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HomeMy WebLinkAbout510 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: 510 N 7TH AVE Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: BOZEMAN Site Number: 029 (An historic district number may also apply.) County: GALLATIN Historic Name: Motor Inn Auto Court, Rainbow Motel Original Owner(s): Robert W. Nesbitt and Paul W. Doran Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: RSVP Motel Owner(s): RSVP Motel LLC Owner Address: 10847 US Highway 287, Three Forks, MT 59752-9504 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 02S Range: 05E NW¼ NE ¼ NE ¼ of Section: 12 Lot(s): 1A, PLAT E-1-B Block(s): 2 Addition: Violett Add (VIO) Year of Addition: 1941 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1947 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83(preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 491989.8 Northing: 5058624.1 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: Historic District: NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property does not meet the City of Bozeman’s definition of an eligible property (see below) Date of this document: 11/11/2019 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: Site would not contribute to a potential Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Other (specify) If Other, specify: Mid-century Modern Property Type: Commercial Specific Property Type: Motel and cafe Architect: Unknown Architectural Firm/City/State: Unknown Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: Unknown Source of Information: N/A The property consists of a two-story motel and café built partially in 1947 and later added to in 1968, with modern additions and an extensive remodel in 2018. A modern events center that is part of the property is currently under construction to the south of the motel. Originally it was a Mid-century Modern style, with elements of its style remaining in the massing and forms of the two main buildings that comprise the motel. The mid-century style is also evident in the arrangement of the courtyard, concrete block wall around the pool, and the historic pole sign that reads “Motel Rainbow” in a stylized western font. The motel has a C-shaped plan, overall, which opens to the west onto 7th Ave. There are two separate buildings containing the motel rooms: a single-story building that runs east west on the south side of the property, and a one- and two- story L-shaped building that forms the north and east wings. A cantilevered overhang covers entries on the second story rooms on this wing, and the access is provided by an exterior staircase at the west end. All rooms open into the courtyard, except for five rooms on the rear elevation of the east wing that face east. The office, which is also the entrance to the café, is located on the southwest corner of the south building of the motel, with the primary facade facing west. This office portion is faced in vertical wood siding, while the rest is stuccoed. Cloth awnings adorn some of the motel room entries on the single-story south wing, as well as the office and café windows. The roof is flat, so the material was not visible for description. The window openings are intact, but the historic windows have been replaced with commercial display/curtain windows on the office/café, and vinyl sliding windows on most of the guest rooms. Modern ADA-compliant ramps have been added as access to both the motel rooms on the first floors and to the office slash café. The inner courtyard is comprised of mainly guest parking, with the cement brick enclosed pool and an open fire pit lounging area (on the east side of the pool) located in the center and along the west side of the property bordering the sidewalk on 7th Ave. The historic pole sign is in the northeast corner of the lounging area. No changes appear to have been made to the sign. The site is well maintained. Vegetation in the center courtyard (around the pool and lounging area) includes two mature coniferous trees and several scattered decorative grasses planted in rock and pebble landscaping. The same decorative grasses, as well as young deciduous trees, planted in rock and pebble landscaping are located around the rest of the motel buildings and features. The site is in excellent condition overall, however, the property has been remodeled extensively and changes to the historic features have affected certain aspects of integrity. The removal of original windows, application od modern finishes has affected integrity of materials, design, workmanship, and feeling. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The property was originally purchased and owned by William Beall. It was platted in the Violett Addition by Lena E. Border, Harvey E. Murdock, and Ina I. Murdock on May 12, 1941. Lena Border had been born on September 6, 1873 to Sam and Mary Bostwick near Springhill, Montana. On August 12, 1883, Lena married Henry Border and they lived on a farm outside of Bozeman for ten years, after which they moved into Bozeman where they lived until Henry’s death in 1929 (Spokane Chronicle, 11 July 1929). Lena Border was a member of the Bozeman Rebekah Lodge (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 1941). After the death of her husband, Lena lived with her daughter, Dr. Leila Fishleigh, in Portland, Oregon. Lena died in August 1941 and was buried next to Henry in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman (Findagrave.com, 2004). Harvey Murdock had been born in Ohio, and Ina (Brown) Murdock had been born in South Dakota. The couple were married in 1907 and came to Montana in 1914. Harvey taught at Montana State College (MSC) - which later became Montana State University in 1965 - from 1914 until he retired in 1943. Harvey died in July 1956 (The Billings Gazette, 18 July 1956) and Ina died in 1972. They were buried together in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman (Findagrave.com, 2004). Ray E. and Nell Blanchard purchased the property from Lena Border on November 1, 1941. Floyd F. and Belinda Sumner purchased the property from the Blanchards on June 29, 1945. Robert W. Nesbitt and Paul W. Doran purchased the property from the Sumners on September 21, 1946. The Motor Inn Courts were built on the property in 1947, presumedly by Nesbitt and Doran. This was a motor inn, managed by Paul and Ruth W. Doran. Robert W. and Adeline A. Nesbitt sold the property to Paul Doran on June 10, 1948. The original structure had 20 units. In 1968 an additional 18 units were added. The motel was called the Motor Inn Courts until c. 1955 when the name changed to the Rainbow Motel. The Dorans lived on-site, managing the business. Herbert S. and Frieda C. Simmons purchased the property from Paul and Ruth Doran on August 12, 1960. Herbert and Frieda Simmons took over management, also living on-site at the motel. On July 4, 1968 Bernard P. and Mary Ann Hennessey purchased the property from Herbert and Frieda Simmons. They took over management and lived on-site. They had an additional 18 units added to the motel. Walter and Maxine Margaret Sterhan purchased the property from the Hennesseys on July 9, 1976. Bernard P. Hennessey entered a contract of sale with Walter and Maxine Sterhan in 1976, but the original deed (placed in escrow in connection with contract of sale by Hennessey to Sterhan) has been lost (per deed #2065273). Sterhans then sold the property to Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson and Keith L. and Winnie J. Keil. The Keils sold their interest in the property to Burton and Kathleen Gibson in 1988, who then sold partial interests to B. Kenneth Gibson. From a legal standpoint it appears that Hennessey and Strehan still held some interest in the property, producing a defect in the title, which was quitted in 2015 with a court decree. That decree stated Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson as Trustees of the Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson Trust (75%) and Estate of Burton Kenneth Gibson (25%). Therefore, is seems that the “owners” of the property were Burton K. and Kathleen Gibson and B. Kenneth Gibson, in some proportion. The Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson, Trustees of Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson Trust and Estate of Burton Kenneth Gibson sold the property to Folkvord Investments LLC on January 19, 2016. The property went to RSVP Motel, LLC on June 2, 2017; they are the current owners as of November of 2019. A major remodeling of the hotel happened in 2018, after which it was named “RSVP Motel.” The owners retained the historic Rainbow Motel sign and use it as a focal point in the center of the motel’s courtyard (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 14 June 2018). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 History of Property Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 Table 1. Chain of Title, 510 N 7th Avenue, Bozeman, Montana. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference United States of America William J. Beall 1 May 1871 Patent N ½ of NE ¼ Section 12, T2S R5E D: 2/373 William J. and Rosa V. Beall Benjamin P. Barker 14 July 1880 Warranty Deed Part of NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 12, T2S R5E (20 acres) D: 1/370 Benjamin P. Barker Rosa V. Beall 14 July 1880 Warranty Deed Same D: 1/374 William J. and Rosa Beall Henry I. Border 03 March 1898 Deed Part of NE ¼ NE ¼ Section 12, T2S R5E D: 24/410 Sam I. and Bertina C. Border, Mary Cloninger, Thirza Bair, Leila B. Fishleigh Lena E. Border 24 August 1931 Deed Part of NE ¼ NE ¼ of Section 12, T2S R5E D: 76/76 Lena E. Border Ray E. and Nell Blanchard 01 November 1941 Warranty Deed Blocks 1 and 2, Violett Addition D: 85/464 Ray E. and Nell Blanchard Floyd F. and Belinda Sumner 29 June 1945 Warranty Deed Same D: 91/327 Floyd F. and Belinda C. Sumner Robert W. Nesbitt and Paul W. Doran 21 September 1946 Warranty Deed Lots 1 – 4 and 9 – 12, Block 2, Violett Addition D: 95/61 Robert W. and Adeline A. Nesbitt Paul W. Doran 10 June 1948 Warranty Deed Same D: 97/237 Paul W. and Ruth K. Doran Herbert S. and Frieda C. Simmons 12 August 1960 Warranty Deed Same D: 150/431 Herbert S. and Frieda C. Simmons Bernard P. and Mary Ann Hennessey 04 July 1968 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 102/3143 Bernard P. Hennessey Walter and Maxine Margaret Sterhan 09 July 1976 Abstract of Contract of Sale Same D: Film 33/1389 Walter and Maxine M. Sterhan Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson and Keith L. and Winnie J. Keil 30 June 1981 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 75/2062, #2050093 Keith L. and Winnie J. Keil Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson 28 March 1988 Warranty Deed Same D: #2071042 Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson B. Kenneth Gibson 21 December 1988 Quit Claim Deed Same (15.14% interest) D: Film 113/3211 Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson B. Kenneth Gibson 21 December 1989 Quit Claim Deed Same (13.87% interest) D: Film 113/3212 Mary Ann Hennessey Bernard P. Hennessey 27 April 1990 Decree of Distribution and Decree Terminating Joint Tenancies Same D: Film 110/3431 Walter Sterhan Maxine M. Sterhan 19 June 1992 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 124/596 Maxine M. Sterhan Maxine M. Sterhan, Trustee of Maxine M Sterhan Family Trust 25 March 1994 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 142/1428 Estate of Bernard P. Hennessey J. Barry Hennessy, Elizabeth DeLaurier, Carol Potuzak, M Christine Gliko 27 April 1995 Deed of Distribution Same (B. P. Hennessy’s interest in Contract of Sale to Walter and Maxine Sterhan [Film 33/1389]) D: Film 153/329 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 History of Property Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson B. Kenneth Gibson 30 September 1997 Quit Claim Deed Same (10.99% interest) D: Film 177/2552 Burton K. and Kathleen M. Gibson The Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson Trust 08 October 1998 Warranty Deed Same D: #202855 J. Barry Hennessy, Elizabeth DeLaurier, Carol Potuzak, M. Christine Gliko (Heirs of Bernard Hennessey) Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson 01 April 2002 Quit Claim Deed (to correct defect in chain of title and release all of Bernard P. Hennessy’s in the property) Same D: #2065273 Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson, Trustees of Burton K. Gibson and Kathleen M. Gibson Trust and Estate of Burton Kenneth Gibson Folkvord Investments LLC 19 January 2016 Warranty Deed Same D: #2535841 Folkvord Investments, LLC Folkvord Family Investments, LLC 02 June 2017 Quit Claim Deed Same D: #2581562 Folkvord Family Investments, LLC RSVP Motel, LLC 02 June 2017 Quit Claim Deed Parcel 1: Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 in Block 2, Violett Addition Parcel 2: Lots 5, 6, 7, 8 in Block 2, Violett Addition D: #2581563 RSVP Motel, LLC The RSVP Motel, LLC 17 August 2017 Quit Claim Deed Same D: #2589790 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 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 November 1, 2019. Bozeman Daily Chronicle [Bozeman, Montana] 1941 “Mrs. Border Passes Away from Stroke.” Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman Daily Chronicle [Bozeman, Montana] 2018 “Renovated RSVP Motel Celebrates Seventh Avenue Opening.” 18 June. Bozeman, Montana. Electronic document, https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/business/renovated-rsvp-motel-celebrates-seventh-avenue-opening/article_24e2916f-b241-5e0a-96cd-b18845683bfb.html, accessed August 2, 2020. Find A Grave 2004 Lena E. Bostwick Border (1873 – 1941). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52607869/lena-e_-border, accessed August 5, 2020. Find A Grave 2004 Harvey Murdock. (Unknown – 1956). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51340066/harvey-e_-murdock, accessed October 13, 2019. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder 1864-2020 Gallatin County Deeds. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Bozeman, Montana. R. L. Polk & Co. 1941-2012 Polk’s Bozeman (Gallatin County, Mont.) City Directories. R.L. Polk & Co., Kansas City, Missouri. Spokane Chronicle [Spokane, Washington] 1929 “Rites in Montana for Dishman Man.” 11 July. Spokane, Washington. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/562615434/?terms=Henry%2BBorder, accessed August 5, 2020. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Statement of Significance Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 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 consists of a two-story motel with a café built partially in 1947 and later added to in 1968, with modern additions and an extensive remodel in 2018. A modern events center, that is part of the property, is currently under construction to the south of the motel. The building remains in excellent condition but no longer 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. It is found to lack sufficient integrity to convey historic character in reference to historic associations under Criteria A, B, C, or D. The site is not located within an existing historic district and would not contribute to a potential district based on the cumulative effects recent remodeling has had on its integrity. Metcalf recommends the site be considered not eligible/non-contributing. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Integrity Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The site is in excellent condition overall, and the plan is still intact which helps in reading this as a historic Mid-Century Modern motel. However, the remodel is extensive, affecting integrity of materials, workmanship, design, and feeling. The site no longer retains sufficient integrity to adequately convey its historic character. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 Feature # 1 Facing: E Description: Property 029. Front west façade on 7th Ave. (Image #1689, 10/17/2019. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 029. Oblique view from Peach St. (Image #1691, 10/17/2019. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Site Map Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 Feature # 1 Facing: NW Description: Property 029. Oblique view from inner courtyard. (Image #1693, 10/17/2019. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 029. Oblique view from inner courtyard. (Image #1694, 10/17/2019. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Site Map Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 12 Topographic Map Property Name: 510 N 7TH AVE Site Number: 029