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MONTANA HISTORICAL/ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY 4�O v2
HISTORIC NAME: Spieth Houses
ADDRESS: 204 North Bozeman and ' it
209 East Lamme '
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: 0 Plat, Blk K, lots 1-4
OWNER'S NAME: Kenneth Spieth
OWNER'S ADDRESS: Box 92, Bozeman, MT 59715
SPECIFIC DATE(S) : 1903, 1908
ARCHITECT: Unknown •
BUILDER: Unknown
ORIGINAL OWNER: Barbara Spieth
E.V. Spieth
ORIGINAL USE: residences ;'
PRESENT USE: residences P
-
UTM REFERENCE: 12/497430/5058500
ACREAGE: less than one
U.S.G.S. QUAD: Bozeman, 1953
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Applicable criteria: C
Number of contributing properties: 2
These two houses are of architectural significance as exceptionally well preserved and
distinctive examples of the vernacular, pattern book style of architecture typical of the
period immediately following the turn of the century. The canted entrance of 204 N.
Bozeman, which relates to the house's corner lot, is of special note. The significance of
the house is augmented by the fact that it is part of a pair, along with the adjacent 209
Fast Lamme, The latter house is visually similar, and historically related. The present
appearance of the pair of Spieth Houses, like the Lehrkind family houses within the Bozeman
Brewery Historic District, recalls a time when immigrant families built their houses in
close proximity, forming small family compounds on the north side of Bozeman.
Both houses were built by the family of Jacob F. Spieth, an immigrant from Germany. After
trying his luck mining several of the gulches of western Montana, Spieth became one of the
proprietors of the Spieth and Krug Brewery - an important Bozeman enterprise from the
earliest days of settlement. In 1883, Spieth and Krug replaced their original brewery with
the impressive brick, Italianate style block, still standing at 240-246 E. Main Street
within the Main Street Historic District.
The corner house at 204 N. Bozeman was built in 1903 by Barbara Spieth, formerly Miss
Barbara Shock of Germany, who Jacob Spieth married in 1871. Other members of the Spieth
family to occupy this house at various times between 1903 and the 1920's were William
Spieth, an electrician who by 1910 ran his own electrical service and supply shop on Main
Street, Cleo D. Spieth, E. Dale Spieth, Edward Spieth, and Kenneth Spieth. Kenneth Spieth
owns both houses today.
The house at 209 East Lamme was built in 1908 by Eugene V. Spieth, probably one of Jacob
Spieth's sons. It was built five years after 204 N. Bozeman next door. Other members of
the Spieth family to live in this house from 1908 through the 1920's were Amelia, Barbara
and Eugene Spieth. Eugene Spieth was employed as a "fireman" by the Northern Pacific
Railroad.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
The detached one-and-one half story single-family residence at 204 N. Bozeman has a
rectangular plan with a shed roofed wrap-around porch with Doric support columns, a simple
wooden balustrade and a gable overdoor in the diagonal corner entrance. The one-bay facade
is asymmetrical and consist of a corner entry with one-over-one double hung windows. The
frame construction is finished in shiplap and the gable roof is covered with asphalt
shingles and features boxed, overhanging eaves. The gable ends are infilled with
decorative, fish scale shingles. There is a central brick chimney. The axis of the roof
is perpendicular to the street.
The smaller, one-and-one-half story, single-family residence at 209 East Lamme is visually
similar to the main house at 204 N. Bozeman. Set on a coursed stone foundation, this house
is of a cross-axial plan with the main entrance set on the west side of: the front facade.
Half-hexagonal bay windows protrude from the south and west wings. Windows are one-over-
one double hung sash, with the exception of the cottage window with its leaded glass
transom in the center of the south bay. The roof is covered with green asphalt shingles
and features boxed, overhanging eaves. There is a central brick chimney. A porch with
Doric column supports wraps around the southwest corner entrance. Another porch to the
rear on the west side, also with Doric column supports and a simple balustrade, marks the
rear entrance.
Both buildings retain an exceptionally high degree of historic architectural integrity.
The only minor change to either building is the enclosure with T-111 siding and the
construction of new cement steps leading up to that rear porch on 204 N. Bozeman.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Application for Sewer Connection, 209 East Lamme: August 10, 1908, E.V. Speith
City Directories: 1 910-11, p. 157; 1912-13; 1916-17, p. 155; 1927, p. 136
Application for Sewer Connection, 204 N. Bozeman: September 3, 1903, Mrs. Barbara Spieth.
City Directories: 1892-3; 1900; 1904-5, p. 164; 1910-11, p. 157; 1912-13, P. 153; 1916-17,
p. 155; 1927, p. 136; 1933, p. 124.
Leeson, History of. Montana, p. 1160.
FORM PREPARED BY: James R. McDonald, P.C. (1983-4) ; Matthew Cohen (1985-86 revision) ;
Patricia Bick (1987 revision) , State Historic Preservation Office, 225 No. Roberts, Helena,
Montana, 5%20 (406) 444-7715
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