The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2-12 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: 2-12 E Main St Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 228 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0952 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Masonic Temple Original Owner(s): Nelson Story Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Masonic Lodge Building Owner(s): Masonic Temple Inc of Bozeman Owner Address: PO Box 235, Bozeman, MT 59771 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E SE ¼ SW ¼ NW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Lots 1-4 Block(s): Block A Addition: Bozeman Original Plat Year of Addition: 1870 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial / Fraternal Lodge Current Use: Commercial / Fraternal Lodge Construction Date: 1890 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 N Easting: 497126 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: 6/2/2021 Form Prepared by: S. Wells and R. Schields, 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 should be considered contributing to Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Commercial Style (Western) If Other, specify: Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Retail Architect: Issac James Galbraith Architectural Firm/City/State: Livingston, MT Builder/Contractor: W. H. Tracy Company/City/State: Bozeman, MT Source of Information: https://bozemanmagazine.com/articles/2018/05/31/102879-downtown-bozemans-historic-masonic-temple-18, accessed 6/2/2021. This site is the two-story Masonic Lodge and Story Block building constructed in 1890 and originally designed by James Issac Galbraith. The site was previously recorded by McDonald in 1984 with revisions by Matt Cohen in 1985. Due to the lack of integrity at the time, McDonald recommended the site "neutral" in a potential historic district. The property is located within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952), but was considered a non-contributing property in 1986. McDonald described the site as follows: "This attached two-story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with an original brick and limestone facade showing through the arched entrances cut into the stucco covering. The symmetrical facade consists of six arched entrances with glass doors and aluminum storefront windows. One of the arched entrances has been completed in natural wood and ceramic tile. The brick construction is finished in stucco and rests on a foundation that is not visible. The flat built-up roof lies parallel to the street." Metcalf visited the site in 2020 and noted significant alterations to the north and west elevations. Between 2014 and 2018, Masonic Lodge #18 worked with CTA Architects to remove exterior stucco cladding that had been added in 1950 and 1980. Removal of the 2 1/2 inch exterior stucco of the north elevation revealed original 1890s brick and stone detailing that had not been altered prior to the addition of the stucco (Gilmore, 2018). The stucco on the west elevation had been applied directly to the brick after details had been removed and the original brick and stone detailing could not be recovered from this elevation. The six-bay facade faces north onto W Main Street. The building is rectangular in plan and rests on a concrete foundation. The roof is flat and the east and west end bays extend above roofline of the four central bays with brick parapet and concrete coping. The ground floor supports five retail establishments, each with an at-grade, recessed entrance and modern plate glass storefront windows. Stacked bands of modern brick and poured concrete divide each storefront. Above the four east-most storefronts are metal panels and a continuous a dentil detail runs above the four storefronts. The second story supports seventeen one-over-one lite hung windows with a continuous stone sill. Three windows at the east end and three at the west end are topped with segmented arches and a centered metal Masons emblem. The central eleven windows have stone lintels. An elaborate cornice tops the elevation, the central bays support a metal coping while the two end bays have a concrete coping. The west elevation supports one bay at the north end that continues the brick construction and layout of the facade: a modern store front on the first story, three one-over-one lite segmented arched windows on the second story and an elaborate cornice at the top. The remaining portion of the west elevation is clad in cementitious panels with a two-story curtain wall near the south end. The first story supports two at-grade entrances flanked by modern metal fixed single-lite windows. The modern portion of the second story supports metal framed, one-over-one lite hung windows, single-lite awning windows and single-lite fixed windows. Overall, the site is in excellent condition. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The two-story Masonic Lodge Building was constructed in 1890 for Nelson Story. This site was previously the location of Story's first modest home which was removed to clear the site for construction. The construction of this commercial block filled in the last empty spot of the built-up commercial district that ran from Tracy to Rouse. The original design was completed by Livingston architect Issac Galbraith. According to Leslie Gilmore, historic architect and director of the 2014 renovation, "Story's selection of ... Galbraith demonstrated Galbraith's success during his short time in Montana... Galbraith has burst upon the scene since his arrival from Pittsburg in the summer of 1888." and after receiving a commission to design the Montana Building for the World's Fair in Chicago moved his office to that city (Gilmore, 2018). Story had no trouble renting the six retail spaces in his new building. Each storefront had a separate entry with individual access to the basement and second floors; solid brick walls from the basement to the roof divided each unit. By 1913, the store housed retail spaces selling Hardware and Buggies, Harnesses, Boots and Shoes, Jeweler Tailor and Cleaning, Cigars and Tobacco, and Variety; Chinese merchandise and Japanese goods were sold from an alley entrance (Gilmore, 2018). The building passed to Nelson Jr. and Nelson III after Story's death in 1927 (Nelson Story's son and grandson); they hired local architect Fred Willson to design alterations to the storefronts which displayed English Tudor Revival, Classical, and Art Moderne styles over the years (Gilmore, 2018). The large second floor space remained empty until 1950, when Masonic Lodge #18 occupied the space. One of two Masonic Lodges in the city, Bozeman Lodge #18 had split from Gallatin Lodge #6 in 1872 due to the Southern-leaning sympathies of Lodge #6 members. According to Cohen, "Those sympathetic with North sarcastically claimed that even Jesus Christ would have been denied membership to the first lodge ... since only Confederates and sons of Confederates were allowed to join." (Cohen, 1985). Lodge #6 rented various locations including the upper story of the Chambers-Fisher Building until 1947 when they signed a contract with the Story family; the Lodge paid $185,000 for the building over 23 years. In 1950, Lodge member and local architect Fred Willson was hired for an interior and exterior remodel. The construction converted the building to a simplified International style; much of the original brick detailing was sheared off and stucco cladding added to the second story. Original second story wood windows were replaced with steel sash windows and the openings narrowed and recessed behind the stucco cladding (Gilmore, 2018 and Cohen, 1985). The construction also extended the building south to the alley and added two lodge halls with dining and kitchen facilities as well as offices and meeting space to the second floor. By 1980, the stucco-clad exterior was badly in need of repair. Montana State University architect Bert Cheever designed the $62,000 repairs that closed and insulated all second story windows, sealing over them with an additional layer of stucco. The first story remained stucco-free, but Cheever added an arcade of gentle arches above each storefront (Gilmore, 2018). After thirty years of meetings behind two layers of stucco, Masonic Lodge #18, "had tired of the lack of transparency at Main Street and decided it was time to have a stronger, more interactive presence." (Gilmore, 2018). The Lodge and CTA Architects spent three years designing and transforming the exterior of the building. CTA Architects removed the stucco cladding that had been added in 1950 and 1980. Removal of the 2 1/2 inch exterior stucco of the north elevation revealed original 1890s brick and stone detailing that had not been altered prior to the addition of the stucco (Gilmore, 2018). The stucco on the west elevation had been applied directly to the brick after details had been removed and the original brick and stone detailing could not be recovered from this elevation. The resulting design restores integrity to the north-facing facade while incorporating modern elements to the west elevation that could not be restored. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Cohen, Matt 1985 2-12 E Main Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory (revised). Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. Gilmore, Leslie 2018 "Downtown Bozeman's Historic Masonic Temple #18". Bozeman Magazine. May 31, 2018. https://bozemanmagazine.com/articles/2018/05/31/102879-downtown-bozemans-historic-masonic-temple-18, accessed 6/2/2021. James R. McDonald Architects 1984 2-12 E Main Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 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: Architecture / Connection to Story Family / Commercial History Period of Significance: Historic More Than One Decade STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Masonic Lodge Building is a two-story commercial structure constructed in 1890 for Nelson Story. The site was recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984. Due to the lack of integrity at the time, McDonald recommended the site neutral in a potential historic district. The property is located within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0985), but was considered a non-contributing property in 1986. Metcalf finds the site in excellent condition. In part because of restoration work conducted in 2014, the site now retains sufficient integrity to convey its historic character in reference to its historic associations. Sect. 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. However, the site is located within the Main Street Historic District and due to recent renovations, retains sufficient integrity to convey historic associations. Metcalf recommends the site be added to the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952) as a contributing property. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) Overall, the site is in excellent condition. Early modifications like the addition of exterior stucco to the north and west elevations impacted the integrity of materials, design, and workmanship. Due to these alterations, the property was not included in the Main Street Historic District in 1986. Since that time, the building has undergone significant renovation including removing the exterior stucco, removing added arches between the stories, and restoring original window openings and brick details in the second story. Metcalf has determined that sufficient integrity remains and that the site is able to convey historic character, MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 Feature # 1 Facing: S Description: Property 228. Primary façade. (Image #1675, 10/29/2020. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: Property 228. Oblique view. (Image #1674, 10/29/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 228. Oblique view of rear south elevation. (Image #1688, 10/29/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Site Map Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Topographic Map Property Name: 2-12 E Main St Site Number: 228