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Home My WebLink About18 E Main St 2021 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: 18 E Main St Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 195 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0952 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Gem Theatre/Montana Power Original Owner(s): Unknown Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Owner(s): Power Building LLC Owner Address: PO Box 206, Bozeman, MT 59771-0206 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E SW ¼ SE ¼ NW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Lot 5, W5' Lot 6 Block(s): Block A Addition: Bozeman Original Plat Year of Addition: 1870 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1900 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 N Easting: 497150 Northing: 5058381 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: 1986 Historic District: Main Street Historic District NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman's definition of an eligible property. Date of this document: 05/21/2021 Form Prepared by: S. Wells and E. Sakariassen, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants Inc. Address: PO Box 1526, Bozeman, MT 59771 Daytime Phone: (406) 219-3535 MT SHPO USE ONLY Eligible for NRHP: □ yes □ no Criteria: □ A □ B □ C □ D Date: Evaluator: Comments: Site contributes to existing historic district. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Romanesque If Other, specify: Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Retail Architect: Unknown Architectural Firm/City/State: Unknown Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: Unknown Source of Information: This site consists of one historical architectural feature: a commercial structure built ca. 1900. It was previously recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects, and subsequently listed in the NRHP as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). McDonald described the structure as follows: "This attached two-story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with an inset storefront and an upper-story entry of light oak with a glass transom. The asymmetrical façade has a central and an offset front entrance with copper storefront windows on a granite base replacing the old bow windows. The second floor features two combination 6/6 and 15/15 double-hung windows and a pressed tin cornice with a variety of designs above the windows. The brick and incised limestone construction is finished in glazed terra cotta (of a winged shield design) surrounding the first floor storefront. It rests on a granite foundation. The flat built-up roof lies perpendicular to the street." Metcalf revisited the site on October 29, 2020, and noted modifications to the windows and storefronts. There are new windows placed in the original openings. The second story still has two large windows but they are now 9-lite fixed windows. The storefront and second story entrance on the east end of the primary façade still have the same openings, but with modern metal-framed sash. The panel above the storefronts, with the "Stylon" sign was removed. What appears to be old Art Deco style glass panes were probably beneath the 1984 panel. A store sign for The Spice & Tea Exchange sits above its display window in this panel section. The site is in good condition. There are some patched sections over presumably broken panes of the decorative glass above the storefront. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 HISTORY OF PROPERTY This site was formerly known as the Gem Theater. It is a small commercial block that was built c. 1900 and remodeled in the early decades of the 20th Century. In 1985 McDonald's report was revised by Matt Cohen, who claims it derives its greatest significance from its association with the Montana Power Company and that it is "therefore, related to the early 20th century's expansion of city services in Bozeman." Harry Smith and his wife, Mrs. Mary John Mendenhall, built the block in 1900. Early on, it is shown on the 1904 Sanborn Map as a dry goods store. According to Cohen, "the building originally had two ornate oriel windows with broad friezes ornamented with swags that echoed those of the pressed metal cornice. A simple, original plate glass storefront had a nearly central, recessed entrance. A decorative parapet medallion and urn finials originally crowned the building (Cohen 1985)." In 1908, according to the 1984 Inventory form, the building was remodeled and became the Gem Theatre. A photograph dated c. 1909 shows the ornate, glazed terra cotta entrance, which featured a classically embellished, column-supported arcade. The proprietor of the theatre in 1908 was J.H. Marshall, followed by Joseph Ruerup by 1915. In 1918 the Gem Theatre Co. was listed as management - the group that also spear-headed the construction of the Ellen Theatre (17 W. Main) across the street. By 1927, the Montana Power Co. occupied the building and, as Cohen describes, had taken on its present appearance: "Final changes included removal of the oriels and their replacement of limestone string courses and oriel bases with red brick infill, and the installation of the very distinctive glazed terra cotta storefront, which is ornamented with winged shields. The storefront may retain its original full transom beneath the present "Stylon" sign, which may be similar to the multiple-light transom over the door to the upper floor (Cohen 1985)." The building also served as one of the several locations of the Kopp butcher shop, presumably between the occupancies of the Gem Theatre and the Montana Power Co., and currently The Spice & Tea Exchange, and Rockford Coffee occupy the two ground floor storefront spaces, and it is owned by Power Building LLC. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Cohen, Matt 1985 Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory for Commercial National Bank, 18 E Main St., Revision. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, MT. James R. McDonald Architects 1984 18 E Main 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 21 May 2021. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NRHP Listing Date: 1986 NRHP Eligibility: Yes No Individually Contributing to Historic District Noncontributing to Historic District NRHP Criteria: A B C D Area of Significance: Architecture Period of Significance: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The property at 18 East Main Street was previously recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects, was updated in 1985 by Matt Cohen, and was subsequently listed in the NRHP as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0985). Metcalf finds that the site retains a degree of integrity to convey some historic character. This site is currently listed in the NRHP and retains sufficient integrity to maintain its listed status as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The site is in good condition, overall, with some of the Art Deco style glass in disrepair. The modern windows and glass affect integrity of materials, design, and feeling. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 Feature # 1 Facing: S Description: Property 195. Primary façade. (Image #1676, 10/29/2020. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: NW Description: Property 195. Oblique view of rear south elevation. (Image #1686, 10/29/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Site Map Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Topographic Map Property Name: 18 E Main St Site Number: 195