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Home My WebLink About420 N 7th Ave 2020 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD For the Montana National Register of Historic Places Program and State Antiquities Database Montana State Historic Preservation Office Montana Historical Society PO Box 201202, 1410 8th Ave Helena, MT 59620-1202 Property Address: 420 N 7TH AVE Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: BOZEMAN Site Number: 025 (An historic district number may also apply.) County: GALLATIN Historic Name: Unknown Original Owner(s): John T. and Dorothy J. Gardner Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Unknown Owner(s): Monte Lee Cooper Owner Address: 803 S Church Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715-5346 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 02S Range: 05E SW¼ NE ¼ NE¼ of Section: 12 Lot(s): 14 Block(s): 3 Addition: Violett Add (VIO) Year of Addition: 1941 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Residential/commercial Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1941-1942 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83(preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 496430.9 Northing: 5058908.7 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: Historic District: NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman’s definition of an eligible property (see below). Date of this document: 2/10/2020 Form Prepared by: E. Sakariassen, S. Wells, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. with C. Alegria and C. Hendry, Extreme History Project Address: Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc., Bozeman, MT Daytime Phone: 406-219-3535 MT SHPO USE ONLY Eligible for NRHP: □ yes □ no Criteria: □ A □ B □ C □ D Date: Evaluator: Comments: MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Other (specify) If Other, specify: Minimal Traditional style Property Type: Commercial Specific Property Type: Milk Thistle Skincare and massage Architect: Unknown Architectural Firm/City/State: Unknown Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: N/A Source of Information: This site consists of a single historical architectural feature: a single-story building built in 1944 as a single family home. Records indicate from the beginning the home also doubled as the office from which the owner’s contracting business was managed. The house has long since been used exclusively as a commercial property. The primary façade faces west, and the entrance is centered on the west elevation. The building has a rectangular footprint with a concrete foundation, and an asymmetrical nested gable-front roof. The roof is wood-shingled and the exterior walls are clad in wood shingles. It has characteristics tying it to the Minimal Traditional style associated with early mid-century residential developments. The above-grade entry contains the front door and two one-over-one lite single-hung windows to the north of the door. Another similar window is in the south-facing side of the nested entry. Also on the west elevation is a one-over-one lite window on the south of the raised entry. A basement window is directly under this window, in the foundation wall. The south elevation has three windows, each a one-over-one lite sash window; the center window is much smaller than the other two. Windows are set in the foundation below the main floor windows. The north elevation has a one-over-one lite sash window at the west corner and two sets of two one-over-one lite sash windows toward the center of the building, and a smaller one-over-one lite sash window at the east end of the wall. Windows in the foundation are below the first floor windows, with the exception of the most westerly window. The rear (east) of the property has been paved to provide parking space, accessed by the north-south alley behind the building. The east elevation has an above-grade entry that has been modified for commercial access. The rear entry door is off-centered to the south and accessed by a flight of concrete steps with a metal railing. A large fixed-lite window is to the north of the door. Some of the original windows have been replaced, but the original openings remain intact. Condition of the site is excellent, and landscaping well maintained overall. On the west façade, two groupings of aspen trees have been planted to shade and enhance the appearance of the property. In the rear, a large conifer towers above the building from along the north property line. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 HISTORY OF PROPERTY Prior to construction of the house at 420 N 7th Ave, the property was originally purchased and owned by William Beall (Phillips 2016). It was platted as The Violett Addition by Lena E. Border, Harvey E. Murdock and Ina I. Murdock on May 12, 1941 (Table 1). Lena Border was born September 6, 1873 to Sam and Mary Bostwick near Springhill, MT. On August 12, 1883 Lena married Henry Border and they lived on a farm outside of Bozeman for ten years and then moved into Bozeman where they lived until Henry’s death in 1929. After the death of her husband, Lena lived with her daughter, Dr. Leila Fishleigh, in Portland OR. Mrs. Border was a member of the Bozeman Rebekah Lodge (Bozeman Daily Chronicle 1941). Lena died on August of 1941 and is buried next to Henry in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, MT (Find A Grave 2004). Harvey Murdock was born in Ohio, and Ina (Brown) Murdock was born in South Dakota. The couple were married in 1907 and came to Montana in 1914. Harvey taught at Montana State College (MSC) which became Montana State University from 1914 until he retired in 1943. Harvey died in July of 1956 (The Billings Gazette 7/18/1956) and Ina died in 1972. They are buried together in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, MT (Find A Grave 2004). John T. and Dorothy J. (Railey) Gardner purchased the property on December 2, 1943. The house was built as a residence and John and Dorothy are listed as occupying the house in 1944 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1944). The Gardner family lived in the house, and John owned and ran Gardner Construction out of the house (R.L. Polk & Co 1959). John Gardner was born on November 11, 1915 in Dickinson, North Dakota. Dorothy was born on February 24, 1917 in Springdale, MT. Dorothy lived her entire life in Bozeman, MT. She attended Emerson School and Gallatin County High School. She married John Gardner on May 9, 1937 in Helena, MT. During her lifetime Dorothy was a member of the Grand Avenue Christian Church, and attended and was a member of the Homemakers Club. John died on October 23, 1995. Dorothy died on January 7, 2007 (Find A Grave 2004). Both John and Dorothy are buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, MT (Find A Grave 2004). In 1978, John and Dorothy sold the property to Duane Norris. Norris was a State Farm Insurance agent and transformed the house from a residence to a commercial building using the house as an office for State Farm Insurance (R.L. Polk 1978). Duane did not live on the property. He owned the commercial building and lot until his death in 1994 (D: Film 154/1169). Monte Lee Cooper purchased the property in 2013 and is the current owner. Table 1. Chain of Title, 420 N. 7th Avenue], Bozeman, Montana. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference Lena E Border John M Railey 20 Jun 1941 Warranty Deed Lots 5, 6, 13 & 14, Block 3 and Lots 5, 6, 13, & 14, Block 4, Violett Addition D: 85/173 John M and Elvira S Railey John T and Dorothy R Gardner 2 Dec 1943 Warranty Deed Lot 14, Block 3, Violett Addition D: 132/27 John T and Dorothy J Gardner D V and Wilma M Norris 31 May 1978 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 43/2403 Duane V Norris Wilma M Norris Rec: 15 Jun 1995 Application for Determination of Inheritance Tax Same D: Film 154/1169 Wilma M Norris Monte Lee Cooper 07 Jul 2013 Warranty Deed Same D: #2454987 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY The Billings Gazette. [Billings, Montana] 1956 “Rites Set Today for Ex-Instructor." July 18. Billings, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/409515644/?terms=Harvey%2BMurdock, accessed 11/11/2019. Bozeman Daily Chronicle 1941 “Mrs. Border Passes Away from Stroke.” The Bozeman Daily Chronicle. 1941. Find A Grave 2004 Dorothy J. Raily Gardner (24 Feb 1917 – 7 Jan 2007). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17361802/dorothy-j_-gardner, accessed 11/11/2019. 2004 Harvey Murdock. (Unknown – 1956). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51340066/harvey-e_- murdock, accessed 10/13/2019. 2004 John T. Gardner, Sr. (11 Nov 1915-23 October 1992). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70796544/john-t-gardner, accessed 11/11/2019. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder 1864-2019 Gallatin County Deeds. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Bozeman, Montana. Montana State Library. Montana Cadastral records online, http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral, accessed 2/10/2020. Phillips, Rachel 2016 Legendary Locals of Bozeman. Archadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. R. L. Polk & Co. 1941-2010 Polk’s Bozeman (Gallatin County, Mont.) City Directories. R.L. Polk & Co., Kansas City, Missouri. Renewable Technologies, Inc. [RTI] 2008 Bozeman Historic Resources Survey, revised ed. Prepared for Planning Department, City of Bozeman, Bozeman, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.bozeman.net/home/showdocument?id=5645, accessed 3/31/2020. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NRHP Listing Date: NRHP Eligibility: Yes No Individually Contributing to Historic District Noncontributing to Historic District NRHP Criteria: A B C D Area of Significance: Period of Significance: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The property has not been previously surveyed. It is in excellent condition overall, and Metcalf finds that it retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character. Sec. 38.700 of the Bozeman Municipal Code defines an eligible property as one that meets the criteria for inclusion in the NRHP or State Register either 1) individually or 2) as a contributing building to an existing or potential historic district. This site has been evaluated against the NRHP Criteria and has been determined to lack individual significance under Criterion A, B, C, and D. The site is not located within an existing historic district; however, it should be considered eligible/contributing to a potential district composed of similar structures observed in the vicinity. The site retains sufficient integrity to convey its association with the Nationalization Phase of Bozeman’s development (RTI 2008). It is representative of the earliest expressions of what is now considered Minimal Traditional housing, as it was seen throughout central Bozeman. Metcalf recommends further research be conducted regarding Bozeman’s 1941 Violett Addition in order to evaluate district potential. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) This site is in excellent condition. Historically, it functioned as both a residence and home office, but has been modified slightly as it is used exclusively as a commercial property now. Some windows have been replaced, but the openings remain intact. The replacement windows are one-over-one lite windows and are sympathetic to the original materials. The siding is also a recent installation, but not incongruous with the original style, materials, and overall appearance. The integrity of design, feeling, location, workmanship, setting, and association has been retained. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 Feature # 1 Facing: ENE Description: Property 025. Oblique view of front west façade (Image #1-0058, 10/16/2019. EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 025. Oblique view from alley (Image #1-0074, 10/16/2019. EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Site Map Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Topographic Map Property Name: 420 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 025