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Home My WebLink About241 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: 241 E Main St Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 220 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0952 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Studebaker Auto Original Owner(s): Nelson J. White Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Open Range Owner(s): Two Sisters Holding Company LLC Owner Address: 6673 S 3rd Rd., Bozeman, MT 59715-8924 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E SE ¼ SE ¼ NW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Parcel B Block(s): Block D Addition: Bozeman Original Plat Year of Addition: 1870 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Commercial/Garage Current Use: Commercial Construction Date: 1915 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 N Easting: 497429.72 Northing: 5058457.03 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 (see below). Date of this document: 04/28/2021 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: Site contributes to Main Street Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Mission-Spanish Revival If Other, specify: Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Restaurant 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: a commercial structure built ca. 1915 as the Studebaker Auto Showroom. It was previously recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects and subsequently listed in the NRHP as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District t(24GA0952). McDonald described the structure in 1984 as follows: "This detached one-story commercial structure has a square plan with a gabled cornice with terra cotta coping. The asymmetrical façade consists of an offset garage door and brass or bronze storefront windows across. The brick construction is decorated with terra cotta coping and patterns in the façade. A lighter-colored brick forms a rectangle above the storefront. The flat roof of built-up materials is parallel to the street." Metcalf revisited the site in October 2020 and noted several modifications to the primary façade. Changes include a complete update of the storefront windows and the main entrance. The large central business sign that rose above the peak of the roof line has been removed and a smaller one put in its place. The new sign extends out perpendicularly from the brick exterior. The garage door on the western side of the south facing façade now serves as the main entrance. It consists of a large wood door, with windows and metal framing on either side and above. A flat metal cornice hangs above this entrance. The small individual bay (the original entrance) to the east of what was once the garage door was replaced with a display window. The large, four-bay window has been replaced with a modern-style set of display windows, but retains the four-bay theme with modern metal framing. The roofline remains the same, with terra-cotta coping and patterns. The site is in excellent condition. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 HISTORY OF PROPERTY This site is a commercial building known as the historic Studebaker Auto Showroom. In a 1985 revision of McDonald's 1984 form, Matt Cohen provided the following history for the property: "One of the several auto showrooms in Bozeman by the early 1920's, this 1-story building, with a shaped parapet and decorative brickwork typical of the period, appears to retain 100% integrity on the exterior. According to Charles Vandenhook, it was built in the early 1920's by Robert E. Davis and George Cox (president of the Commercial National Bank, 104 E. Main, between 1915 and 1925), and was used as a Studebaker showroom run by a man named Young - probably the original use. Information in architect Fred F. Willson's job list strongly suggests that this building was designed by Willson in 1917. After Young went out of business, another business moved in, followed by Northern Auto, which sold Pontiacs. David P. Vaughan remembers Davis and Allen as being two past owners of the building, and a man named Napp in the 1920's and 1930's selling Packard, Plymouth, Chrysler, and Cord (a front wheel drive prestige car) automobiles here. The Sanborn Map of 1927 shows this building to have a capacity of 80 cars, with storage in the basement, which suggests that an elevator was included in the original design." In 1984, Artcraft Printers occupied the property. It was later sold to Jay and Mary Bentley, owners of the popular Belgrade restaurant, The Mint, who opened a steak restaurant, Open Range, in 2013. The restaurant continues to occupy the property (Bozeman Magazine 2019). The remodel happened under their management in preparation for the opening of the restaurant. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Bozeman Magazine 2019 "Open Range: A Uniquely Montana Experience." Angie Ripple, Friday February 1st. Electronic document, https://bozemanmagazine.com/articles/2019/02/01/103109-open-range-a-uniquely-montana-experience, accessed 29 April 2021. Cohen, Matt 1985 Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory for Commercial National Bank, 241 E Main St., Revision. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, MT. James R. McDonald Architects 1984 241 E Main St. Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman. Bozeman, MT. Montana State Library. Montana Cadastral records online, http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral, accessed 04/29/2021. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 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: Architecture, Commerce Period of Significance: 1970-1939 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The property at 241 East Main Street is the Studebaker Auto Showroom, a commercial structure, built ca. 1915. It was previously recorded in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects and subsequently listed in the NRHP as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952). The site is in excellent condition but has undergone recent renovations to the storefront. The modifications made to the original façade windows and entry, completed in 2013, have affected integrity of materials, design, and feeling. However, Metcalf finds that it retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character. The site is currently listed in the NRHP as a contributing site within the Main Street Historic District and retains sufficient integrity to maintain its listed status. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) This site is in excellent condition, overall. The façade has been recently renovated and modifications include the installation of new windows and entryway which affects integrity of materials, design, and feeling. Other aspects are retained. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 Feature # 1 Facing: N Description: Property 220. Primary façade. (Image #1703, 10/31/2020. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: S Description: Property 220. View of north elevation, rear of building. (Image #1714, 10/31/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Site Map Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Topographic Map Property Name: 241 E Main St Site Number: 220