McDonald & Charters Block - Lewistown, MT
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 47° 03.831 W 109° 25.685
12T E 619361 N 5213458
Flanked by a pair of brick buildings of similar vintage, the McDonald & Charters Block, once housing a billiards hall, now houses a church.
Waymark Code: WMXWNQ
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 03/08/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member saopaulo1
Views: 0
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Construction on this two story brick business block commenced on September 25, 1905 with the laying of the foundation. Completion took place around the First of June of the next year. The original tenants were the Lewistown Bakery, operated by Francis Sullivan, and C. E. Shoemaker & Co., a mortgage company, while the Knights of Pythias met in an upstairs room.

A series of short articles in the Fergus County Argus kept the citizens up to date on the progress of the building's construction. Three of there follow.
McDonald & Charters Block
Fergus County Argus | December 12, 1905
McDonald Charters are putting a fine two story business block adjoining the First National Bank corner. They will expend at least $15,000 on the building, which is to be of stone, with a front of Omaha pressed brick. George Wells has the contract for this building.

Year's Building Operations

This past year has been an active one in the way of building operations in Lewistown. In 1904, the amount of the improvements in the way of business structures and residences begun and completed was $145,000. This total foots up $155,000, of which $85,000 is represented by the Judith Basin Milling plant, the library and the McDonald & Charters business block...
From the Fergus County Argus

George Wells has been awarded the contract for erecting the McDonald & Charters block, adjoining the First National Bank, the stone work having been sublet to John Laux. Work on the foundation was commenced yesterday.
From the Fergus County Argus<

[The Argus-November 21, 1905]
The fine weather that prevailed up to yesterday was taken advantage of by the builders, and rapid progress has been made on the many structures in course of erection all over the city. The carpenters of the McDonald & Charters block, next to the First National Bank building, did not quit for [the] storm, and by last night had the basement story enclosed.
MCDONALD & CHARTERS BLOCK
The beautiful blending of brick and hand cut stone in this 1905 business block serves as a fine example of Lewistown’s distinctive architecture. Romanesque Revival arches, Renaissance Revival wall layering, and an Italianate cornice speak to the exuberant eclecticism of the period. Built by local contractor George Wells for Charles McDonald and John Charters, the building originally housed a land office and the Lewistown Bakery whose specialty was “Mother’s Bread.” The Knights of Pythias met in the second-floor lodge hall. Now an integral part of a three-building unit, the narrow cut stone first-floor entry hall and upper-floor façade retain their 1905 appearances.
From the NRHP plaque at the building
Type of publication: Newspaper

When was the article reported?: 12/12/1905

Publication: Fergus County Argus

Article Url: [Web Link]

Is Registration Required?: no

How widespread was the article reported?: local

News Category: Business/Finance
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