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Home My WebLink About211 S Tracy 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: 212 S Tracy Ave. Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 286 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0955 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Original Owner(s): Charles Wright Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Owner(s): Barry Lynn Culbertson Trustee Owner Address: 212 S Tracy Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E NW ¼ NE ¼ SW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): Lots 16-17 Block(s): Block D Addition: Black Addition Year of Addition: 1872 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Single-Family Dwelling 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 Easting: 497137.39 Northing: 5058148.32 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: 1987 Historic District: South Tracy - South Black Historic District NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman’s definition of an eligible property (see below). Date of this document: 5/17/2021 Form Prepared by: S. Wells and R. Schields, 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 contributing to South Tracy – South Black Historic District. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Craftsman If Other, specify: Property Type: Commerce Specific Property Type: Architectural Firm Architect: Architectural Firm/City/State: Builder/Contractor: Charles Wright Company/City/State: Source of Information: James R. McDonald Architects, 1984, 211 S Tracy Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. With revisions by Matt Cohen. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. The site is the Wright House, a Craftsman-style residence constructed c. 1915 by Charles Wright. The site was previously recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984 with revisions by Matt Cohen, and subsequently listed in the NRHP as contributing to the South Tracy - South Black Historic District (24GA0955). In 1984, McDonald described the site as follows: "This detached one-story single-family residence has a basically rectangular plan with two gabled extensions toward the front, one enclosed with double multi-paned fixed windows and the other partially enclosed and providing entry to the main floor as well as to the basement. The brick construction has a corbeled brick belly band above the foundation level and has wood siding in the gable ends. The gable roof is covered with asphalt shingles and features knee braces. It lies perpendicular to the street." Metcalf visited the site in 2020 and noted several changes. Significantly, the single-family dwelling has been converted to a commercial property and an addition has been added to the rear (east) elevation. The residence is a single-story, Craftsman-style residence with a rectangular plan and concrete foundation. The exterior is clad in brick with a corbeled soldier-course above the foundation and wood shingles in the gable peaks. The rear addition is clad in board- and-batten siding. The roof is front-gabled with two subordinate gables over the front porch; the roof is clad in asphalt shingles. The eaves are open, exposing rafter ends and outriggers. A brick chimney extends from the center portion of the residence. The facade faces west onto S Tracy Ave. The primary entrance is recessed on the north end of the facade, sheltered below a subordinate gable. The entrance is accessed via a concrete stoop flanked on either side by brick cheek walls. To the north of the entrance, the overhanging eaves are supported by two wood posts, which shelters descending concrete steps that lead to a basement entrance. To the south of the primary entrance, is an enclosed porch sheltered by the other subordinate gable. The porch is enclosed with double-paned, pairs of ten-lite windows with wood surrounds. A single-lite fixed window is set in the foundation below. The south elevation features a pair of double-paned, ten-lite windows with wood surrounds and pairs of hung windows. Vegetation obscures the view of this elevation. The east elevation supports the modern addition. The addition is clad in vertical board and batten with wood shingles in the gable peak. There is a single and paired six-over-one lite modern vinyl windows and two single-lite awning basement windows with egress. The north elevation has a pair of six-over-one lite modern vinyl hung windows on the addition at the northeast corner. An additional entrance is located at the intersection of the modern addition and original residence. The entrance is accessed via a wood deck with wood railing and wood steps. Also present are a two, single-lite fixed window, a pair of six-over-one lite hung windows, and four, single-lite windows set in the basement foundation, all with egress. Overall, the site is in excellent condition. While all original window openings remain intact, some windows have been replaced with modern windows. This affects the integrity of materials. The addition to the rear affects the integrity of design to a degree. The addition is not visible from the public Right of Way, and it attempts to match the original building in massing and materials. All other aspects of integrity remain intact. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The property currently addressed as 212 South Tracy Avenue was platted by Leander Black as Black’s Addition on October 31, 1872. The residence on this property replaced a one-story log dwelling built on the property before 1889. The Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory assessment completed by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984 lists this residence as being constructed c.1915 by Charles B. Wright. Joseph Wright purchased this property from John P. and Charity Bruce on May 27, 1874. John Bruce was Wright’s uncle and mentor in the printing business, Wright’s livelihood while owning this property. Wright learned the printing business from Bruce in Somerset, Kentucky where he was born and raised. Wright fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and was eventually taken prisoner near Rome, Georgia in 1864. When he was released, he went to St. Louis, MO where he married Sarah White. In 1867, Wright came to Montana, settling in Bozeman in 1871 where he began publishing the newspaper, the Avant Courier. He died on December 29, 1876, at the young age of 36 years (Bozeman Avant Courier, 05 January 1877). After the death of Joseph Wright, the property went to Charles B. Wright, his son. Charles B. Wright was born on March 29, 1866, in St. Louis, MO. He worked as a cook and a waiter most of his life but in later years was a salesman. When owning this property, in 1912, Charles Wright worked as a waiter at Bush & Bruce restaurant in Bozeman. From at least 1904 until 1914, Charles was living on this property in a residence that was built prior to 1889 (Sanborn Map, 1889; R. L. Polk & Co., 1912, 1914). This residence was removed, and Wright built a new residence on the property in c. 1915. Wright sold this property in 1918, and relocated to Butte, MT where he lived until his death on December 6, 1940. He is buried in Butte’s Mount Moriah Cemetery (The Montana Standard, 07 December 1940). Charles B. Wright sold the property to Hiram F. West and R. M. Esgar on April 22, 1918. Hiram West was an undertaker and co- owned the Davis & West undertaking business located at 125 W. Main Street from approximately 1914 to 1920. In 1920, West went on his own, continuing in the undertaking business at 125 W. Main while also becoming the Gallatin County Coroner (R. L. Polk & Company, 1912 – 1929). In 1928 Hiram and Martha moved to Long Beach, California, where West continued to practice undertaking in association with the Baker & West Mortuary (Long Beach Independent, 19 September 1956). Robert Esgar, a grocery store owner in Bozeman, jointly owned this property with West. H. F. and Martha S. West and R. M. and Mary Lena Esgar sold this property to John Clark on September 26, 1919. John D. Clark was born on December 15, 1893, near Livingston, MT. He lived in Bozeman and Livingston, working in the stock- raising business (Ancestry.com, 2002). He married Bessie Jessup on December 2, 1916, in Bozeman, MT (Ancestry.com, 2017). They later moved to California where John worked for the State of California as an elevator operator (Findagrave.com, 2021). The Clark's sold the property to Geraldine F. Brittan on August 29, 1927. Geraldine and her husband Lawrence lived in this residence during their ownership (R. L. Polk & Co., 1931). While living in this residence, Lawrence worked as a fieldman for the Bozeman Canning Company (R. L. Polk & Co., 1931). The Brittan's sold the property to Paul and Kate C. Lapiner on June 16, 1937. Paul Lapiner had married Kate Clarke on May 26, 1915, in Roundup, MT (Ancestry.com, 2016). The couple came to Bozeman in 1927 to work for the Chevrolet agency auto dealership (Great Falls Tribune, 17 January 1927). The Lapiner's lived in this residence from at least 1940-1942 (R. L. Polk & Co., 1940, 1942). The Lapiner's sold this property to Alvin A. and H. Eldora Evers on July 29, 1943. Alvin Evers was born on June 21, 1907, in Billings, MT to Peter and Marie Evers. He attended the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1931 from the School of Dentistry. Evers married Eldora Harrod on August 22, 1932, in Burwell, Nebraska. They moved to Bozeman in 1938, where Alvin ran a dental practice until his retirement in 1979 (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 25 October 2000). The Evers did not live in this residence during their ownership. Alvin and Eldora Evers sold this property to Albert R. and Nellie D. Little or Litle on August 5, 1952. Albert was born on November 8, 1918, in Clyde Park, MT. He graduated high school from Gallatin County High in Bozeman and then attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, WA. Albert married Nellie Dykstra on June 1, 1941, in Bozeman, MT. Litle served in the Second World War as a radio operator in the 10th Armored Division. After the war, Albert worked in the family business, Litle’s Modern Grocery, together with his father and brother. He later formed a wholesale grocery corporation, Litle’s Inc. Albert died on February 15, 2021, in MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 History of Property Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 Billings, MT (The Billings Gazette, 18 February 2021). Nellie Dykstra was born on October 23, 1915 near Manhattan, MT to Sam and Anna Dykstra who had immigrated from Holland in 1912. Nellie received her elementary education in a one-room schoolhouses near the Manhattan area. She graduated from Manhattan High School in 1935 and the Bozeman Deaconess School of Nursing in 1938 with a degree as a Registered Nurse. She worked at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital until she began raising her family (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 28 May 2015). The Litles lived in this residence during their ownership. The Litles sold this property to Delaney & Company Inc. on August 15, 1983. Delaney & Company Inc. sold the property to Willowbrook Development, Limited on August 15, 1983. Willowbrook Development, Limited sold the property to Lowell W. and Mary A. Springer on December 31, 1983. During the Springer’s ownership the residence was transformed into a commercial space and was occupied by Springer Group Architects until 1987 (R. L. Polk & Co., 1985 – 1987). Lowell W. Springer has been the owner and principal architect of Springer Group Architects, P. C. since 1973. The Springer's sold the property to Daniel J. and Lesley Anne Silverman on June 26, 1992. The Silverman's deeded the property via a quit claim deed to the Argent Company Trust on July 20, 1992. The Argent Company Trust sold the property to John W. and Irene R. Wilson and Robert A. Wilson on October 8, 1993. John W. and Irene R. Wilson and Robert A. Wilson, as Trustee of the Robert A. Wilson Family Living Trust, sold the property to Bayliss and Stacey Ward on July 12, 1999. Bayliss Architects occupied the building from c. 1998 to c. 2004 (R. L. Polk & Co., 1998 –2004). The Wards sold the property to Ward Properties LLC on December 20, 2000. On January 6, 2006, Ward Properties LLC sold the property to Barry Lynn Culbertson, Trustee of the Barry Lynn Culbertson Revocable Trust, Theila Leigh Smith, Trustee of the Theila Leigh Smith Revocable Trust, and Reid W. and Andrea S. Smith, the current owners as of April 2021. Reid Smith Architects occupied the building from c. 2006 and remain the current occupants of the building as of April 2021 (www.reidsmitharchitects.com). Table 1. Chain of Title, 212 South Tracy Avenue, Bozeman Montana. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference USA William H. Babcock 10 March 1875 Patent E ½ SW ¼ Sec 7 T2S R6E GLO Records William H. Babcock Black & Story 06 July 1870 Deed W ½ E ½ SW ¼ Sec 7 T2S R6E (except 150’ x 50’ lot directly south of Gray and Grannis stable) (1/3 interest) D: H/71 Nelson and Ellen Story Leander M. Black 06 July 1870 Deed Same (1/3 interest) D: H/97 William H. Babcock Leander M. Black 13 April 1871 Deed W ½ E ½ SW ¼ Sec 7 T2S R6E (40 acres) D: H/246 Leander M. Black Charity Bruce 21 October 1872 Deed Lots 15 – 18, Block D, Black’s Addition D: I/470 John P. and Charity Bruce Joseph Wright 27 May 1874 Deed Same D: I/471 No record of transfer from Joseph Wright to Charles B. Wright was uncovered during this research. Charles B. Wright H. F. West and R. M. Esgar 22 April 1918 Warranty Deed Lots 16 and 17, Block D, Black’s Addition D: 57/624 R. M. and Mary Lena Esgar H. F. West 31 August 1918 Quit Claim Deed Lots 16 and 17, Block D, Black’s Addition (1/2 interest) D: 60/508 H. F. and Martha S. West and R. M. and Mary Lena Esgar John Clark 26 September 1919 Warranty Deed Lots 16 and 17, Block D, Black’s Addition D: 60/516 John D. Clark Bessie D. Clark 22 October 1923 Warranty Deed Same D: 67/2 Bessie D. and John D. Clark Geraldine F. Brittan 29 August 1927 Warranty Deed Same D: 69/400 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 History of Property Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Type of Instrument Property Description/Comments Reference Geraldine F. and L. A. Brittan Jr. Paul and Kate C. Lapiner 16 June 1937 Warranty Deed Same D: 80/430 Paul and Kate C. Lapiner Alvin A. and H. Eldora Evers 29 July 1943 Warranty Deed Same D: 88/342 Alvin A. and H. Eldora Evers Albert R. and Nellie D. Little 05 August 1952 Warranty Deed Same D:108/540 Albert R. and Nellie D. Little Delaney & Company Inc. 15 August 1983 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 78/1133 Delaney & Company Inc. Willowbrook Development, Limited 15 August 1983 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 78/1134 Willowbrook Development, Limited Lowell W. and Mary A. Springer 31 December 1983 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 85/3447 Lowell W. and Mary A. Springer Daniel J. and Lesley Anne Silverman 26 June 1992 Warranty Deed Same Film 124/1858 Daniel J. and Lesley-Anne Silverman Argent Company Trust 20 July 1992 Quit Claim Deed Same Film 131/107 Argent Company Trust John W. and Irene R. Wilson and Robert A. Wilson 08 October 1993 Warranty Deed Same Film 136/2799 Robert A. Wilson Robert A. Wilson as Trustee of the Robert A. Wilson Family Living Trust 02 December 1994 Quit Claim Deed Same (1/2 interest) D: Film 151/471 John W. and Irene R. Wilson Robert A. Wilson 17 April 1996 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 162/1085 Robert A. Wilson John W. and Irene R. Wilson and Robert A. Wilson as Trustee of the Robert A. Wilson Family Living Trust 14 November 1997 Quit Claim Deed Same D: Film 179/2960 John W. and Irene R. Wilson and Robert A. Wilson as Trustee of the Robert A. Wilson Family Living Trust Bayliss and Stacey Ward 12 July 1999 Warranty Deed Same D: Film 200/3841 Bayliss and Stacy Ward Ward Properties LLC 20 December 2000 Warranty Deed Same D: #2027441 Ward Properties LLC Barry Lynn Culbertson, Trustee of the Barry Lynn Culbertson Revocable Trust, Theila Leigh Smith, Trustee of the Theila Leigh Smith Revocable Trust, Reid W. and Andrea S. Smith 06 January 2006 Warranty Deed Same D: #2215001 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Ancestry.com 2002 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Provo, Utah. Electronic document, accessed May 13, 2021. 2016 Montana, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1865-1993 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Lehi, Utah. Electronic document, accessed May 13, 2021. 2017 Montana, U.S., County Marriages, 1865-1987 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Lehi, Utah. Electronic document, accessed May 13, 2021. The Billings Gazette [Billings, Montana] 2021 "Albert Litle." 18 February. Billings, Montana. Bozeman Avant Courier [Bozeman, Montana] 1877 "Obituary." 05 January. Bozeman, Montana. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle [Bozeman, Montana] 2000 "Obituary for Dr. Alvin A. Evers." 25 October. Bozeman, Montana. 2015 "Nellie A. Litle." 28 May. Bozeman, Montana. Findagrave.com 2021 Memorial page for John David Clark (15 Dec 1893–17 Jun 1973), Find a Grave Memorial ID 43089574, citing Mountain View Cemetery, Livingston, Park County, Montana, USA. Electronic document, accessed May 13, 2021. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder 1864-2021 Gallatin County Deeds. Gallatin County Clerk & Recorder, Bozeman, Montana. Great Falls Tribune [Great Falls, Montana] 1927 "Move to Bozeman." 17 January. Great Falls, Montana. Long Beach Independent [Long Beach, California] 1956 "H. F. West Funeral to be Today." 19 September. Long Beach, California. Electronic document, https://www.newspapers.com/image/74091234/?clipping_id=6391738, accessed June 11, 2020. McDonald, James R. 1984 Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory. City of Bozeman. Bozeman, Montana. Electronic document, http://weblink.bozeman.net/WebLink8/0/doc/151603/Electronic.aspx, accessed August 14, 2020. The Montana Standard [Butte, Montana] 1940 "Charles B. Wright." 07 December. Butte, Montana. R. L. Polk & Company 1904-2012 Polk’s Bozeman (Gallatin County, Mont.) City Directories. R.L. Polk & Co., Kansas City, Missouri. Reidsmitharchitects.com 2021 https://www.reidsmitharchitects.com/#!contact. Electronic document, accessed May 20, 2021. Sanborn Map Company 1884-1957 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana (Jul 1890, Nov 1891, Jan 1904, Sep 1912, Sep 1927, Sep 1943, Nov 1957). Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Statement of Significance Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 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: Architecture Period of Significance: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The site is the Wright House, a Craftsman-style residence constructed c. 1915 by Charles Wright. The site was previously recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984 with revisions by Matt Cohen, and subsequently listed in the NRHP as contributing to the South Tracy - South Black Historic District (24GA0955) in 1987. Overall, the site is in excellent condition. Despite some alterations that affect the integrity of materials and design, the site retains integrity sufficient to convey historic character. The site is currently listed on the NRHP and retains sufficient integrity to maintain its listed status. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Integrity Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) Replacement of some original windows affects the integrity of materials. The addition to the rear (east) elevation affects the integrity of design to a degree, the addition is not visible from the public Right of Way. While the addition is distinct from the original building, it matches the original building in massing and in some details - like the modern six-over-one windows. The site retains integrity sufficient to convey historic character. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 Feature # 1 Facing: E Description: Property 286. Primary façade (Image #1569, 10/15/2020, SLW). Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: Property 286. Oblique view (Image #1570, 10/15/2020, SLW). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Photographs Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 286. Oblique view (Image #1568, 10/15/2020, SLW). Feature # 1 Facing: W Description: Property 286. Rear east elevation (Image #1571, 10/15/2020, SLW). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Site Map Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 12 Topographic Map Property Name: 212 S Tracy Ave. Site Number: 286