|
 Former Lewistown Montana - 59457 Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 47° 03.816 W 109° 25.727
12T E 619310 N 5213429
As well as housing retail businesses, for many years this building housed the Lewistown post office as well as a billiard hall and a bowling alley.
Waymark Code: WMXRGY
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 02/19/2018
Views: 0
When built in 1914 the building housed the post office, in spite of objections from the populace who thought the post office would be better situated in the Masonic Hall. Prolific Lewistown architects Wasmansdorff & Eastman drew the plans for the building which, given that it was to house the post office, was built under government supervision. Historically known as the Fergus County Realty Building, this structure was the first masonry post office in Lewistown, the first built in 1903 about four blocks away. Construction, if actually begun in 1914, must have progressed quickly, as the post office was to move into their new quarters on June 28 of that year.
The post office remained in the building until the construction of the federal building in 1931, while various businesses came and went over the years. Finally, in 1958 the Lewistown New-Argus newspaper landed here, and it's still here, eventually becoming one of Montana's longest running newspapers.
521 WEST MAIN
In March of 1914, four hundred local business owners protested locating Lewistown’s new post office on this site, claiming that the call for bids was not properly advertised. Most favored housing the post office in the Masonic Temple building. Nevertheless, the Fergus County Realty Company, one of the two bidders, won the five-year lease. Lewistown architects Wasmansdorff and Eastman drew the plans and construction commenced immediately under federal supervision. Uncle Sam occupied part of the storefront while businessman A. H. Smurr and attorney W. R. Kirk leased the remaining space. Smurr and Kirk’s enterprise included a confectionery/ice cream parlor, a factory for the manufacture of their “delicacies,” and a billiard room/bowling alley catering to the “the highest class of the trade.” The post office remained in the building until the construction of the federal building in 1931. This historic building has been carefully restored to its original appearance and, since 1958, has housed one of Montana’s longest running newspapers, the Lewistown New-Argus.
From the NRHP plaque at the building
Type of structure:: Stand alone
re-enter Zip Code here:: 59457
Current Status:: Former Historic Location
|
Visit Instructions:
To post a log to an existing U.S. Post Office waymark, you will need to post a picture of the front of the building, with the name of the post office in the background if that is possible.
A description of your Post Office is required, such as when it was built, history, outstanding or unique features, population of the city or town, just do a quick internet search and find an interesting bit of information about the city or town and add it to the long description, to make it more interesting. Even just adding in the population of the area can give others an idea of how many people this post office serves. This description should be at least three sentences.
If your Post Office has any unusual or unique features that you feel others would enjoy viewing, additional pictures are always welcome.
Including your gps device in the picture is not necessary, but wouldn't be cause for disapproval, as long as all other details of your log are acceptable.
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|
|