HomeMy WebLinkAbout007 - Appendix E.2 - PROPERTY RECORD FORMMONTANA HISTORICAL AND I8 nAARCHITECTURALINVENTORYSitet.i,7
Legal Description: Original Townsite Lots 1-4 and 13-20 (parking lot
Blk B
Address: 104 East Main
Ownership:name: First National Bank
private address: Box 730 Roll N 77 Frame N 32I-1 niihlic
I IA: V f'+' Historic Name: Commercial National Bank
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Common Name: First National Bank of Bozeman
LI B \ R Y El estimated
a•• `'Date of Construction: 1920 documented
Architect: _ FrPtj F Wj 11
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Builder. linknown
T— Original Owner: Commercial National Bank
Commercial National BankOriginalUse:
Present Use*CDmnterCial Structure
Research Sources:
T T _
abstract of title El city directories
I I plat records/maps sewer/water permits
t I El tax cards obituaries
LA-
I I building permit biographies
I
ba sanbornmaps—dates• 1920/1950s
Bibliography:
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PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Describe present appearance of structure/site,then contrast and compare that with it's original appearance,
noting additions,alterations,and changes in materials.Discuss significant architectural features.
This detached five-story commercial structure has a rectangular plan with a
symmetrical facade consisting of central entrances at the street level and three
vertical rows of continuous fixed windows on the next four floors. The
concrete and glass construction has a flat built-up roof and the exterior
facade was remodeled in 1972.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Justify how the persons,important events,and/or historical patterns associated with the structure/site
and surrounding area lend the property significance.
This property is significant because it is associated with Bozeman's early
financial history. Founded in 1892 as the Commercial Exchange Bank, the
First National Bank of Bozeman as it is now named, is the oldest remaining
bank in Gallatin Valley. The Commercial National Bank merged with the Bozeman
National Bank in 1907. The present building was constructed in 1920 for the
Commercial National Bank, designed by Fred F. Willson. The exterior facade
was remodeled in 1972. Fred F. Willson, son of General Lester S. Willson,
who was an early Bozeman pioneer was born in 1877 in Bozeman. lie attended
Montana State College for two years and graduated from Columbia University
in architecture in 1902. Hes studied for two years abroad and upon his
return, Willson practiced with C. S. Haire in Helena and Butte. In his
long practice from 1910-1956, he designed many public, commercial and
residential buildings.
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This structure is an intrusive element within a potential historic district.
INTEGRITY: Assess the degree to which the structure/site,and surrounding area accurately convey the historical associations of the
property.
The historic integrity of this property has not been retained due to change
in original design and materials.
INFORMATION VALUE: Explain how the extant structure/site may demonstrate or yield information about its historic use or construc-
tion.
None.
FORM PREPARED BY: GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:
Name JAMES R. N,CDONAI0 ARCHITECTS Acreage:__
Address: P. O• BOX 8163 USGS Quad:
Date: MISSOULA MONTANA 5gg07 LITM's:
REVISED
1 T'1 Matthew A. Cohen
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50 Year
4 rp of Our
to In the spring of 1918,the
i 1 Company was organized by A
and W. N. Purdy. $100,000
was sold following the forma'
i A building owned by John
y refitted.
r• j I Doors were opened for bu
the summer was spent insta:'
The original officers and b
bank were H. S. Buell, presir'
president; W. N. Purdy, cashit
I J. Hines. J. L. Ketterer was as,
W. N. Purdy remained wi'
when he and others organiz
Seed Company. It was at tW
was made cashier.
f r Present officers are: J. D. .
t Phil R. Sandquist, preside
president; T. W. Witzel, vi
q Smith, vice president and
assistant vice president; R,.
cashier; J. F. Stimson, assist
assistant cashier; Wayne Gib,
O. Gilleland, - computer op,
x ,
e Mill auditor.
Present Board of Direct(
TAM R. Sandquist, Cornelius A
Kamp, F. P. Messmer, Will
t j I • Stanley Milesnick.
i t Assets: Dec. 31, 1919
1929 - $693,023.84.
t l r 1,061,984.60; Dec. 31, 194'
31, 1959 - $10,226,927.
r"'' t 25,982,119.18.
The banking facility hay
on several occasions. The
t' 1 use for 40 years, was last ;
the late Fred F. Wilson, Boi-
J 5f esTt It was supervised by William
The newest modern faciht
home of Security Bank an'
on Sept. 19, 1960• A new t_
by Oswald Berg an;Ass,
Haggerty-Messmer Co., gen
separate installment loan
counseling service; direct tt
service; drive-in banking, t,
p lus a
customer l
This was our Bank Home for 40 Years. service,
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In the
ti,{, -there has,
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A. G. Be-
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president
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Pcunfcl c lee TiTr f.G
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104 E. Main
1985 revision
Matt Cohen, surveyor
The dominant financial institution in Bozeman, and consequently the Gallatin
Valley, since 1892, the Commercial National Bank also became one of the most
architecturally prominent organizations in the city with the construction of this
5-story bank building in 1920: (Other names have included: The Commercial Exchange
Bank from 1892-1894, and First National Bank from 1956 to the present. ) Unfortunately
a nearly $1 million remodeling completed in 1972, which took a heavy toll on the .
historic integrity of the district, converted this once prominent city landmark into
the single most significant non-contributing structure in the district. The
historic integrity of the structure however, is purportedly still intact beneath
the present glass and aggregate stone sheathing.
The bank was organized as the Commercial Exchange Bank, a state bank, on October
24, 1892, with an initial capital stock of $40,000, put up by E. Broox Martin
elected president) , Joseph Kountz, George Cox, Mark Miller, George L. Ramsey,
George Kinkel Jr. , 'Mrs. Nettie Davis, Louis Krueger, and John R. Scahill . On
November 1, the newly formed bank moved into a corner room in the Masonic Temple
137 E. Main) , and met with immediate success.
By 1894, the Commercial Exchange emerged as the only bank between Helena and
Billings on the Northern Pacific railroad to have survived the Panic of 1893
Bozeman Weekly Chronicle, January 11, 1894) . On April 20 of that year, the bank
entered the national system, and became the Commercial National Bank. Two years
later, Commercial National moved into an ornate, 1-story brick structure on the
present site, previously built for Nelson Story' s ill-fated Gallatin Valley
National Bank (1882-1893) and rented it from Story for $125 per month, until 1903
when it was purchased for $20,000. Continuing to expand, the bank in 1907
bought out the Bozeman National Bank, which had formed in 1882 and had located
in the east store of the Masonic Temple (137 E. Main) . The Commercial Bank
joined the Federal Reserve system in 1914, within a year of its creation.
When the present, 5-story, Classical Revival style home of the Commercial National
Bank was completed in 1920 (see attached drawing) , it was the tallest and most
modern building in the city. The Bozeman Courier of September 20, 1920 commented
the new bank building, the most pretentious structure in Bozeman, is really a
credit to the town. Rising four stories (actually five) above the sidewalk, it
not only houses the bank, but has some 60 office and banking rooms. . ." A "Class
B structure by fire insurance standards, the bank was built to be "virtually
fireproof," according to Charles Vandenhook. The building, which is actually
L-shaped rather than rectangular in plan for ventilation and lighting, and which
displays formal facades on only the north and west sides , appears deceptively
large. The original main floor interior of the bank was dominated by a row of
large, square Tuscan columns that supported a high paneled ceiling, and that
were flanked by teller booths along two walls.
In 1956, the bank became the First National Bank of Bozeman, and between September
1970 and January 1972, a time of tremendous economic growth in the city, it took on
a new, brashly modern image. The entire 5-story building was encased by the
present white aggregate stone finish and vertical bands of smoked glass bay
windows, and the interior was extensively opened and remodeled. An 8500 square
foot addition to the east entailed the demolition of another Fred Willson-designed
bank, the Security Bank and Trust Co. (see attached phote) , and one-thire of the
Black Building - one of the single most significant historic buildings in the
district. The architects of the nearly $1 million remodeling, Berg, Grabow &
Partners, described the style of the new design as "Contemporary modern" (Gallatin
County Tribune and Belgrade Journal , September 10, 1970) .
While new pre-cast windows were installed in the west wall (this should possibly
read "east wall ") , original windows were left in place elsewhere (Gallatin County
Tribune and Belgrade Journal , September 10, 1970, p. 2) , suggesting that future
restoration may be possible.
Bibl_ioyraj)hy
Charles Vandenhook, interview, 9/7/85
Gallatin County Tribune and Belgrade Journal , September 10, 1970, pp. 2, 5A.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle, January 16, 1972, p. 11
Bozeman Daily Chronicle, August, 10, 1954, p. 46
Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 1883-1983, Pt. IV p. 3
Merrill Burlingame, "The First National Bank in Bozeman," typescript, 1972(?)
Bozeman Sunday Chronicle, August 9, 1964, pp. 7, 01.
The Coast, 1908, p. 425.
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