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MONTANA HISTORICAL/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY #12y
HISTORIC NAME: Bozeman YMCA
ADDRESS: 6 W. Babcock
LEGAL BOUNDARY: Alderson's Blk A
Lots 1-4
OWNER'S NAME: Bob, Beverly and C== Z •:. -
Blayde Johnson
OWNER ADDRESS: 472 1/2 Durham Ave.
Billings, MT _
SPECIFIC DATE: 1914-1915 ® o
ARCHITECT: Fred F. Willson ®_
BUILDER: Levesque, Felsheim
& Baverly ''ti
ORIGINAL OWNER: Bozeman YMCA
ORIGINAL USE: Bozeman YMCA
PRESENT USE: Boulevard Apts.
UTM REFERENCE: 12/497100/5058080 r.r
ACREAGE: less than one
U.S.G.S. QUAD: Bozeman, 1953
ANk
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Applicable Criteria: A and C
Areas of Significance: social history, architecture
Number of Contributing Properties: 1
The Bozeman YMCA building is significant as a community-sponsored, community-oriented
facility designed by local architect Fred F. Willson. Since its completion in 1915 until
the building was converted into apartments in recent years, the Bozeman YMCA provided
reasonably priced accommodations and organized physical fitness programs for the Protestant
young men of the city. The building displays brickwork and a shaped headed entry porch
typical of the 1910's. The design demonstrates the flexibility and diversity of the work
of Fred F. Willson. During his practice between 1910 and 1956, Willson obtained virtually
every contract for the design of large buildings in the city, ranging from residences and
commercial blocks to specialized structures such as this.
Sir George Williams founded the YMCA is London in 1844. It was not until 1913 however,
that local Bozeman businessmen and residents explored the possibility of starting one in
this city. Billings, Miles City, and Kalispell each already had a YMCA of their own.
Charles Puehler, secretary of Montana's YMCA's recognized the interest, and arranged for
the state YMCA convention to be held in Bozeman. During that meeting, a local committee
was organized to raise money for the building.
On November 5, 1913, the Bozeman YMCA was formally organized. Ground breaking for the
building was on September 3, 1914, with Levesque, Flesheim and Baverly the contractors, By
1915 the building was completed. Nelson and Byron Story donated and additional $1500 to
equip and furnish the building. The new facility boasted one of the largest gymnasiums in
the state (49 x 74 feet) with a banked running tract, a white tile pool, and an impressive
Mission style lobby.
three-story brick addition was built onto the west wall of the original building (date
nknown) , and is compatible with the original building in terms of materials and detailing.
or-
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Recent alterations, such as construction of a penthouse flush with the east wall, and the
installation of a canopy set on wooden columns over the entrance, however, have diminished
the architectural quality of the building to a modest degree. The primary integrity of the
exterior of the building has been retained on the two street facades. The building is
presently used as apartments, and is known as "Boulevard Arms, "
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
This detached, three-story multi-family residence with a full day-light basement has an
irregular plan with an enclosed projecting front entry, and concrete steps. The five-bay
facade is symmetrical and consists of a central 6-paned, wooden front door and six-over-
six wooden double-hung windows. A three story wing is attached to the southwest corner.
The brick construction is finished in running bond pattern and rests on a concrete
foundation. The flat roof is covered with built-up roofing and features a brick parapet
with concrete coping and one offset brick chimney.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
"Boulevard Arms", typescript, no date or author.
Bozeman Weekly Chronicle• 2/2/13; 3/20/13; 4/10/13; 9/25/13; 10/23/13; 11/6/13; 5/21/14;
12/10/14; 7/1/15; 8/19/15; 9/2/15; 9/9/15; 9/16/15.
B zema • 6/4/14; 6/13/14; 8/5/14; 9/1/14; 9/2/14;r 9/3/14; 9/8/14; 9/13/14;
10/3/14; 10/4/14; 10/6/14; 10/25/14; 10/27/14.
Fred Willson Job List, 1914, Job 01414, "Y.M.C.A. "
FORM PREPARED BY: James R. McDonald, P.C. (1983-84) ; Matthew Cohen (1985-86 revision) ;
Patricia Bick (1987 revision) , State Historic Preservation Office, 225 No. Roberts, Helena,
Montana 59620 (406) 444-7715
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