City Hall • 1885 to 1935
History and Images Contributed by
Helena Fire Department Captain Sean Logan
|
After incorporation
in 1881, the City of Helena ran its various operations in facilities
that were scattered throughout town. For example, the police
department and court were leased at "the old Independent
building" at the corner of Bridge and Water Streets; the
city council met in offices in the Ming Opera House on Jackson
Street; the fire department had its station on Clore Street,
a portion of which was leased.
The impending
expiration of that lease in 1883 prompted Fire Chief Charles
D. Curtis to opine in the Independent about more suitable quarters.
He proposed the construction of one building which would house
the fire and police departments, and the various other offices
of city government...
This idea
germinated over the next couple of years. In the summer of 1885,
the construction contract was awarded to N. Monchausen for a
bid of $7,530. The building opened on December 10, 1885. The
two-story brick edifice would house the city marshal's office
and jail, city council, police court and fire department for
the next fifty years.
As the following
photographs show, the building had several additions through
the years, primarily to the rear of the building.
|
City
Hall When New, Probably 1886
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Daily
Independent, December 11 1885
Site
of City Hall
The footprint
shows the 1930 (final) confuguration of the original building and
its additions.
City
Hall, circa 1887
COURTESY
OF RICH COE • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG
VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Note the addition
of a stone barn to the west side of the building.
City
Hall, circa 1890
HELENA
FIRE DEPARTMENT ARCHIVES • CLICK ON IMAGE
FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
The truncated conical
structure on the roof of the building is a hose-drying tower.
City
Hall, circa 1891
COURTESY
OF THE RAY & PHIL JEZICK COLLECTION • CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
On the far right,
we can see part of the second-story addition to the stone barn.
Looking
East, up Bridge (State) Street, from S. Benton Avenue, 1890s
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| One of the
only views known showing the west side of City Hall. Prominent
on the roof is the hose-drying tower. |
Billiard Room in City Hall, circa 1910
COURTESY
OF THE RAY & PHIL JEZICK COLLECTION • CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Playing
Horseshoes on State Street, late 1920s
COURTESY
OF THE RAY & PHIL JEZICK COLLECTION • CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| This view
shows the two-story addition to the rear of the original building.
It appears that the first-story stonework of the addition has
been bricked-over. In the background is South Park Avenue, and
above it, running along the hillside, South Benton Avenue. |
Interior
of the Fire Station, March 8 1928
HELENA
FIRE DEPARTMENT ARCHIVES • CLICK ON IMAGE
FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| The brass
pole in the background is now in the Civic Center station. As
far as is known, the pole is the only remnant of the City Hall
building. |
October
1935 Earthquakes Doom the Building
| Fallen brick
from a Chinese mercantile building next door to City Hall crushed
an automobile. Slight damage to the brickwork on City Hall can
be seen in the upper right. The city moved its operations out
of City Hall almost immediately after the first major quake on
October 12, but there was more to come... |
Subsequent earthquakes collapse the north side of City Hall
SEAN
LOGAN COLLECTION •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
|
So, city
government was once again scattered about town. There was great
debate and disagreement within the council as to whether to
rebuild it or relocate to a new location. The building was ultimately
and unceremoniously demolished in March of 1938.
The next
few years were spent politically haggling about the location
of the next City Hall. A decision was finally reached, and the
rest, as they say...
|
Go here
for more about the Algeria Shrine Temple / current Civic Center
