Brooke-Lanstrum Clinic
11-13 Edwards St.
Later known as the Toomey Building


PHOTO 1967 OR 1968, JACOBSON & SHOPE, ARCHITECTS



Site of 11-13 Edwards St.


Built in 1915 by prominent local physicians Benjamin Coddington Brooke Jr. and Oscar Monroe Lanstrum, this distinctive little building served as a medical clinic and various offices during its 57-year lifespan. It predated its celebrated neighbor, the Marlow Theater, by several years. It was demolished by Helena's urban renewal projects in 1972, along with the Marlow and all of picturesque Edwards Street.


Doctors Brooke (1872-1929) and Lanstrum (1869-1928) both died relatively young, and just a year apart. They were held in high esteem by the community, as their lengthy and heartfelt newspaper obituaries reflect.

(The Brooke portrait above was interpreted by A.I. from a very low-resolution newspaper photo, the only one of him found, so the accuracy cannot be vouched for. The Lanstrum image is colorized from a good photograph.)





Both Doctors Died

Dr. Lanstruim died suddenly in the clinic on June 20, 1928. His business partner, Dr. Brooke, and his close friend Harry R. Cunnningham were with him. The official cause of death was acute pulmonary edema following a severe coughing fit.

Dr. Brooke died of a stroke, at his home, on Sept. 21, 1929.

After the deaths of Brooke and Lanstrum, records show that doctor Everett H. Lindstrom maintained a clinic at the address until 1940, when he moved to 850 Helena Avenue with Dr. Thomas l. Hawkins and Dr. R. Wayne Morris.

 

1939



Various offices occupied the Edwards St. building in subsequent years. It is noted as being Vacant in the 1944 Helena City Directory, possibly as a result of the deadly fire that destroyed the neighboring Montana National Bank buiding on Jan. 9, 1944.

It appears that the Edwards building was purchased by attorney Edmond (also found as Edmund) G. Toomey (1892-1960) in about 1947, the year that the business office of Mountain States Telephone moved to the building.

Toomey also died in the Edwards St. building, of a heart attack in his office, on Sept. 7, 1960.

In 1970, the Edwards St. building was sold to Urban Renewal by Michael J. Hughes for $60,000 -- about $500,000 in 2026 dollars. It was pulled down in 1972.