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Home My WebLink About104 W Main 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: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 248 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0952 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Benepe-Owenhouse Co. Original Owner(s): Frank Benepe Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Chalet Sports, the Downtown We, the Artshoppe, Chocolate Moose, Naked Noodle, Blend Fibers, Berkshire Hathaway Owner(s): Downtowner Mall Condo Owner Address: 108 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59718-9999 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E SE¼ SW ¼ NW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Lots 1-3 and 5, E S Lot 4, S 85' Lot 12-15 Lot 16-18, 09'E End Lot 3 Block(s): Block B Addition: Downtower Mall Condo Subdivision Year of Addition: USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1886 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone:12 Easting: Northing: National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: Historic District: Main Street 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: 3/18/2021 Form Prepared by: 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: Site does not contribute to the Main Street Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Other If Other, specify: 20th Century Commercial Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Retail mall Architect: Unknown Architectural Firm/City/State: Unknown Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: Unknown Source of Information: N/A This site is the Benepe-Owenhouse Co. building, built in 1886. It is a two-story brick commercial block. It was originally recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1985 and is considered a non-contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24G0952). McDonald originally described the building as follows: "This detached two-story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with an inset arched open lobby to the entrance. The facade is symmetrical and consists of an offset front entrance with fixed windows inset under brick arches. On the second level there is a central, transomed arched three-window grouping, flanked by a single arched and then a pair of arched transomed windows on either side. The bearing wall construction is finished in sandstone, brick and concrete. Brick arches have been superimposed on the older concrete structure. The roof is flat of built-up materials and has a brick exterior chimney and several metal stovepipes. The original brick has been sandblasted and the north and west sides have been remodeled with a brick facade. The axis of the building is perpendicular to the street." McDonald found that the property had lost integrity due to changes in original design and materials. Metcalf visited the site and noted that few notable changes have been made since the previous record. The building fronts W Main but extends the full Length of the block north-south, with storefronts facing S Willson. This secondary facade was not previously described. These storefronts are contained within segmented-arched openings on the first section, with modern metal-framed fixed display windows and glass doors. Shop signs are above, projecting from metal brackets along the east elevation. The northern end of the building, roughly two thirds, has an upper story. The upper story windows are modern metal one-over-one-lite windows fitted to the original openings. Original wood two-lite transoms are intact above each. The southern four bays are possibly an addition to the historic building and have concrete stucco facing along the cornice and along the south elevation. To the west of the building is a an alleyway, providing service access to each business. The west elevation has multiple service entrances at grade and a variety of windows, most of which are second-story modern metal one-over-one-lite windows fitted to the original segmented-arch openings. This west elevation also has segments of stone wall. Overall, the site is in good condition. However, Metcalf concurs with the previous recommendation that the building has lost sufficient integrity, primarily because of the full-width facade remodel that detracts from its historic character. The site does not contribute to the Main Street Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 HISTORY OF PROPERTY This site is the Benepe-Owenhouse Co. building which has been the "Downtowner Mall" since 1977. In 1985, Matt Cohen provided historical background for this property, as an amendment to McDonald's original Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory form. His history is paraphrased as follows: The building is named, in part, for Frank. L. Benepe who came to Montana in 1877 and soon went into business selling hides, grain, and farm implements with A.J. Davison. He bought Davidson out in 1883 and two years later began construction of the present building, on land bought from Ellen and Nelson Story. According to Cohen, "Leeson's 1889 History of Montana notes that Benepe had the 'leading business in agricultural implements and all kinds of farm machinery' and bought and sold more grain than any man in the Gallatin Valley. Benepe built one of the finest houses in the city at the time, 201 S. 3rd Ave, in 1883, and later remodeled it to the Queen Anne Style (c. 1890)." Benepe was successful in his enterprise and even entered local politics. He served two terms as Bozeman's mayor. In 1891, Benepe and three others joined with Owenhouse, a saddle and harness maker from Iowa, and incorporated the Bozeman Implement, Carriage and Harness Co., later the Benepe-Owenhouse Company. In 1898, the retail store was divided into numerous specialized departments. Cohen claims that "the building originally had an east-west passageway through the first floor, linking the alley south of Main St. to S. Willson Ave. The broad segmental arch of the former opening is still visible in the west wall. Nelson Story, a major figure in Bozeman history, purportedly used to drive through this passageway to visit his brother-in-law, Frank Benepe, until the two had an altercation, and Benepe had the opening bricked up." In 1905, the Benepe-Owenhouse Co. moved to 36 E. Main Street. Benepe continued to manage this building, however, and extended it further south toward Babcock. The southern three bays were finally added in 1926. It remained a retail building, with tenants including Harland and Cassidy, undertakers. The second story became the Oxford Hotel around 1912 through the 1970s. By that time, it had become an "eye sore" according to Cohen. "On February 18, 1976, Robert Taylor bought the building from teh estate of Lucien Benepe (F.L.'s son) and began a $1/2 million remodeling, culminating in the opening of the Downtowner Mall. The new mall had 14 shops and a newly remodeled brick first floor, pierced by broad segmented-arched openings. The project was not fully completed until 198" (Cohen 1985). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY James R. McDonald Architects 1984 108 W Main St. Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. Revised Matt Cohen 1985. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman. Bozeman, MT. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 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: Period of Significance: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Benepe-Owenhouse building is currently located within the NRHP-listed Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). The building has had numerous modifications, many of which occurred within the historic period, such as the expansion south toward W Babcock St. However, it is due to more recent remodeling that it is considered a non-contributing site within the historic district and is not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. The site is in good condition, but due to the modern 1970s brick veneer spanning the building's facade, as well as the modern finishes applied to the south end of the building, it no longer retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character. Metcalf concurs with the previous findings and recommends this site non-contributing within the historic district and not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) This site has been remodeled extensively over the years. Recent alterations such as the full-width facade remodel completed in the 1970s as well as the stucco applied to the southern addition affect integrity of materials, design, feeling, and workmanship. It does not retain sufficient integrity to convey historic character and is considered a non-contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 248, oblique view (Image #0282, 10/12/2020, EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: W Description: View of east elevation (Imate #0283, 10/12/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 Feature # 1 Facing: WNW Description: View of south end of east elevation (Image #0285, 10/12/2020, EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Oblique view (Image #0287, 10/12/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Oblique view of west elevation (Image #0288, 10/12/2020, EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: Oblique view (Image #0281, 10/12/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Site Map Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Topographic Map Property Name: 108 W Main St., 19-37 S Willson Ave. Site Number: 248