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Bozeman Historic Preservation
The 2009 Main Street Fire …
On the morning of March 5, 2009 a natural gas leak in
the 200 block of East Main Street caused a massive
explosion and fire, devastating one of Bozeman’s most
historic streetscapes. One person was killed, four historic
Main Street buildings were destroyed, and two others
were damaged ... downtown Bozeman’s greatest
catastrophe in decades.
Photographs and brief histories of the impacted Main
Street buildings are provided below.
201 East Main Street --the Montgomery Ward Company Building:
This building, on the corner of Main and North Bozeman,
is one of the more noteworthy commercial designs of
Fred Willson, Bozeman’s most significant historic architect.
The building was constructed in 1928 to house the new
Bozeman store of the Montgomery Ward Company, one of
America’s best-known 20th century retail and catalogue
companies. After Wards closed its Bozeman store, the
building housed a clothing store and furniture retailer before
becoming home to the Rocky Mountain Rug Gallery. This
building was damaged by the fire, though not destroyed.
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209-215 East Main – the Ellis, Davis & Sperling Block:
Dating from 1929, this building was constructed by the same contractor who built the Montgomery Ward
building next door. Its three-part façade, detailed with polychromatic brick, was typical for smaller
commercial buildings of the time. The building was designed to house three separate businesses, and by the
1940s the westernmost storefront had become home to one of Bozeman’s most famous watering holes --the
Rocking R Bar. The “R Bar” later expanded into the central storefront, as well, and though its original small-
town ambience was lost in a recent remodeling the bar’s historic neon sign remained a quintessential symbol
of downtown. The eastern storefront was last home to Boodles Restaurant, but long-time Bozemanites still
fondly remember the Cowboy Cafe, a downtown institution that occupied that space for many years.
219 East Main Street – the Joyce Theater:
One of the most handsome and unique landmarks on Bozeman’s Main Street,
the street façade of this building dated from about 1936, when A. M. Russell
established the Joyce Theater here, named for his daughter. Russell likely
designed the building himself, creating a striking Streamline Moderne structure
that was reflective of the time. (By the 1930s Russell also owned the Rialto and
the Ellen, Bozeman’s other downtown movie houses.) The Joyce was the first of
Russell’s theaters to close, and it became a pet shop after it was sold in 1970. In
recent years the building was home to the Montana Trails Gallery.
223 East Main Street --the IOOF Hall:
Bozeman’s ornate and well-crafted IOOF building dated from 1891, and
was Bozeman’s best example of the commercial Queen Anne style of
architecture. The building’s asymmetrical design, carved limestone detailing
and large windows made it a Main Street landmark for 118 years. The
International Order of Odd Fellows constructed the building and used its
upstairs meeting room for decades, renting out the storefront to a long
succession of businesses, beginning with a nineteenth-century hardware
store. In more recent years, the storefront housed an antique dealer and then
the LillyLu children’s clothing store. The Bozeman IOOF lodge disbanded
years ago, and its former space was last used by the Montana Ballet
Company.
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225 East Main Street --the American Legion Building:
The American Legion building was either constructed or heavily rebuilt in 1949,
using plans prepared by Fred Willson. The brick-and-glass façade was
representative of the International Style of architecture --the only such building
in downtown Bozeman. Throughout its existence, the building was home to
Gallatin Post #4 of the American Legion, its distinctive backlit sign marking a
comfortable bar that was part of the Bozeman scene for nearly 60 years.
229-233 East Main Street --the Osborne Block:
The Osborne Block is one of Main Street’s oldest surviving
commercial structures, and the largest building remaining from
the city’s boom years of the 1880s. The two-stry Italianate
building was erected in 1882 for Dr. S.H. Osborne, who operated
a pharmacy in one of the storefronts. The other storefront
contained a bank, and the second floor rooms were rented out
as offices. A long succession of business called the building
home over the next 125 years. Today, the handsomely-restored
building is home to the Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company
and Starky’s Authentic Deli. The Osborne Block was damaged
though not destroyed by the 2009 fire.
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This document was prepared by Mark Hufstetler of the Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board, and may be viewed
online at http://www.preservebozeman.org/Historic/The_Fire.html