HomeMy WebLinkAbout506 E. Babcock NominationMONTANA HISTORICAL/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY #31
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:
Rouse House
506 E. Babcock
Rouse 2nd Addition,
Blk A, tract of land
measuring 96' x 65' at
the NW corner of block
Colorado-Montana Land Co,
c/o Dave Brown
P.O. Box 1440
Boulder, CO 80302
1881
Unknown
Unknown
Daniel E. Rouse
residence
residence
12/497750/5058070
less than one
Bozeman, 1953
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Applicable Criteria: B and C
Areas of signficance: settlement, architecture
Number of Contributing Properties: 1
This fine brick I-House, which bears elements of both the Italianate and Gothic Revival
styles, is individually eligible for listing in the National Register for both its
architectural and historical significance. It is not only one of the finest residences in
Bozeman dating from the early 1880's, but was built by and for Daniel E. Rouse, who was one
of the city's founders. The Rouse House is the last architecturally significant property
still standing in Bozeman that is associated with one of the city's original founders.
Of special architectural note are the stone springers and keystones that ornament the
segmental arches of all windows and doors. While the present entry porch and balcony is
similar to the original one that probably fronted the house, it is of very recent
construction and is non-contributing. The house, with its Gothic cross dormer and narrow
plan, is a fine example of the I-House building type common in Bozeman.
The house was built during the building boom triggered in the early 1880's by the arrival
of the Northern Pacific Railroad. At the beginning of that boom, when this house was
built, brick was both the preferred material for construction, and a scarce commodity due
to demand. Brick represented the permanence and opulence that Bozeman residents envisionec
for the future of their young city. Rouse probably acquired the brick from his own brick
yard.
Rouse, who settled in Montana in 1861 from Minnesota, was among the original town founders
in 1864, along with John Bozeman and W.J. Beall, when the "Original Townsite" was laid out.
Rouse's Additions are consequently among the first extensions of the original plat. Rouse
saved a large corner lot of his second addition for this house, which is considerably more
refined than the log cabin he built for himself in 1864.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
This detached, one-and-one-half story, brick, single family residence has an ell-shaped
plan with an open front porch and open balcony accessed by a pair of second story doors in
the cross-gable above. The one-bay facade is symmetrical and consists of a central glass-
paned front entrance with transom light above flanked by double hung two-over-two windows.
The windows and doors have brick segmental arches above with stone voussoirs and key
stones. There are inoperable shutters on the.bottom windows. The buildings rests on a
concrete foundation. The gable roof is covered with pink asphalt shingles and features
overhanging eaves. A small sunroom addition was built in the southwest corner of the ell.
There are two brick chimneys, one exterior and one interior.
A two-story brick building was built to the rear (south) of the Rouse House ca.1980.
Although this new building is attached to the historic property by a small enclosed
hallway, it both reads and functions as a separate structure and is not included in this
nomination.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
City Directory: 1892-3, p. 147
Avant Courier. August 4, 1881, p. 3
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, Helena,
Montana 59620 (406) 444-7715
Roll* 80 Frame*