1901 - Power Mercantile Co. - Lewistown, MT
Posted by: T0SHEA
N 47° 03.931 W 109° 25.564
12T E 619511 N 5213646
This sandstone block building was for many years the home of the largest mercantile, or department, store in Fergus County.
Waymark Code: WMXWB6
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 03/07/2018
Views: 0
The first section of the Power Mercantile Company was built on the northwest corner of West Main and Third in 1901, 18 years after its establishment in Lewistown. In about 1908 a matching stone warehouse was built behind the store and, in 1913 another 75 feet was added to the west end of the store, this section designed by the well known establishment of Link & Haire, of Butte and Billings. When the store was connected across the alley to the warehouse behind, the entire complex was a block deep and half a block in width, far and away the largest mercantile in the county, then or now.
On both the Main Street and the Third Avenue sides of the building the slight difference in colour of the sandstone denotes the separations among the 1901, the 1908 and the 1913 sections of the building.
POWER MERCANTILE
Possibly one of the first architect-designed stone buildings along Main Street, the Power Mercantile Building is the most visible example of Lewistown’s stone architecture. Merchant Francis Janeaux became indebted to supplier T. C. Power and lost his buildings, merchandise, and some lots to cover his $5,096 debt. The Power Brothers established the Power Mercantile Company in 1883 and dispatched N. M. Erickson to run the operation. Erickson petitioned for a post office designation for Lewistown and became the city’s first postmaster on March 10, 1884. Erickson remained managing partner of Power Mercantile until his death in 1894. W. D. Symmes filled Erickson’s vacant post and ultimately became sole proprietor of the mercantile. Active in Lewistown’s development, Symmes served two non-consecutive terms as mayor. The well-established business moved into this larger stone facility in 1901. The mercantile continued to flourish, expanding with a matching addition in 1913. The addition connected the store on Main Street with the warehouse on Broadway. Eventually Power Mercantile occupied most of the 300 block of Main Street.
From the NRHP plaque at the building
Year of construction: 1901
Cross-listed waymark: [Web Link]
Full inscription: P.M. Co.
1901
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