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Home My WebLink About26 W Babcock 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: 26 W Babcock St. Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 24GA0925 Historic District Number (if applicable): County: Gallatin Historic Name: First Presbyterian Church Original Owner(s): Presbyterian Church Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: First Presbyterian Church Owner(s): 1st Presbyterian Church Owner Address: P.O. Box 1150, Bozeman, MT 59771 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E NE ¼ NW ¼ SW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Lots 18-20 Block(s): Block A Addition: Alderson Addition Year of Addition: 1873 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Religious Current Use: Religious Construction Date: 1908-1910 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 497022.45 Northing: 5058277.89 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: 1987 Historic District: NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman’s definition of an eligible property (see below) Date of this document: 5/5/2021 Form Prepared by: R. Schields 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: MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Gothic Revival If Other, specify: Property Type: Religious Specific Property Type: Church Architect: Turnbull and Jones Architectural Firm/City/State: Elgin, Illinois Builder/Contractor: Frank Vreeland Company/City/State: Bozeman, MT Source of Information: Patricia Bick, 1987, 26 W Babcock, Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. This site is the First Presbyterian Church constructed between 1908-1910 in the Gothic Revival Style. The site was previously recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984 and subsequently nominated to the NRHP in 1987 by Patricia Bick (24GA0925). McDonald describes the site in 1984 as follows: "This detached church of the Gothic style has a cross axial plan with a square entry-bell tower at the corner, which has a flat roof and a crenelated parapet. The six-bay facade is asymmetrical and consists of two offset front entrances, one set with a cut sandstone Gothic arched entry and the other at the south end. Above the south entrance are fixed stained glass windows, set in wood tracery under equilateral or lancet arches. The enormous stained glass windows of the primary facade are also set in heavy, wooden tracery of lancet arches. Plexiglass storm windows cover all of the stained glass windows which detracts slightly from the historic appearance of the building due to the plexiglass' high reflectivity. The brick bearing wall construction rests on a high sandstone foundation. The gable roof is covered with red clay tile and is perpendicular to the street." In 1987, Bick added: "A small one-story, flat roofed brick addition has been built to the rear (east) of the church. This addition of modern materials is compatible in scale and design with the original portion of the building and does not detract significantly from the overall high level of historic architectural integrity." Metcalf visited the site in 2020 and noted the replacement of windows on the one-story addition. Most windows on the south, east, and north elevations of the addition have been replaced with modern, metal-framed, one-over-one lite windows. The original window openings remain intact as do the wood-framed, lancet-arched, stained glass windows on the upper-story of the addition's north elevation. The site is in excellent condition, although some exterior bricks exhibit staining and crumbling mortar. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 HISTORY OF PROPERTY In 1872, Presbyterian ministers from Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah met to establish new churches throughout Montana. The group designated seven new churches that year, establishing ministries in Gallatin City, Bozeman, Hamilton, Virginia City, Deer Lodge, Missoula and Helena. By 1880, Bozeman's young, Presbyterian congregation erected a wood-frame, High Gothic style church on the northwest corner of Babcock and Willson. The congregation grew quickly, and by 1893, planning for a larger church had begun. The site for the new church was donated by General and Mrs. Lester Willson; the site was the location of the Willson's original log home, where the lived prior to the construction of their residence at 504 S. Willson (Bick, 1987). Unfortunately, due to the depressed economy caused by the Panic of 1893, the church was unable to afford the construction. Instead, they invested in 190 shares of Building and Loan stock. In 1908, the investment had matured into $1,900 and First Presbyterian was able to establish a building fund, laying the cornerstone for the new church that same year. Turnbull and Jones, architects from Elgin, Illinois completed the plans, while Frank Vreeland, a local contractor, supervised construction. The new church building was completed in 1910 and featured exposed hammer beams, a dining room, and a pipe organ donated by the Macedonian Society (Bick, 1987). Carillonic Bells, manufactured by Schulmerick Electronics of Sellersville, Pennsylvania were added to the bell tower in 1949. In 1954, a single-story addition, designed by Fred, F. Willson, was added to the east elevation. Bick describes the addition as, "highly compatible with the original church building in use of materials, design, and set back." (Bick, 1987). In the 1970s, the church added Lexan plastic to the exterior of the stained glass windows. Mass produced by General Electric for NASA, Lexan plastic was marketed to churches as lightweight, bullet-resistant protection for their stained glass (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, August, 13, 2000). By 2000, the plastic had become dingy and yellow-tinged; First Presbyterian hired former Lexan-peddler John Wildenborg to remove the plastic and repair any broken glass. Removal of the plastic and repair of glass pieces by Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company in Kokomo, Indiana cost about $80,000 for all fifty windows present across the church (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, August, 13, 2000). In 2005, the church underwent an extensive interior renovation. The east addition and basement were remodeled; at this time the building was brought up to code, a more efficient boiler installed, and fire suppression and air conditioning systems added. All renovations were completed without altering the exterior of the church (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, June 17, 2005). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Bozeman Daily Chronicle 2000. "First Presbyterian windows getting facelift." August 13. Electronic Document. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/first-presbyterian-windows-getting-face-lift/article_bd6dc50c-118e-5f2c-bf18-c4e0b0556be5.html, accessed 5/5/21. 2005. "First Presbyterian Church plans interior makeover." June 17. Electronic Document. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/first-presbyterian-church-plans-interior-makeover/article_ee406a1f-1c2a-5c31-b416-3f242381626a.html, accessed 5/5/21. Patricia Bick. 1987 26 W Babcock Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory. Document on file at the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NRHP Listing Date: 1987 NRHP Eligibility: Yes No Individually Contributing to Historic District Noncontributing to Historic District NRHP Criteria: A B C D Area of Significance: Social History, Architecture Period of Significance: Historic More Than One Decade STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The First Presbyterian Church was individually listed on the NRHP by Patricia Bick in 1987 (24GA0925). The site is in excellent condition and, despite some alterations, retains integrity sufficient 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: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The site is in excellent condition overall. A one-story addition was added to the east elevation of church in 1954. Despite this alteration, the site was nominated to the NRHP in 1987 by Patricia Bick, who noted the addition as, "highly compatible with the original church building in use of materials, design, and set back." Since that time, the windows of the addition have been replaced by modern counterparts, which affects the integrity of materials. All other aspects of integrity remain intact. Metcalf has determined that sufficient integrity remains ad that the site is able to convey historic character. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: 24GA0925 (Property 136). Oblique view (Image #0474, 10/15/2020, EAS). Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: 24GA0925 (Property 136). Oblique view (Image #0476, 10/15/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 Feature # 1 Facing: NW Description: 24GA0925 (Property 136). Oblique view of rear south elevation (Image #0477, 10/15/2020, EAS). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Site Map Property Name: 26 W Babcock St. Site Number: 24GA0925 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Topographic Map Property Name: 26 W BABCOCK Site Number: 24GA0925