HomeMy WebLinkAboutHamillApts :T MONTANA HISTORICAL/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY #14
HISTORIC NAME: Hamill Apartments _ . ._
ADDRESS: 427 E. Main `
LEGAL BOUNDARY: Rouse's Blk F
- -
West portion 16' of
Lots 6 - 9
OWNER'S NAME: Kenneth Slaght
OWNER ADDRESS: 425 E. Main, Bozeman, MT
SPECIFIC DATE: 1931
ARCHITECT: Fred F. Willson
BUILDER: Unknown
ORIGINAL OWNER: H.J. Hamill
ORIGINAL USE: apartments
PRESENT USE: apartments �
UTM REFERENCE: - 12/497600/5058200 =�-r
ACREAGE: less than one -
U.S.G.S. QUAD: Bozeman, 1953
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: -
Applicable Criteria: C
Number of Contributing Properties: I
One of just four outstanding examples of the Art Deco style in Bozeman, all designed by
local architect Fred F. Willson, the brick Hamill Apartment building is characterized by a
beige wrap-around concrete facade with a central pavilion, vertical channels marking all
bays, and an intricate, chrome doorway. -The building was built for Henry J. Hamill, a contractor who built many Fred Willson-
designed structures, including the Baxter Hotel. Hamill, lived in Apartment 8 of this
building, along with Henry J. Hamill, Jr. and Norman J. Hamill. Henry J. Hamill died in
1940. Burt Griffin later bought the building, and had the word "Griffin" attached above
the doorway where the word Hamill-had probably been previously. In 1942, Griffin was a
clerk at the Oaks Cigar Store. _ -_ -- -- -
Fred Willson had a virtually monopolistic architectural practice between 1910 and 1956, and
designed almost all the significant buildings in the city built during that time, including
many in the surrounding region. The other three examples of the Art Deco style of special
note in Bozeman are the Gallatin County Courthouse (301 W. Main) , the Willson School (404
W. Main) , and the Bozeman Armory (24 West Mendenhall) .
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
This two-and-one-half story, Art Deco style., multi-family residence has a full daylight
basement, a rectangular plan with a projecting central bay two stories high marking the
main entrance. , 'TWO Art Deco light fixtures are set in the concrete to either side of the
main entrance. The three-bay facade is symmetrical and consists of the central bay entry
with flanking side bays. Windows are six-over-six double hung units. The central metal
door has a single light and a Chevron--patterned grill that is repeated in .the transom.
Similar iron work is used to enclose the flanking steps to the basement units. Above the
door, the word "Griffin" appears in metal lettering. The poured-in-place concrete walls
have a 3" form board pattern lowing, as well as diago al patterns, Masters, and Hamill Apartments (cont.)
decorative cornice. The structure rests on a concrete foundation and has a flat built-up
roof that rises to three stories at the rear.
-- BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Fred Willson Job List: 1931, Job # 31621 "Apartment House - H.J. Hamill - Bozeman".
City Directories: 1933, p. 67; 1942
FORM PREPARED BY: James R. McDonald, P.C. (1983-84) ; Matthew Cohen (1985-86 revision) ;
Patricia Sick (1987 revision) , State Historic Preservation Office, 225 No. Roberts, Helena,
Montana 5%20 (406) 444--7715
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