The Place:
Designed by Bozeman's most prolific architect of the twentieth century, Fred Willson, The Blackmore Apartments are just one of the great many of his works to be seen in the town. Willson not only designed the building but financed it as well, along with a group of other prominent city boosters. Not only was it a commodious and upscale building aimed at the professional and the businessman, but The Blackmore was
the first apartment building to be constructed in Bozeman.
Built of concrete and faced with red brick, the 3½ storey building stands on a daylight
basement. U shaped in plan, the building was given several entrances, each with stairs to the upper floor, some of which extend from the building, some of which are fully inside the building's outer walls. On each of the inner facing walls are full height balconies,
the lower two of each set enclosed and upper the upper ones open.
Willson made good use of the brick facing the building including various corbelling techniques throughout. A heavy, triple layered band runs around the building at the cornice, with corbelled designs dropping from it at intervals. A quadruple band with uneven width bands runs around the basement, just above ground level. Windows are plentiful, the majority being three over one double hung, many one over one and a few double paned side-by-side.
The Person:
The Blackmore Apartments were named after Lord and Lady Blackmore, primarily as the result of an unfortunate incident. While the Blackmores were staying in Bozeman, at the home of General and Mrs. Lester Willson, on their way to Yellowstone, Lady Blackmore died. In return for the hospitality shown them by the town Lord Blackmore donated a 7½ acre parcel of land to the city to be used as a cemetery, in which Lady Blackmore is buried.
Though they were almost certainly British aristocracy, little seems to be known about the Lord and the Lady.