The Corner Bar
Formerly the Pepperbox, City Club, Helena Club
•
Circa 1934-Present
The
Helena Club, circa 1954
COURTESY
OF DARCY O'DELL
On
the Map...
|
The Corner
Bar has been a landmark on the northeast corner of Euclid
Avenue (Highway 12) and Williams since about 1934. It was
originally opened as The Pepperbox, and billed as "Montana's
Smallest Nightclub". Over the decades, it has also operated
as the City Club and the Helena Club. It became the Corner
Bar in 1958.
Historian
Jon Axline has kindly provided the Montana Historical and
Architectural Survey of the building, in PDF form, which you
can read by clicking the link below. Some information from
Jon's excellent work is presented on this page, but please
open the PDF for the most complete history of the property.
|
| The Pepperbox
was built by Raymond Ehlers (1893-1970) about 1934. He leased
it to Maud Brannon (1892-1982) until 1940, when Walter Harris
took over the operation of the club... |
| By 1944,
Clarence Streets (1906-1970) had taken over management of the
club and renamed it the City Club. Streets purchased the club
from Elhers in 1947, and renamed it the Helena Club. |
Gambling
Devices Seized, 1951
Punchboards
Were Common
| Streets
sold the club to Joe and Jennie Slanger in June of 1956. The
Slangers also operated The
Corner , a lounge located in the Phoenix Building, on the
southwest corner of Main and Lawrence. In 1958, the Phoenix
Building was demolished to make way for the new Union Bank &
Trust Co. building (now Wells Fargo), so the Slangers sold the
property and renamed the Helena Club the Corner Bar, utilizing
the electrified sign from the downtown building... |
The Corner Bar Sign on Main St., 1949
COURTESY
OF CONNIE FERRITER
The
Corner Bar Sign on Euclid (Highway 12), about 2008
COURTESY
OF SCOTT NELSON
Armed
Robbery, 1969
| The Slangers
ran the bar until 1974, when it was acquired by Earl and Patricia
Warfield. Patricia was Joe and jennie's daughter. In 1990, the
establishment was purchased by Peggy Rost. |
Recent
Photos of the Corner Bar
COURTESY
OF SCOTT NELSON
COURTESY
OF SCOTT NELSON
PHOTO
BY KENNON BAIRD • CLICK ON IMAGE TO OPEN
A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
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