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Home My WebLink About122 S Willson Ave 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: 122 S Willson Ave Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 294 Historic District Number (if applicable): County: Gallatin Historic Name: South Willson Conoco Service Original Owner(s): Continental Oil Company Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Owner(s): Halse Family Trust Owner Address: 3300 Graf St Unit 81, Bozeman, MT 59715-7196 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E NE ¼ NW ¼ SW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Lot 14 Block(s): Block A Addition: Alderson Addition Year of Addition: 1873 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1940 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 N Easting: 497007 Northing: 5058217 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: 05/13/2021 Form Prepared by: S. Wells and E. Sakariassen, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants Inc. with C. Alegria and C. Hendry, Extreme History Project 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: MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Tudor Revival If Other, specify: Romantic revival Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Realty office 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: an former filling/service station turned real estate office, built ca. 1940 in the Romantic Revival style. It was previously recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects, and regarded as a "contributing element within a potential historic district due to its association with the commercial aspect of the Nationalization Phase of Bozeman's historic/architectural development...[and that] the historic integrity of this property has been retained due to the survival of original design and materials and continuity of use, setting, and location." McDonald described the structure as follows: "This one-and-one-half story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with steeply-pitched cross gable defining the front entrance, which together with a storefront window is protected by a shed-roofed overhang. Windows in the rest of the structure are fixed and also have awnings. The frame construction is finished in stucco and the steeply-pitched gable roof is covered with asphalt shingles. The axis of the roof is parallel to the street. Metcalf revisited the site on October 15, 2020, and noted some minor modifications to the exterior. It has a rectangular plan shape and concrete foundation. The roof is a steeply pitched gable with cross gabled wing. The roof is covered in asphalt shingles. The exterior walls are clad in original glazed brick in three tones: white, green and red. The primary entry faces west onto S Willson. It has an at grade entry at the south end of the facade, within the shallow projecting gable front. The entry has large modern metal fixed display window to the north and both the window and doorway are beneath a cloth awning. Further north on the facade, along the slightly recessed side gabled wing, are two large multi lite modern fixed windows. They appear to fill voids that were once two single stall garage/vehicle bays. The northmost bay has a slightly darker glazed brick, and might be an addition. The former garage bay openings are adorned across the top with a red soldier course of brick. The same treatment adorns each opening, including a small narrow fixed lite window in the very peak of the building's gable. The south elevation has one large window opening and smaller one over one lite awning windows. The windows are not original but are fitted to the original openings. The east elevation faces a parking area and has an at grade side hung door at the south end and a boarded up door opening at the opposite north end. Two window openings are also present and boarded up. Skylights are present on the roof. The north gable end has three large three lite modern windows within the original openings. The structure is in excellent condition. Despite modern windows being installed, the openings are all intact and it still conveys original character. The modern windows affect integrity of materials. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The property currently addressed as 122 South Willson Avenue was surveyed as W. W. Alderson’s Addition in September of 1872 and platted on October 10, 1873. This street was called Central Avenue until it was renamed Willson Avenue two years after the death of early merchant General Lester Willson in 1919; the street was named in his honor. The original house on the lot was built between 1879 and 1889 by Elias Sperling (based on maps and deeds). The Continental Oil Company purchased this property on August 8, 1939. A gas service station was built on this lot in 1940. The gas station was first called the South Willson Conoco Service, then Williamson Conoco Service, then Russell E. Egeler Gas and Oil (R. L. Polk & Co., 1940, 1942; 1944; 1947, 1950). Russell Egeler was an automobile mechanic who had been born in Livingston, MT on January 4, 1907 to Ella C. and Eugene Egeler (Arizona Republic, 21 October 1988). From 1954 to 1956 the service station had the name Kinzie’s Conoco Service Station, then C & W Conoco Service Station, and Willson Avenue Conoco Service Station (R. L. Polk & Co., 1954, 1956; 1958; 1959). The Continental Oil Company sold this property to Michael J. and Jacqueline V. Powers on January 5, 1965. Michael "Mike" James Powers had been born in Butte, MT on January 12, 1925. His family moved to Livingston where he completed high school. Immediately after graduation, Michael was shipped to England to join American forces fighting in the Second World War. On December 24, 1944, a transport ship he was on was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk in the English Channel. Michael was one of the survivors of this event. Upon his return to the states, he married Jacqueline Tout in Helena, MT on July 1, 1950 (or 1951). Jacqueline Tout had been born on June 22, 1917 in Salt Lake City, UT. She was raised in Beverly Hills, CA. She worked for the Air Transport Command during the Second World War. In 1949 she worked in Yellowstone National Park in the original Canyon Lodge. The following season she returned to work in the accounting department of the Yellowstone Park Company in Mammoth, WY. From there she moved to Helena, MT and worked for Galusha, Higgins, and Galusha. The couple moved to Bozeman in 1959. During her time in Bozeman, she worked as a legal secretary and probate assistant from 1961 until her retirement in 1981. Michael owned and operated the Willson Avenue Conoco that was located on this property, he also bought the Exxon jobbership and was a "fuel and oil distributor until his retirement in 1980" (Findagrave.com, 2021; The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 24 May 2004). The city directory lists the name of the service station as, "Conoco Service Station" from 1960 to 1970 (R. L. Polk & Co., 1960 – 1970). Michael J. and Jacqueline V. Powers sold the property to Lowell R. and Phyllis S. Klatt on January 10, 1969. Lowell Klatt was also in the gas station business and owned Klatt’s Conoco on Main Street in Bozeman (R. L. Polk & Co, 1959). Phyllis Klatt worked at Klatt’s Conoco as a bookkeeper (Belgrade News, 02 September 2008). The property went from the Klatts to First Montana Title Insurance Company on September 18, 1970. The First Montana Title Insurance Company sold the property to Allan W. and Diana Green on September 11, 1972. The city directories indicate that the building contained Crossroads Gifts from 1974 to 1984 (R. L. Polk & Co., 1974 – 1984). The Greens sold the property to Mearl D. Baker on May 24, 1976. Mearl D. Baker was an optician. In 1964 he was hired by Dr. Lensink, the found of Medical Eye Specialists as head optician. In January of 1967, Mearl Baker purchased the optical side of Dr. Lensink’s practice and opened it as Baker Opticians (https://www.bakeropticians.com/). Mearl Baker sold this property to Jade Ellen Hanson, Leo N. Hoffart, and Vickie Ann Miller on July 1, 1981. In 1985 the building contained the Mountain Bell customer service center. In 1986 the building held the Gallatin Council. From 1987 to 1989 the building housed Second Story Counseling. From 1990 to 2002 this building was the home to Nick Fullerton Architects. In 2003, it housed Faure Halvorsen Architects. From 2004 to the present (April 2021), this building housed Heart of Montana Realty (R. L. Polk & Co., 1985 – 2012). Patricia N. Halse, Trustee of the Halse Family Trust, is the current owner as of April 2021. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 History of Property Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 Table 1. Chain of Title, 122 South Willson Avenue, Bozeman, Montana. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference USA William Babcock 10 March 1875 Patent Tract 3, Sec 7 T2S R6E GLO Records William H. Babcock William W. Alderson 13 September 1871 Deed W Fractional ½ SW ¼ Sec 7, T2S R6E (68 acres) D: H/360 William W. and Francis W. Alderson Elias Sperling 18 April 1879 Deed Lots 11 – 13, Block A, Aldersons Addition D: 1/54 Elias Sperling Jeannette Sperling 31 July 1879 Deed Same D: 1/117 Jeannette Sperling Louisa Austin Dier 26 November 1894 Warranty Deed Lots 11 – 16 and S ½ Lot 17, Block A, Aldersons Addition D: 14/448 Louisa Austin and George P. Dier W. S. Davidson 25 July 1919 Warranty Deed Same D: 58/100 W. S. and Lulu B. Davidson V. J. Applegate 13 January 1920 Quit Claim Deed Same D: 64/41 V. J. and Saloma A. Applegate Continental Oil Company 08 August 1939 Warranty Deed W 75’ Lots 11 – 13 and S 10’ W 75’ Lot 14, Block A, Aldersons Addition D: 83/8 Continental Oil Company Michael J. and Jacqueline V. Powers 05 January 1965 Warranty deed Same D: 147/167 Michael J. and Jacqueline V. Powers Lowell R. and Phyllis S. Klatt 10 January 1969 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 3/958 Lowell R. and Phyllis S. Klatt First Montana Title Insurance Company 18 September 1970 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 30/2026 First Montana Title Insurance Company Allan W. and Diana Green 11 September 1972 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 16/104 Allan W. and Diana Green Mearl D. Baker 24 May 1976 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 32/2731 Mearl D. Baker Jade Ellen Hanson, Leo N. Hoffart, Vickie Ann Miller 01 July 1981 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 112/2565 Jade Ellen Hanson, Leo N. Hoffart, Vickie Ann Miller Danny J. Kamp and Carl H. Vander Molen 04 September 1987 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 112/2566 Danny J. Kamp Carl Vander Molen 20 January 1989 and 19 June 1990 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 105/3455 and Film 112/2568 Carl Vander Molen Carol Fullerton 06 September 1990 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 112/2569 Carol Fullerton Patricia N. Halse, Trustee of Halse Family Trust 16 August 2000 Warranty Deed Same D: #2018819 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Arizona Republic [Phoenix, Arizona] 1988 "Russell E. Egeler." 21 October. Phoenix, Arizona. Bakeropticians.com 2021 Bakeropticians.com. Electronic document, accessed 3 May 2021. Belgrade News [Belgrade, Montana] 2008 "Phyllis S. Klatt." 02 September. Belgrade, Montana. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle [Bozeman, Montana] 2004 "Jacqueline V. Powers." 24 May. Bozeman, Montana. Findagrave.com 2021 Memorial page for Michael James Powers (12 Jan 1925–14 Aug 2007), Find a Grave Memorial ID 23397523, citing Sunset Hills Cemetery, Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana, USA. Electronic document, accessed 27 April 2021. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder 1864-2021 Gallatin County Deeds. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Bozeman, Montana. McDonald, James R. 1984 Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory. City of Bozeman. Bozeman, Montana. Electronic document, http://weblink.bozeman.net/WebLink8/0/doc/151603/Electronic.aspx, accessed 14 August 2020. Montana State Library. Montana Cadastral records online, http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral, accessed 13 May 2021. R. L. Polk & Company 1904-2012 Polk’s Bozeman (Gallatin County, Mont.) City Directories. R.L. Polk & Co., Kansas City, Missouri. Sanborn Map Company 1890-1957 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana (Jul 1890, Nov 1891, Jan 1904, Sep 1912, Sep 1927, Sep 1943, Nov 1957). Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Statement of Significance Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 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 at 122 South Willson Avenue was previously recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects, and regarded as a "contributing element within a potential historic district due to its association with the commercial aspect of the Nationalization Phase of Bozeman's historic/architectural development...[and that] the historic integrity of this property has been retained due to the survival of original design and materials and continuity of use, setting, and location." However, the site has been omitted from inclusion in any existing historic districts and, as noted by Metcalf, the properties in the vicinity lack cohesion and are unlikely to constitute a potential district. Metcalf finds that recent modifications to the building itself, primarily the installation of modern windows, have affected integrity of materials, but overall the site retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character. 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. The site is not located within an existing historic district and Metcalf finds the properties within the vicinity of this site lack cohesion to constitute a potential district. Therefore, Metcalf recommends this site not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Integrity Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The structure is in excellent condition, overall. The modern windows affect integrity of materials, though other aspects are retained. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 Feature # 1 Facing: NW Description: Property 294. Oblique view. (Image #0464, 10/15/2020. EAS) Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 294. Oblique view. (Image #0465, 10/15/2020. EAS) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: Property 294. Oblique view. (Image #0466, 10/15/2020. EAS) Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 294. Oblique view. (Image #0467, 10/15/2020. EAS) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Site Map Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Topographic Map Property Name: 122 S Willson Avenue Site Number: 294