' 1 9 1 2
•. �.� - 7 C �w z Bibliography:
r_.�. '_ r
Z' Department of Saizitation
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Location map or building plan with arrow north
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 slightly
recessed, transomed front entry. The one-bay facade is asymmetrical and
consists of a paneled front entrance with 3/1 and 1/1 double-hung windows
and multi-paned fixed windows with concrete sills: The frame construction
is finished in stucco and features concrete decorative patterns around the
upper story windows. The roof is flat of built-up materials and the structure
sits on a concrete foundation. The axis of the roof is perpendicular to
the street. Outbuildings include a two-bay garage of stucco with a flat
roof.
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HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Justify how the persons,important events,and/or historical patterns associated with the sty -:u e
and surrounding area lend the property significance.
Research in the sources consulted in this survey has not yielded any
significant historical information concerning persons or events
associated with this property.
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 materials and use.
INFORMATION VALUE: Explain how the extant structure/site may demonstrate or yield information about its historic use or construc-
tion.
None.
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FORM PREPARED BY: GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:
Name )ANTES R. NTDONALD ARCHITECTS P.C. Acreage:
Address P. C. @0 8163 USGS Quad:
Date: MISSOULA, MONTANA 59807
UTM's:
AU G 190It REVISED
Matthe•.v A. Cohen
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Filial colinecttia llo
A Mountain hell construction crevt, shown atop a tetePbnne
pole and on the frottml, completed tiv, final connections, of the -0 '
Northern Transcontinental Toll line at the! rear of the old
telephone building on North Trar Sire^t in P•ozeman on Dec.
5. 10, 1926. The, line, extende(l from Chicaf; to ^attle and
` traversed about '00 miles across Montana. (Photo frnm
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1'•�oltntain Bell (prtSlTh;iil;lrC111VC.^•). C •
i ntana, j ]Ut �!1: ' ..rt'(''1Ti)1.�"R;�1►�{R . 1'il C F1 D.
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DO,ri�1ro �i1� , ��rE" j1 ��`
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-' Montana's longest telephone Construction crews, wer•o the proJ^ct.
pole line construction u1as formed at. Glendivn and In IF'q' tr rr.^.conlir!rnt�l
i edmpleted.at Bozeman on Dec. "lipf-rier to do tat^ P,iwamj rmlio-r(-!,,y ;;;,tr.na tr.ti!ia,inf;
1 10, 1926., It was the Northern rMlon of thh facilifi^,, crews micrnwnvc f-.•,iiitie;, took olro^
Transcontinental Toll Line lived in tents or ne-rrhv t,rvns l"Int dirt=r,e ealling <<Wl the
extending from Chicago to .ioro, Ihs! collie catitt, honrty itrtroclvctio-i of ('ir..rt.
Seattle and crossing Montana menu in a cook-tent.They wTd Palch of the pr,le lire arse, b
' from Wibaux to Superior, harre-tt�,wn conveyances a-; dism;tnr[r•;l rxl rr'rlgCCtl r'i"r
! parallelinp U.S. High�i'ay l0, I�"r!1 ,, tcr-t;� rf that i , ; 1 ras;
now interstate go and 9,1, t ,,i.�,.,^^ 1"-n rt'• f•, i .r ;
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I,coveted about 700 mile- 11.•. .. •.rnt;r t b„1 , ,r..,,,+, t.,, I ,I�: ^�rl a ,t -,, _
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j 23 N. Tracy
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1985 revision
Matt Cohen, surveyor
This unusual , 2-story commercial block on N. Tracy Ave. was probably built
in 1906, by the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Co. The building was completely
remodeled c. 1935 with the present poly-chromatic stucco finish, and variously
grouped and single windows. It is both a unique example of the use of stucco
as a material for building remodeling, and a physical remnant of the early
20th century expansion of city services in Bozeman.
Mrs. Missie Preston recalls the building from her childhood (c. 1920) , when
the exterior was still brick (the gaugh at rear, she notes, was also of brick) .
The "telephone girls" (switchboard operators) , according to Mrs. Preston,
worked in the upper floor, while the office, where her mother would go to pay
the bill , was in the first floor.
On December 10, 1926, Montana' s longest telephone line was completed in Bozeman,
at this building. The Northern Transcontinental Toll Line covered about 700
miles in all , from Chicago to Seattle. In 1958, a transcontinental radio-relay
system using microwaves took over long distance calling, and most of the
Northern Transcontinental Toll Line was dismantled and replaced by buried cable.
The building was acquired by Mrs. Minnie Preston around September 1983. The
interior was completely remodeled around that time by architecture students at
Montana State University, who provided the plans and labor.
Bibliography
Mrs. Minnie Preston, interview, 9/3/85, 10/4/85
Application for Sewer Connection, 13 N. Tracy, Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone
Co. , October 14, 1906.
News Clipping, No reference, c. 1960; copy of original in possession of Mrs.
Minnie Preston (attached) .