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Home My WebLink About105 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: 105 W Main St. Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 24GA0739 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0952 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Hotel Baxter Original Owner(s): Community Hotel Corporation Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: The Baxter Owner(s): Baxter Condo Master Owner Address: 105 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, 2, 3, and E 18' Lot 4 Block(s): Block B Addition: Baxter Condo Year of Addition: Unknown USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial Current Use: Commercial, Residential Construction Date: 1929 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 496963.04 Northing: 5058451.57 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: 1983, 1986 Historic District: Main Street Historic District NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman’s definition of an eligible property (see below). Date of this document: 10/12/2020 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 is listed in the NRHP and contributes to the Main Street Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Art Deco-Moderne If Other, specify: Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Hotel Architect: Fred F. Willson Architectural Firm/City/State: Bozeman, MT Builder/Contractor: H.J. Hamill Company/City/State: Bozeman, MT Source of Information: McDonald 1984 This site is the Baxter Hotel, built in 1929 and designed by Bozeman architect Fred F. Willson, The building has an eclectic style that has been categorized by past recorders as Art Deco, but does have decorative embellishments rooted in Exotic and Classical revivals-- notably its terra-cotta arches. The Baxter Hotel is listed in the NRHP both individually and as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). It was first recorded by John N. DeHaas, Jr. in 1983 when it was individually listed in the NRHP. James R. McDonald recorded it again in 1984 and described it as follows: "This detached seven-story condominium structure in the Art Deco Style has elements of Modernistic style with Classical references. It has a square plan with a three-arched front entrance similar to an Italian balcony/window frieze on the upper floor front facade, and a terra cotta band just below the coping. The five-bay facade is symmetrical and consists of the central entrance with vertical 5-paned semicircular windows above the entrance doors. The remaining windows in the structure are 1.1 double-hung with six central windows in the seventh story having brick arched keystones. The bearing wall construction is finished in brick with glazed terra cotta and rests on a concrete foundation with granite veneer. The roof is flat. This building is an excellent representation of an unchanged structure, but there has been restoration work on the interior completed in 1979-1982." Metcalf visited the site and noted details not included in the earlier descriptions. There is a metal fire escape on the west elevation, with landings and steel doors at each story. The top floor is adorned in the central bay with three terra cotta arches over the windows, similar to the arches on the front facade. This same pattern is repeated on the east elevation. The east elevation also has a basement entry with a metal rail at street level. At the north end of the elevation is a two-story addition with a recessed entry at its south end, under a flat awning with Greek Revival ornament. Above is a paired divided-lite window. The central bay of this addition has three divided-lite windows with terra cotta arches. At the north end are paired divided-lite windows. The addition has a stepped parapet and its ornament matches that of the main building. The north (rear) elevation has no ornament; the windows are one-over-one-lite, as on the other elevations. There is another series of fire escapes at the east end of the elevation and a wood framed, covered patio has been built over a rear patio at the northwest corner, screened by a mature hedge. The roof has an iconic sign on a metal framework, the sign reads "HOTEL BAXTER." The site is in excellent condition, no exterior alterations noted since previous record. It retains integrity sufficient to maintain listed status. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The 1929 Baxter Hotel is currently listed in the NRHP both individually (24GA0739) and as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). It has historic associations under Criterion A and C. According to DeHaas's 1983 nomination, "in 1927, a group of sixteen businesses and professional men led by Eugene Graf met to plan for a fashionable hotel for Bozeman." Included in this group was Bozeman's prolific architect Fred F. Willson. The group, known as the Bozeman Community Hotel, Inc. had a goal to raise $200,000 for its construction: "It will be throughout a community project, financed through community effort, owned by those who believe in the community, operated under community supervision, and by community cooperation." Upon its grand opening in March 1929, The Hotel Baxter was lauded for its impressive design. Only a few months later, "the building received a dramatic final touch--a 32-foot-high neon advertising sign atop its roof. The sign's 400 feet of neon tubing proudly announced the Baxter name, its letters large enough to be seen for miles" (thebaxterhotel.com). The hotel's lounge was remodeled in 1940 and renamed the Robin Lounge. The remodel was also designed by Fred F. Willson (McDonald 1984). According to the hotel's website, "For the next fifty years, the Baxter remained Bozeman's Main Street landmark and its favorite place to stay, though the neon sign went dark sometime in the 60s or 70s." The Association continued to operate the business through the 1970s, with various managers in charge. The Community Hotel Association finally dissolved in 1980, when the building was purchased by Roger L. Craft (DeHaas 1983). In the early 1980s, the hotel was converted to residential condominiums. The lobby and commercial spaces still occupy the first floor. In 2013 the neon sign was restored. The Baxter takes its name from Robert A. Baxter, one of the area's early pioneers. McDonald included it in the Main Street Historic District for its significant associations with Fred F. Willson as well as for its connection to prominent residents and financiers including Eugene Graf, L.W. Trevitt, E.J. Parken, and E.E. MacMahon (McDonald 1984). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Baxter Hotel 2015 "Bozeman Magazine: The History of the Baxter Hotel." January 15, 2015. Electronic document, thebaxterhotel.com, accessed 3/19/2021. DeHaas, John N. 1983 "Hotel Baxter." National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. James R. McDonald Architects 1984 105 W Main St. Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NRHP Listing Date: 1983, 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: Historic More Than One Decade STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Hotel Baxter is currently listed in the NRHP individually (24GA0739) and as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). Metcalf finds that the site is in excellent condition and has not experienced significant alteration since it was first listed in 1983. The site retains all aspects of integrity and is able to convey historic character in reference to its historic associations. The site is currently listed in the NRHP and retains integrity sufficient to maintain its listed status. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) This site's condition is excellent. It retains all aspects of integrity sufficient to convey historic character and maintain its NRHP-listed status. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 249, oblique view (Image #0269, 10/12/2020, EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: N Description: Property 249, façade view (Image #0270, 10/12/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 Feature # 1 Facing: NW Description: Property 249, oblique view (Image #0271, 10/12/2020, EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 249, oblique view (Image #0272, 10/12/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Site Map Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Topographic Map Property Name: 105 W Main St. Site Number: 24GA0739