HomeMy WebLinkAbout202 W MainMONTANA HISTORICAL/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY 14
HISTORIC NAME:
ADDRESS:
LEGAL BOUNDARY;
OWNER'S NAME:
OWNER ADDRESS:
SPECIFIC DATE:
ARCHITECT:
BUILDER:
ORIGINAL OWNER
ORIGINAL USE:
PRESENT USE:
UTM REFERENCE:
ACREAGE:
U.S.G.S. QUAD:
Story Motor Company
(nee: Story Iron Works)
202 W, Main, Bozeman
Story's Addition, Blk C,
Lots 1-4 and Alderson's
Addition, east 60' of
lots 1-4
Gerard S. Burkhart
8330 Kagy Rd., Bozeman
C.1900/C.1925
Fred Willson (remodel)
Unknown
Nelson Story, Jr.
Story Iron Works
tire sales
12/496940/5058240
less than one
Bozeman, 1953
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Applicable Criteria: C
Number of Contributing Properties: 1
This large, one-story building is an excellent example of early 20th century automobile
showroom architecture. The underlying structure, which was extensively remodeled in
1925 under the direction of architect Fred Willson, may have been the original Story Iron
Works, a significant early 20th century business run by two sons of Nelson Story, who was
Bozeman pioneer and millionaire. The building is significant as the only intact,
distinctive representation of automobile showroom architecture in Bozeman. The likelihooc
that the present structure reflects the work of locally important architect Fred Willson
adds to the building's significance.
A building of similar dimensions although without the easternmost bay, housed the S.:ory
Iron Works and is shown on the 1904 Sanborn map. In that building, a machine and pattern
shop occupied the front section, while the foundry occupied the rear. By 1910, the Story
Iron Works had become the Story Motor Supply Company. With Nelson Story, Jr. as
proprietor, the shop advertised: "Everything for the Auto; Best Equipped Shop in Montana.
The building was remodeled with the present shaped parapet, segmented arched showroom
windows and stucco walls by 1927. The Sanborn map of that year labels the building
"garage", with a capacity of fifty cars and a steel truss rcof. On the 1912 Sanborn Map,
the building is also labeled "garage", had a wood truss roof. The easternmost bay of thir
asymmetrical building was used as an auto parts store, as shown on the 1927 map.
By 1927, the Bozeman Auto Co. had taken over the building, although this was likely a new
name for the Story Motor Co., for T. Byron Story was the president. The company sold Buu
cars and G.M.C. trucks. By 1933 and into the 1940's, the Northern Auto Co. was located
here, with Dean Chaffin as president and manager. Chaffin sold Chevrolet and Oldsmobile
cars, in a quite formal showroom, as seen in photographs in the collection of the Museum c
the Rockies. The building currently is occupied a Firestone sales and service business.
Story Motor Company (cont.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
The Story Motor Co. building is a large rectangular brick building that occupies the
eastern third of the block. Physical evidence persists to indicate that the present
building has its origins at the turn of the century as the Story Iron Works and was
extensively remodeled during the late 1920's to become a Mission Revival automobile
showroom, parts store, and garage. The central portion of the eastern elevation is a fuU
two stories in height and features nine-over-nine, wood frame, double hung windows. It
appears that an open garage with a steel truss roof was built between the original front
portion of the building and this two-story section prior to 1927.
The present four-bay facade features a decorative stepped parapet and four arched window
openings. The windows are composed of metal, fixed commercial glazing with vertical 8-
light, arched transoms above. The entrance is a raw aluminum door set in the third bay
from the east. The facade is covered with stucco.
The building extends back from Main street nearly the full length of the block. Behind t:
front auto showroom/parts room is the open garage section noted above. Three large
overhead aluminum garage doors on both the east and west elevations provide through acces
to the garage. The next section back is the two-story brick portion that likely dates to
ca.1900. The rear portion of the building is also of brick and features double overhead
wooden garage doors and two small fixed windows.
The architectural significance of this building rest with the 1920's remodeling that
transformed a late 19th Century industrial building into an elegant, gracefully detailed
automobile saleroom, an excellent period example of the high quality of design afforded t
showcases for the new automobiles.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Sanborn Maps: 1904, 1912, 1927
City Directories: 1904, p. 166; 1910, p. 159; 1912, p. 155; 1916-17, p. 157; 1927, p. 33
1933, p. 103; 1935, p. 113; 1940, p. 110; 1942
Historic Photo Collection: Museum of the Rockies
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, Helenc
Montana 59620 (406) 444-7715