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Home My WebLink About511 W Mendenhall St 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: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: BOZEMAN Site Number: 105 (An historic district number may also apply.) County: GALLATIN Historic Name: Unknown Original Owner(s): Donald F. and Barbara A. Nell Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Unknown Owner(s): Robert T Nell Owner Address: PO Box 4433, Bozeman, MT 59772-4433 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 02S Range: 05E NW¼ SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section: 12 Lot(s): Lot 5 - 7 Block(s): E Addition: Tracy’s 2nd Add (TR2) Year of Addition: 1883 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: commercial Current Use: commercial Construction Date: 1969 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83(preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 496531.7 Northing: 5058560.7 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: Historic District: NRHP Eligible: Yes No Date of this document: 2/28/2020 Form Prepared by: 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: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Other (specify) If Other, specify: Late mid-century commercial Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Office/retail Architect: Unknown Architectural Firm/City/State: Unknown Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: Unknown Source of Information: N/A The site at 511 W. Mendenhall consists of one historic architectural feature: a single-story, flat-roofed commercial building with a small modern, free-standing, shed-roofed storage shed to the rear. The building is currently vacant and was constructed for retail or commercial purposes in 1969. It is a late mid-century style, with very little stylistic embellishment. The building has a rectangular footprint with a concrete foundation. The flat roof has a trapezoidal, pseudo-mansard overhang spanning the south façade. The roofing material was not visible from the public right-of-way. The exterior walls of the building are clad in a combination of seamed sheet metal and perma-stone veneer. The main façade faces south onto W. Mendenhall St. The main entry is at the west end and consists of a side-hung door within a bank of curtain wall windows. The corners of the south elevation are clad in perma-stone veneer, the remaining exterior walls are clad in corrugated steel. The windows appear original and the openings are intact. On the east elevation, near the front corner of the building is a small metal storage shed with a front-facing door and a shed roof. A chain-link fence is between the parking lot in front of the building and this shed. Although unoccupied, the site remains in good condition. The site was recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald and considered “an intrusive element within a potential historic district.” At that time, it had not reached the fifty-year threshold for consideration as a historic property. Metcalf has reassessed the site and finds it retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character in reference to late mid-century re-development within central Bozeman. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 HISTORY OF PROPERTY Prior to construction of this commercial structure in 1969, William H. Tracy purchased this property from the United States on June 15, 1872. He platted the land as Tracy’s 2nd Addition on May 16, 1883. An earlier house was built on this lot, between 1898 and 1900, by Savannah and Charles Logan (see table). This house was still on the lot in 1957, according to the Sanborn Map (Sanborn Map Company 1957). This house was either demolished or removed after 1943 and the current structure was built in 1969. Vern R. Blankenship took ownership of the property on October 25, 1962. Vern Richard Blankenship was the nephew of Floyd Gant and Grandson of Henry and Katherine. Vern Richard Blankenship was born on January 5, 1907 in Gallatin County, MT. Vern married Laura Bell, who was born in Maudlow, MT on May 3, 1906. Vern was a farmer in Gallatin County and later worked as a custodian at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, MT. He died on March 22, 1971 on a visit to his daughter (The Daily Inter Lake 23 March 1971). Laura Bell died on November 16, 1968. Vern and Laura Bell are buried together in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman (Findagrave.com 2004). Donald F. and Barbara A. Nell purchased the property on February 19, 1969. Donald Frank Nell was born April 3, 1923 in Livingston, MT to Frank and Lucy (Donnell) Nell. Donald died on August 5, 2003 in Bozeman (Ancestry.com 2017). Barbara Witt was born on November 19, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Charles and Helen Witt. Barbara married Donald Nell on November 20, 1949 in Livingston, MT (Ancestry.com 2017). The current commercial building on the property was likely built by the Nells. The previous residence was either removed or demolished c.1969. The occupants of the property after 1970 include a Convenient Food Mart from 1970 to 1976. In 1977, the occupant was Ricks One Way Grocery. In 1978, the building was occupied by the Tom Spectra Paint Center. The building was vacant in 1979. In 1980, Telecommunications Inc. occupied the space. After 1980 the space was filled by various telecommunication, cable, and internet companies (R.L. Polk & Co. 1970 to 2012). The property is still in the Nell family as of February 2020. Table 1. Chain of Title, 511 West Mendenhall Street, Bozeman, Montana. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference USA William H. Tracy 15 June 1872 Patent S ½ of NE ¼ section 12, T2S R5E and SW ¼ of NW ¼ of section 7, T2S, R6E (113.40 acres) D: I/56 William H. and Sarah J. Tracy David S. Gordon 09 January 1882 Warranty Deed Lots 1 – 10, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition D: 2/251 David S. Gordon, by Sheriff Charles W. Hoffman 14 July 1886 Sheriff’s Deed Same D: 15/28, 15/30 Charles W. and Elizabeth B. Hoffman Eugene B. Hoffman 03 December 1891 Warranty Deed Same D: 18/310 Eugene B. Hoffman S. V. Logan 05 March 1898 Deed Lots 5 – 7, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition D: 24/409 C. W. and S. V. Logan Mary E. Stevens 22 December 1900 Deed Same D: 27/538 Mary E. and W. H. Stevens Catherine Gant 29 April 1909 Warranty Deed Same D: 39/465 Catherine Gant Floyd J. Gant 19 August 1933 Deed Same D: 77/182 Perry and Clara M. Blankenship Vern R. Blankenship 25 October 1962 Warranty Deed Lots 5 – 7, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition D: 141/222 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 History of Property Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 Table 1. Chain of Title, 511 West Mendenhall Street, Bozeman, Montana. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference Vern R. and Laura Belle Blankenship Robert E. Heath and Robert M. Holter 30 July 1968 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 3/1381 Robert M. and Mary D. Holter, Robert E. and Margaret C. Heath Donald F. and Barbara A. Nell 19 February 1969 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 3/1382 Donald F. Nell Barbara Nell 01 March 1985 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 87/2 Barbara Nell Donald P. and Barbara Nell 28 December 1988 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 104/1892 Donald F. and Barbara Nell Donald F. and Barbara Nell, William D. Nell, James D. Nell, Robert T. Nell, Nancy N. Jennings 28 December 1988 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 104/1893 Donald F. and Barbara Nell William D. Nell, James D. Nell, Robert T. Nell, Nancy N. Jennings 04 January 1989 Warranty Deed Lots 5 – 7, Block E Tracy’s 2nd Addition (their remaining 50% interest) D: Film 104/2165 William D. Nell William Douglass and Cynthia K. Crooke Nell 28 April 1995 Warranty Deed Lots 5 – 7, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition (25% interest) D: Film 154/4302 William Douglass and Cynthia Kaye- Crooke Nell Robert Thomas Nell 01 November 2018 Warranty Deed Lots 5 – 7, Block E, Tracy’s 2nd Addition D: $2631193 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Adventure Through Time 2016 “Cemetery Stories – Charles Hoffman.” 21 February. Electronic document, https://adventurethroughtime.org/2016/02/21/the- cemetery-stories-charles-hoffman/, accessed February 10, 2020. The Anaconda Standard [Anaconda, Montana] 1916 “Mrs. Hoffman Dead.” 11 August. Anaconda, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/348871383/?terms=Elizabeth%2BHoffman, accessed February 10, 2020 1917 “Born in Bozeman.” 3 September. Anaconda, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/350717606/?terms=Eugene%2BHoffman, accessed February 10, 2020. 1923 “Charlie Hoffman Montana Pioneer Passes in South.” 15 May. Anaconda, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/348890763/?terms=Charles%2BHoffman, accessed February 10, 2020. Ancestry.com 2001 Montana, State Deaths, 1907-2016 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Provo, Utah. Electonic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi- bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=5437&h=775643&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=mrb2054&_phstart=successSource, accessed February 10, 2020. 2004 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Provo, Utah. Electronic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=7602&h=30789150&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=7884, accessed February 10, 2020. 2012 U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Provo, Utah. Electronic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi- bin/sse.dll?dbid=2375&h=337957&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=7884, accessed February 10, 2020. 2016 Montana, County Marriage Records, 1865-1993 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Lehi, Utah. Electronic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi- bin/sse.dll?dbid=61375&h=351263&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=61591, accessed February 19, 2020. 2017 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1830-2011 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Lehi, Utah. Electronic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi- bin/sse.dll?dbid=61255&h=12129&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=61255, accessed February 10, 2020. 2017 Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1830-2011 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Lehi, Utah. Electronic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi- bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61255&h=63975&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=mrb2055&_phstart=success, accessed February 10, 2020. 2017 Montana, Marriage Records, 1943-1986 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Lehi, Utah. Electronic document, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61478&h=900046491&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=61478, accessed February 10, 2020. The Avant Courier [Bozeman, Montana] 1879 “Death of May Hoffman.” 23 October. Bozeman, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/343189845/?terms=Hoffman, accessed February 10, 2020. The Butte Miner [Butte, Montana] 1917 “Pioneer of Bozeman Enters Great Beyond.” 10 May. Butte, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/348808253/?terms=gant, accessed February 10, 2020. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 The Daily Inter Lake [Kalispell, Montana] 1971 “Vern Blankenship Dies, Plan Rites at Bozeman.” 23 March. Kalispell, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/21693045/?terms=Vern%2BBlankenship, accessed February 10, 2020. Find A Grave 2004 Clara Koch Blankenship (1914 – 2005). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59363855/clara- blankenship, accessed February 19, 2020. 2004 Floyd Jasper Gant (12 Oct 1890 – 31 Dec 1960). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51230031/floyd- jasper-gant, accessed February 10, 2020. 2004 Katherine Bowersox Gant (22 Jan 1849 – 23 Nov 1936). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51230024/katherine-gant, accessed February 10, 2020. 2004 Perry Blankenship (1912 – 1964). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59363846, accessed February 19, 2020. 2004 Vern Richard Blankenship (5 Jan 1907 – 22 Mar 1971). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71501640/vern-richard-blankenship, accessed February 10, 2020. 2004 Charles Wheeler Hoffman (2 Sep 1846 – 13 May 1923). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51230705/charles-wheeler-hoffman, accessed February 10, 2020. 2004 S. V. Logan (30 Jul 1860 – 30 Jun 1923). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51339524/s-v-logan, accessed February 10, 2020. 2004 Mary Ellen Gray Stevens (10 Dec 1860 – 10 Mar 1919). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51341453/mary-ellen-stevens, accessed February 10, 2020. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder 1864-2019 Gallatin County Deeds. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Bozeman, Montana. James R. McDonald Architects 1983 511 W Mendenhall St. Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman. Bozeman, MT. Montana State Library. Montana Cadastral records online, http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral, accessed 2/28/2020. R. L. Polk & Co. 1904-2010 Polk’s Bozeman (Gallatin County, Mont.) City Directories. R.L. Polk & Co., Kansas City, Missouri. Sanborn Map Company 1890-1943 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana (Jul 1890, Nov 1891, Jan 1904, Sep 1912, Sep 1943, 1957). Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Statement of Significance Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 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 site was recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald and considered “an intrusive element within a potential historic district.” At that time, it had not reached the fifty-year threshold for consideration as a historic property. Metcalf has reassessed the site and finds it retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character in reference to late mid-century re-development within central Bozeman. The site has been evaluated against the NRHP Criteria. Its association with late mid-century development in Bozeman is found to lack historic significance under Criterion A and the property has no other known notable associations with events that have made a contribution to the broad patterns of our history. The site lacks direct association with persons of historical significance under Criterion B. Under Criterion C it does not represent significant characteristics of a type, period, or style. Under Criterion D, the site is not likely to yield information that would contribute significantly to our understanding of the past. Metcalf recommends the site not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Integrity Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The site is in good condition, overall. The aspect of materials has been affected by damaged and missing parts of the steel siding and the south façade overhang. All other aspects of integrity have been unaffected. As no major alterations appear to have been made to the site at 511 W. Mendenhall, Metcalf finds it retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 Feature # 1 Facing: N Description: Property 105. View north (Image #2-0222, 10/18/2019. EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: NW Description: Property 105. View northwest with small detached storage shed visible to right (Image #2-0223, 10/18/2019. EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Site Map Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Topographic Map Property Name: 511 W MENDENHALL ST Site Number: 105