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Home My WebLink About317 W 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: 317 W Main St Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 24GA0714 Historic District Number (if applicable): County: Gallatin Historic Name: Gallatin County Jail Original Owner(s): Gallatin County Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Gallatin History Museum Owner(s): Gallatin County Owner Address: 311 W Main St. Bozeman, MT 59715-4594 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 5E SE ¼ SE ¼ NE ¼ of Section: 12 from NE corner Lot(s): Lots 1-9 Block(s): Block D Addition: Tracy's 1st Addition Year of Addition: 1872 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Jail Current Use: Museum Construction Date: 1911 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 N Easting: 496711.25 Northing: 5058453.01 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: 1983 Historic District: NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman’s definition of an eligible property (see below). Date of this document: 11/15/2020 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: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Romanesque If Other, specify: Property Type: Government Specific Property Type: Jail Architect: Fred F. Willson Architectural Firm/City/State: Bozeman, MT Builder/Contractor: Unknown Company/City/State: Unknown Source of Information: DeHaas and Stine 1982 This site consists of one historical architectural feature: a jailhouse built in 1911 and converted into the Gallatin County Museum in 1982. The jailhouse was originally recorded in 1982 by John N. Dehaas Jr. and Roy Stine and the property was subsequently listed in the NRHP in 1983 (24GA0714). The recording was updated in 1984 by James R. McDonald Architects. McDonald described the site in 1984 as follows: "This two-story civic structure has a square plan with an arched brick entrance bay projecting from the main structure with a notched flat roof matching the notched flat roof of the main body. The symmetrical façade has a central entrance with 1/1 double-hung windows of assorted sizes with concrete sills and lintels. The running-bond brick construction rests on a concrete foundation and has a roofline reminiscent of a parapet on castle walls." Metcalf revisited the site in November 2020 and noted some changes, namely an addition to the northern half of the west elevation that was not previously described. The addition is single story with a split roof style; the southern roof section is a shed roof style and the northern roof section is flat. The flat roof section is not attached to the western elevation of the original jailhouse. The southern façade has a brick veneer similar to that of the primary façade of the original jailhouse, and is also slightly obscured by a large mature coniferous tree which grows just off the southwest corner of the primary façade. The remainder of the exterior walls of the addition are a simple painted stucco. An ADA compliant ramp has also been added since McDonald's 1984 update. It is on the eastern end of the primary southern façade, and leads to the primary entrance under the entry porch. As observed by Metcalf, the plan of the jailhouse is a slight L-shape. The façade faces south onto W Main St. The southern portion with the crenelated parapet has a square plan, while the northern portion has a slightly narrower rectangular plan. The windows and openings on the jailhouse do not appear to have changed since the 1984 McDonald survey. The addition has two narrow horizontal bays of one-over-one, side-by-side fixed windows located just under the eave of the roof on the northern elevation. On the western elevation of the flat roof section of the addition there are simple one-over-one, single-hung windows. There is one, three-bay window on the eastern end of the southern façade of the addition of three, one-over-one, double-hung windows similar to those found on the original jailhouse. The site is in excellent condition, overall. The addition to the west elevation and the ADA ramp at the front of the building affect integrity of feeling and design. The addition is only partially consistent with the original design and materials. The front-facing wall is faced in brick, while the side and rear walls are stucco. The battlemented parapets are absent from the roof on the addition. In general, the addition does not detract from the original construction, at least partially due to a large coniferous tree that largely obscures it from view. Metcalf finds that the site retains sufficient integrity to remain individually listed on the NRHP. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The NRHP nomination form provides the following history for the property: "The red brick structure built in 1911 stands beside the Gallatin County Courthouse as a reminder of the desire for the establishment of permanent local law enforcement institutions that prevailed in the early part of the 20th Century. This period was also a time in which jail reforms were occurring in this country. The jail incorporated some of these features, including separate areas for men, women, and juveniles. The jail also well represents the work of Fred F. Willson, a locally significant architect. Willson freely borrowed, mixed, and modified historic stylistic features in his designs for the numerous public buildings, residences, schools, commercial buildings constructed in the Bozeman area. The use of battlemented parapets as well as the Romanesque arch exemplifies Willson's eclectic detailing during an early period of his career. The previous jail was located in the basement of the old courthouse building. This building was constructed in 1880 and was demolished when the present Gallatin County Courthouse building was erected on the same site in 1935-6. An exercise yard was attached to the west wall of the old courthouse. The 10 foot high brick wall which encircled this yard was dismantled and the brick reused in the construction of the new jail in 1911. The isolation cells found in the rear of the new jail were patented in 1874 and had been used in the old lock-up. A gallows was included in the plans and was constructed in the central "jailer's room. Fred F. Willson, the architect for the jail, was a Bozeman native who graduated from Columbia University with a degree in architecture. Willson practiced architecture for more than 50 years. During this period, he employed several different styles. The jail building is one of his early works (he opened a firm in Bozeman in 1908). The breadth of Willson's stylistic vocabulary is demonstrated by a comparison of the jail with his later Art Deco Gallatin County Courthouse building next door. Willson's buildings dot Bozeman and may also be found in Yellowstone Park and Western Montana." According to the Gallatin History Museum website, "The Gallatin Historical Society, founded in 1977, moved into two rooms in the county jail building in 1979. Built in 1911, the jail was already considered a historic structure. When prisoners were moved to the new Law and Justice Building in January 1982, the county commissioners granted the Society use of the entire building for a museum. The Pioneer Museum was created and in 2014 the name changed to Gallatin History Museum to better reflect the collection and the mission of the organization - to preserve, promote and foster the history of Gallatin County and Southwest Montana." As of this recording, the Gallatin History Museum remains the building occupant. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY DeHaas, John N. Jr., & Roy Stine 1982 Gallatin County Museum. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. Gallatin History Museum 2020 Main website page, electronic document. https://www.gallatinhistorymuseum.org, accessed 4/11/2021. James R. McDonald Architects P.C. 1984 317 W 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 04/11/2021. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NRHP Listing Date: 1/19/1983 NRHP Eligibility: Yes No Individually Contributing to Historic District Noncontributing to Historic District NRHP Criteria: A B C D Area of Significance: Architecture; Law Period of Significance: Historic More Than One Decade STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Gallatin County Jail (24GA0714) is currently listed in the NRHP under Criteria A, B, and C for its association with the growth and development of Bozeman, its association with the architect Fred F. Willson, and its eclectic architectural style. Metcalf finds the property retains sufficient integrity to convey its historic character. 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: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The site is in excellent condition, overall. The addition to the west elevation and the ADA ramp at the front of the building affect integrity of feeling and design. The addition is only partially consistent with the original design and materials. In general, the addition does not detract from the original construction, at least partially due to a large coniferous tree that largely obscures it from view. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 Feature # 1 Facing: N Description: Property 256. Primary façade. (Image #1747, 11/05/2020. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 256. Oblique view of front of building showing addition. (Image #1748, 11/05/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: Property 256. Oblique view of rear of building showing addition. (Image #1745, 11/05/2020. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: SW Description: Property 256. Oblique view of rear of building. (Image #1744, 11/05/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 Feature # 1 Facing: N-NW Description: Property 256. Semi-oblique view. (Image #1746, 11/05/2020. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Site Map Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Topographic Map Property Name: 317 W Main St Site Number: 24GA0714