Cook-Reynolds Realty - Lewistown, MT - Vintage Ad Locations on Waymarking.com

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Cook-Reynolds Realty - Lewistown, MT

in Vintage Ad Locations

Posted by:  T0SHEA

12T E 619560 N 5213682

Fully completed in early 1909, this sandstone faced building provided Lewistown with its third post office location.

Lewistown's first post office, not counting the log Reed's Fort post office, established in 1881, was established about 1887, the second in 1903 and this one in 1909. The post office would remain here until again moving on June 28, 1914.

The building was one of three built by the Brooks Brothers, side by side along Main Street. At the completion of the building another business which moved in immediately was Cook-Reynolds Realty, a company engaged primarily in selling homestead land to settlers.

Cook-Reynolds Company has moved into the new Brooks Bros. building, adjoining their old location. Articles of incorporation of the Cook-Reynolds company were filed this week with County Clerk and Recorder Myersick. The company is capitalized for $25,000 and will conduct a general real estate business, with the principal office located in this city. The stock is all owned by G. W. Cook, R. W, Reynolds, Emma H. Cook and Josephine Reynolds, the trustees.
From the Fergus County Argus, January 22, 1909, Page 8

This ad was placed on Page 5 of the December 10, 1909 edition of the Fergus County Argus, later in the year in which they took residence in the building.

The Hub

Brooks Brothers were just completing their three connecting business buildings in December 1908, It was a "year of unprecedented growth in the Queen City of the Judith Basin". Lewistown was fast becoming a "city of stone". This portion of the building provided Lewistown with a Post Office and Albert Pfaus served as Postmaster.

Early photographs indicate that the structure is a good example of the stone masonry building tradition that characterizes the early structures of Lewistown.

This commercial structure is one story high with an exaggerated parapet and flat roof. The parapet is covered with a corrugated vertical rib metal siding that is also used as an "advertising" band. It is colored and terminates in a metal coping. The street level storefront is constructed of large pane display glazing set in natural colored aluminum frames and is flanked at each side of the building by aluminum clad pilasters. The storefront is splayed in (recessed) to provide a canopy for window shoppers and to optimize display area. The back of the building is rubble stone.
From the NRHP Nomination Form, Site# 142