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HomeMy WebLinkAbout703 W Babcock 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: 703 W BABCOCK ST Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: BOZEMAN Site Number: 036 (An historic district number may also apply.) County: GALLATIN Historic Name: Litle’s Modern Grocery; The Molly Brown Original Owner(s): Orville, Albert, and Joseph Litle Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: The Molly Brown Owner(s): Norman Holdings LLC Owner Address: PO Box 3086, Bozeman, MT 59772-3086 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 02S Range: 05E SE¼ SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section: 12 Lot(s): Lot 22 - 26, & 30' E OF LOT 26 Block(s): F Addition: Story Add (STO) Year of Addition: 1872 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1957 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83(preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 496335.7 Northing: 5058340.4 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: 05/18/2020 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: Site would contribute to a potential Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Other (specify) If Other, specify: Commercial building Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Bar/lounge Architect: Unknown Architectural Firm/City/State: Unknown Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: Unknown Source of Information: N/A This property consists of one historical architectural feature: a commercial building built in c. 1957. It is a single-story bar and lounge named the Molly Brown, and it has a semi L-shaped plan with a concrete foundation. The southern section of the L looks like a later addition with design elements that are not present on the original part of the building. The roof is flat, and the exterior walls consist of painted concrete bricks, large wood beams that extend the eve of the roof off the south elevation, wood vertical siding on the section of the southern elevation, and a wood vertical siding band near the roof on south and west elevations of the addition. South section (with beams) appears to be a later addition. There is also a section of corrugated metal sheeting on the east elevation between the original building and the addition. The primary façade faces west, into the parking lot and center of the block. The primary entrance is located on the west façade in the inner corner of where the southern addition extends out to the west. There appear to be no original windows. There is one possible small window boarded up on the northern end of the west façade, and one modern cut window that is framed with wood on the east elevation of the original building section. The site is in good condition with only some slight wear and tear in some sections of peeling paint on the exterior walls. Asphalt pavement surrounds the east, west, and north sides of the building for access and parking. The property was first recorded in August 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects. At that time, the property was considered an “intrusive element within a potential historic district.” Metcalf finds that while it has experienced modifications to the original design, namely the loss of virtually all original windows, this change occurred within the historic period. Metcalf recommends this site does retain sufficient integrity to convey historic character. The site has been operated as the Molly Brown tavern since 1966—over fifty years. Further, the building appears much as it did in 1984 when last surveyed. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 HISTORY OF PROPERTY This area was platted as the Story Addition on June 18, 1872. Elias Story purchased the property on November 4, 1874 and sold it almost immediately to Ellen Story on November 14, 1874. The Molly Brown building is located on Lots 22-26 and a 30’ x 130’ portion adjacent to Lot 26 of Block “F” in Story’s Addition to Bozeman, Montana. This addition was fully comprised of Lots 1 – 8, 19 – 26, and a 30’-strip to the east in Block “F.” These lots of Story’s Addition were at the western edge of Bozeman and saw little development until the turn of the twentieth century, when single-family homes quickly filled in the lots south and north of West Main Street, from 4th through 11th Avenues. The blocks held by the Story family remained undeveloped until the late 1940s, after the land was released from its collateral status. In 1904, 11th Avenue defined the western boundary of Bozeman, west of which the County Road (aligned with Babcock Street, just south of West Main Street) led west to the unincorporated rural areas. By 1943, several commercial enterprises had been constructed along this section of West Main Street, including a restaurant at 712 West Main Street and a creamery at 708 West Main Street. Litle’s Modern Grocery was founded by Orville Litle c.1940, a decade after he moved his family from Helena to Bozeman (R.L. Polk & Company, 1931-1940; Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 17 August 2018). Orville had been born on June 30, 1890 in Dunnegan, Missouri to Joseph Morgan and Roberta Hayward Litle. He moved to the Clyde Park area of Montana about 1910 and married Grace DeAtley on September 15, 1916. Grace DeAtley had been born on August 24, 1896 to William H. and Addie (Biggs) DeAtley in Clyde Park. She grew up on the family ranch, which her parents had homesteaded in 1885, and received her schooling in Clyde Park (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9 January 1990). In 1920, Orville was working as a bookkeeper in a Clyde Park grocery store (Ancestry.com, 2010). “He moved with his family to Helena about 1923 where he worked for various chain grocery companies. In 1930, the family moved to Bozeman where he was self-employed in the grocery business with his two sons until his retirement in 1961.” Before establishing his own business, Orville worked at the Piggly-Wiggly and clerked at the Pay’n Takit (R.L. Polk & Company, 1931 – 1940). Orville and Grace had two sons: Albert Ray and Joseph B., born on November 8, 1918 in Clyde Park, and October 1, 1921 in Wilsall, respectively (Ancestry.com, 2011; Findagrave.com, 2018). Albert was president of Litle’s Modern Grocery, Orville the vice president, and Joseph the secretary-treasurer (R.L. Polk & Company, 1940 – 1987). Orville died on June 3, 1988 and was buried in Sunset Hills Cemetery (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 5 June 1988). Grace DeAtley Litle died on January 7, 1990 and was buried with Orville in Sunset Hills Cemetery (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 9 January 1990). Orville and Grace’s oldest son Albert Litle married Nellie Anne Dykstra in Bozeman on June 1, 1941 and enlisted in the army on May 23, 1944 (Ancestry.com, 2017; Ancestry.com, 2005). Nellie Ann had been born on October 23, 1915 in rural Manhattan, Montana, “the second child born to Sam and Anna Dykstra, who immigrated from Holland in 1912…Nellie graduated from Manhattan High School in 1935 and Bozeman Deaconess School of Nursing in 1938, earning her RN degree. Her first job was at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.” (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 28 May 2015). The couple had a daughter and three sons. Nellie Ann Litle died May 23, 2015 (Ancestry.com, 2001). It appears that Albert Litle is still living as of July 2020. The younger brother Joseph Litle, “attended Woodbury College of Los Angeles for two years pursuing a degree in accounting, and then enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marines upon the beginning of World War II. After serving for four years on various Liberty ships in the Pacific theater he was honorably discharged at the end of the war. He then returned to Woodbury College and finished his degree. Joe returned to Bozeman and joined his brother and father in the retail grocery business at Litles’ [sic] Modern Grocery Store.” Joseph married Carla Ann Kundert on October 7, 1951, at the First Methodist Church in Bozeman. Carla Ann had been born on August 28, 1929 in Bozeman, to Fred and Mary Kundert. She was a third generation Montanan and raised on the family farm in South Cottonwood (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 20 July 2007). They raised four children. Carla Ann died of cancer on July 18, 2007 and Joseph died of natural causes at age 96, on August 11, 2018 in Belgrade. Joe was interred at Sunset Hills Cemetery (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 20 July 2007; Findagrave.com, 2018). Both Alfred and Joseph Litle worked at Litle’s Modern Grocery from 1940 to 1961, then Litle & Litle Inc. their wholesale grocery located at 539 East Main Street (1962-1965), and 215 South Wallace from 1982 to 1986, until their retirements in 1991 and 1984, respectively (R.L. Polk & Company, 1940 - 1991; Findagrave.com, 2018). The Litle family moved the business from 703 West Babcock Street to 539 East Main Street c.1962, converting it to a wholesale business. The building at 703 West Babcock Street remained empty in 1962, before a company called Montronics Design located there for 1963 and 1964 (R.L. Polk & Company, 1961-1964). The building was again empty in 1965, after which it became The Molly Brown tavern, which retains its long tenure there to the present day (R.L. Polk & Company, 1966 – 1994, after which neither the company nor the address are listed). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 History of Property Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 The Molly Brown operated as a tavern while the building was still owned by Litle’s Modern Grocery, until September 30, 1970, when the Litles sold the property to Mike T. Quinn. Quinn then sold it to the J. & L. Land and Livestock Company on September 15, 1970 (this chronological discrepancy is not explained in the property deeds). From 1966 to 1969, Lou Balock of Billings and Jack Stover of Bozeman, were president and vice president of the business that operated the tavern. This time period corresponds to the incorporation of the J. & L. Land and Livestock Company in October 1965, representing the names Jack and Lou (J & L). This Bozeman company had been incorporated in October 1965 “primarily for the purpose of carrying on a general restaurant, café and cabaret business (The Billings Gazette, 15 October 1965).” Lucas (Lou) Balock had been born on July 21, 1927 in Roundup, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Sea Bees, posted in the Philippines in 1945-1946 until his honorable discharge. He married Catherine Brown on May 22, 1948 in Billings. After working for Darigold in Laurel, he bought Valley Distributing and operated it until 1974. “During that time, he also was a partner in the Molly Brown Bar in Bozeman and Billings. In 1974 he moved the family to Denver and worked for a former supplier. Missing his home state, he moved back to Bozeman in 1976 and worked for Edsall Construction into the 1980s. He died on February 17, 2014.” His ashes were interred at Lake View Cemetery in Polson (Findagrave.com, 2014). Jack Stover and his first wife Diana purchased the property from J & L Land and Livestock Company on July 2, 1971 and sold it to Phyllis M. Watters a month later – on August 2, 1971. Jack Stover alone was listed as president from 1970 to 1972 (R.L. Polk & Company, 1970 – 1972). Jack Stover had been born to Luther and Dorothy Brown Stover on September 9, 1929 in Auburn, New York. He attended Rutgers University, completing ROTC as a First Lieutenant of the U.S Air Force until being honorably discharged in 1954. He moved to Montana in 1955, working for the Extension Service and managing the Darigold Dairy in Bozeman. It is likely that he met Lou Balock while they both worked for Darigold. Jack died of pancreatic cancer on June 24, 2008 in Hamilton (Ravalli Republic, 25 June 2008). After purchasing the property in August 1971, Phyllis Watters and her son Okey Kyle Watters operated the business from 1973 to 1993 – he as president, she as an employee. Phyllis had been born on March 11, 1923 in Forsyth, to Mary Alice Beatty and Byron Lester Snodgrass. Her first husband was killed in World War II piloting maneuvers, after which she married forest ranger Ron Watters. They had a son named Okey. When Phyllis died in 2006, her obituary stated that she and her husband Ron, “ranched near Dean, and owned and operated Frye’s Café in Big Timber, and also the Range Rider’s Lodge in Silver Gate. In 1971, Phyllis and her son, Okey, bought the Molly Brown, a popular college night spot in Bozeman, and later added the Hinkey Dinkey grocery store next to the MSU campus, and a motel (The Billings Gazette, 16 November 2006).” Phyllis had registered a domestic corporation with the state of Montana in 1966, named R.R.L. Inc. (likely referring to Range Rider’s Lodge), to which she sold the Molly Brown on May 5, 1978, presumably to protect her and her family from personal liability. Thus, Phyllis brought her extensive experience to bear in the operation of the Molly Brown, where she worked until retiring in 1992. Phyllis and Ron’s marriage had been dissolved in 1979, after which he remarried (Ancestry.com, 2017). Ron died on March 28, 2001 (Ancestry.com, 2019). Phyllis died on November 14, 2006 (Ancestry.com, 2019; The Billings Gazette, 16 November 2006). Okey Kyle Watters was born to Phyllis and Ron Watters on July 31, 1947 in Forsyth, Montana. Okey attended Big Timber High School/Sweetgrass County High School from 1962 through 1965, participating on the track team (Ancestry.com, 2010). He married Karen Elizabeth Krebs on December 9, 1981. Karen had been born in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 10, 1951 (Ancestry.com, 2017). Karen returned to live in Regina in 2001; she died there in August 2016 (Ancestry.com, 2019). Okey still lives in Bozeman as of July 2020 (The Local Book, 2020). In 1994, Tom Haugen and Bruce Stohmer managed the business, after which the directories no longer listed the business nor the address. Thomas Paul Haugen had been born on January 1, 1957 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He married Tamara Elizabeth Blouch on July 1, 1982 and later married Allison Marie Norris on July 17, 1993 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Ancestry.com, 2007). Allison had attended Bozeman High School in the late 1970s (Ancestry.com 2010) and still lives in Bozeman (The Local Book, 2020). Allison remains the registered agent for Norman Holdings LLC, the owner of the Molly Brown as of July 2020 (Bizapedia.com). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 History of Property Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 Table 1. Chain of Title, 703 West Babcock 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 D: I/56 William H. and Sarah J. Tracy Nelson Story 18 November 1871 Deed Same D: H/402 Nelson and Ellen Story Elias Story 04 November 1874 Deed Lots 13 – 32 in Block E, and all of blocks B, C, D, F, G, H, Story’s Addition D: I/538 Elias Story Ellen Story 14 November 1874 Deed Same D: I/542 Ellen and Nelson Story Elias Story Jr. 29 July 1889 Deed Same (2/3s interest) D: 17/122 Elias Story Jr. Nelson Story 01 August 1889 Deed Same (2/3s interest) D: 17/125 Nelson and Ellen Story Thomas Byron Story 01 January 1903 Warranty Deed Block F, Story’s Addition D: 29/314 The City of Bozeman vacated the west 30’ of S. 7th Avenue between Main and Babcock Streets and deeded that land to T. B. Story (see D: 38/446), On September 4, 1909, T. B. and Katherine F. Story sold the N 8’ of Lots 19 – 26, Block F, to the City of Bozeman for the purpose of opening a public alley through Blocks E, F, and part of Block G in Story’s Addition (D: 42/23). T. B. Story T. B. Story, Inc. 19 November 1920 Deed Lots 1 – 8, 19 – 26 and 30’ strip to the E, Block F, Story’s Addition D: 62/334 T. B. Story, Inc. Katharine F. Story 13 January 1930 Warranty Deed Lots 2 – 8, 19 – 26, and 30’ x 130’ E of Lot 26, Block F, Story’s Addition D: 75/121 Katharine F. and T.B. Story Frank H. Johnson, Superintendent of Banks (MT), Trustee 03 November 1932 Bargain and Sale Deed Same D: 76/555 By Ordinance No. 648, the City of Bozeman vacated a part of Eighth Avenue, 6’ wide strip of land, and by virtue of that Ordinance, it passed to Frank H. Johnson (Abstract of Affidavit, GHM) Frank H. Johnson, Superintendent of Banks (MT), Trustee Belgrade State Bank 05 November 1935 Deed Same D: 79/151 Belgrade State Bank Thomas Byron and Katherine F. Story 18 January 1940 Quit Claim Deed Same (the only consideration for this deed is the return of collateral heretofore pledged by the grantee as security for an obligation to the grantor) D: 83/406 W.A. Brown, Superintendent of Banks (MT) Thomas Byron and Katharine F. Story 21 April 1947 Quit Claim Deed Lots 2 – 8, 19 – 26, and 30’ x 130’ E of Lot 26 and strips of land 6’ x 130’ W of lots 8 and 19, Block F, Story’s Addition D: 95/486 Lots 22 – 24 and W 20’ Lot 25, Block F, Story’s Addition Thomas Byron and Katharine F. Story Kessler Dairy, Inc. 26 January 1948 Warranty Deed Lots 22 – 24 and W 20’ Lot 25, Block F, Story’s Addition D: 121/105 Kessler Dairy, Inc. Litles Modern Grocery, Inc. 16 July 1956 Warranty Deed Same D: 121/471 E 10’ Lot 25, all of Lot 26 and 30’ x 130’ adj. Lot 26, Block F, Story’s Addition MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 History of Property Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference Thomas Byron and Katharine F. Story Kessler Dairy, Inc. 26 January 1948 Warranty Deed E 10’ Lot 25, all of Lot 26 and 30’ x 130’ adj. Lot 26, Block F, Story’s Addition D: 96/579 Kessler Dairy, Inc. Stanley H. and Ora Lemon 26 January 1948 Warranty Deed Same D: 96/587 Stanley H. and Ora Lemon Litles Modern Grocery, Inc. 31 May 1956 Warranty Deed Same D: 121/190 Lots 22 – 26 and 30’ x 130’ adj. Lot 26, Block F, Story’s Addition Litles Modern Grocery, Inc. Mike T. Quinn 30 September 1970 [these dates are correctly taken from deed] Warranty Deed Lots 22 – 26 and 30’ x 130’ adj. Lot 26, except N 8’ for alley, Block F, Story’s Addition D: Film 8/700 Mike T. and Margaret C. Quinn J. & L. Land and Livestock Co. 15 September 1970 [these dates are correctly taken from deed] Warranty Deed Same D: Film 35/1095 J. & L. Land and Livestock Co. Diana B. Stover 02 July 1971 Warranty Deed Same (1/602 interest) D: Film 35/1096 J. & L. Land and Livestock Co. Jack L. Stover 02 July 1971 Warranty Deed Same (601/602 interest) D: Film 35/1097 Jack L. and Diana B. Stover Phyllis M. Watters 25 August 1971 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 43/807 Phyllis M. Watters R. R. L., Inc. 05 May 1978 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 43/894 R. R. L., Inc. Tamara Hougen 15 August 1986 Abstract of Agreement Same D: Film 93/1929 Tamara Hougen Anaconda Molly Brown, Inc. 28 February 1992 Abstract of Agreement Same D: Film 121/2380 Anaconda Molly Brown, Inc. Thomas P. Haugen 13 July 1993 Warranty Deed Same D: #2272581 Phyllis M. Watters, Okey Kyle Watters, Douglas B. Abraham, Successors in interest to R. R. L., Inc. Anaconda Molly Brown, Inc. 22 January 1998 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 183/383 R. R. L., Inc. Anaconda Molly Brown, Inc. 22 January 1998 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 183/386 Tamara West (aka Tamara Hougen) Thomas P. Hougen 22 April 2006 Quit Claim Deed Same D: #2272582 Thomas P. Hougen Anaconda Molly Brown, Inc. 17 August 2006 Quit Claim Deed Same D: #2271640 Thomas P. Hougen Allison M. Hougen 03 July 2007 Quit Claim Deed Same D: #2272583 Allison Marie Norris (fka Allison M. Hougen) Norman Holdings LLC 30 December 2008 Special Warranty Deed Same D: #2318564 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Abstract of Affidavit No date Gallatin County Abstract Company. Gallatin History Museum, Bozeman, Montana. Ancestry.com 2001 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Helena, Montana; Montana Death Records. Montana, State Deaths, 1907-2016 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 12, 2020. 2005 National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 14857; Reel: 56. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 12, 2020. 2007 Clark County, Nevada Marriage Bureau. Clark County, Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-1966. Las Vegas, Nevada: Clark County, Nevada Marriage Bureau. Ancestry.com. Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2010 Year: 1920; Census Place: Clyde Park, Park, Montana; Roll: T625_974; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 100. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2010 Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings, Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2010 "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Absarokee High School; Year: 1962. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2010 “U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Sweet Grass County High School; Year: 1963. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2010 "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Sweet Grass County High School; Year: 1965. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2010 "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Bozeman High School; Year: 1979. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2011 The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Montana, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 29. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 12, 2020. 2017 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Helena, Montana; Montana State Marriage Records, 1943-1986. Montana, Marriage Records, 1943-1988 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 17, 2020. 2017 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Helena, Montana; Montana State Marriage Records, 1943-1986. Montana, Marriage Records, 1943-1988 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 16, 2020. 2017 Montana State Historical Society; Helena, Montana; Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950. Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1987 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 12, 2020. 2019 The Billings Gazette; Publication Date: 29/ Mar/ 2001; Publication Place: Billings, Montana, United States of America; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/413403234/?article=e2775302-67fe-42be-a167-eed4024360e8&focus=0.31972593,0.046218205,0.4722661,0.60145706&xid=2378. Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 17, 2020. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 2019 The Billings Gazette; Publication Date: 16/ Nov/ 2006; Publication Place: Billings, Montana, United States of America. Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 12, 2020. 2019 The Leader-Post; Publication Date: 11/ Aug/ 2016; Publication Place: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/498272434/?article=893f6ed5-bf05-4e49-94bd-475f4d4430d9&focus=0.22930844,0.69248545,0.40413916,0.926042&xid=2378. Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, accessed July 17, 2020. The Billings Gazette [Billings, Montana] 1965 “Three Groups Incorporated.” 15 October: Page 28. Billings, Montana. 2006 “Phyllis Watters.” 16 November: Page 218. Billings, Montana. Bizapedia Phyllis Watters in Bozeman, MT https://www.bizapedia.com/people/montana/bozeman/phyllis-watters.html, accessed July 16, 2020. Bozeman Daily Chronicle [Bozeman, Montana] 1988 “Orville Albert Litle,” 5 June. Bozeman, Montana. 1990 “Grace D. Litle,” 9 January. Bozeman, Montana. 2007 “Carla Ann Litle,” 20 July. Bozeman, Montana. 2015 “Nellie A. Litle,” 28 May. Bozeman, Montana. 2018 “Joseph B. Litle,” 17 August. Bozeman, Montana. Find A Grave 2014 Loucas L Balock (21 Jul 1927–17 Feb 2014). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168928912/loucas-l-balock, accessed July 16, 2020. 2018 Joseph B. “Joe” Litle (1 Oct 1921–11 Aug 2018). Electronic document, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192385082/joseph-b-litle, accessed July 12, 2020. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder 1864-2019 Gallatin County Deeds. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Bozeman, Montana. James R. McDonald Architects 1983 703 W Babcock St. Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman. Bozeman, MT. Statewide Publishing Company 2020 The Local Book: Big Sky Country Bozeman. Statewide Publishing, Kennewick, WA. Montana State Library. Montana Cadastral records online, http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral, accessed 5/18/2020. Norman Holdings LLC https://www.bizapedia.com/us/norman-holdings-llc.html, accessed July 16, 2020. R. L. Polk & Co. 1904-2012 Polk’s Bozeman (Gallatin County, Mont.) City Directories. R.L. Polk & Co., Kansas City, Missouri. Ravalli Republic [Hamilton, Montana] 2008 “Jack Stover,” 25 June: Page 3. Hamilton, Montana. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Statement of Significance Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 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 This site is the Molly Brown tavern, originally constructed in c. 1957 as the Litle’s Modern Grocery. The property was first recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects. At that time, it was considered an “intrusive element within a potential historic district.” Metcalf finds that while it has experienced modifications to the original design, namely the loss of virtually all original windows, the changes occurred within the historic period. The site has operated as the Molly Brown tavern since 1966—over fifty years. Further, the building appears much as it did in 1984 when last surveyed. Metcalf recommends the site does retain sufficient integrity to convey historic character but is not historically significant. 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, while it is a beloved local establishment and part of what locals refer to as the “Barmuda Triangle,” it lacks individual significance under Criteria A, B, C, or D. The site is not located within an existing historic district. However, it dates to a period of expansion that occurred west along Main Street and into a primarily residential neighborhood beginning in the 1940s. This expansion altered the character of the surrounding area and ties in with the understanding of development within the Story Addition. Most exterior modifications to the site are thought to have occurred in the historic period, during its conversion to new use as the Molly Brown tavern. Therefore, within the context of a potential district, the site retains sufficient integrity to convey its historic character and is therefore recommended eligible/contributing to a potential district composed of contemporaneous structures observed in the vicinity. Metcalf recommends further research be conducted regarding Bozeman’s Story Addition to evaluate district potential. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Integrity Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) Overall, the site is in good condition. It retains integrity of location, setting, workmanship, and association. The southern addition has affected integrity of design, materials, and feeling. The paint over the concrete brick is peeling in some sections. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Photographs Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 Feature # 1 Facing: E Description: Property 036. Front façade. (Image #1834, 10/19/2019. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 036. Oblique view of back elevation. (Image #1828, 10/19/2019. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 12 Photographs Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 036. Front façade. (Image #1832, 10/19/2019. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 036. Close up of sign located in SE corner of property. (Image #1833, 10/19/2019. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 13 Site Map Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 14 Topographic Map Property Name: THE MOLLY BROWN Site Number: 036