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Early
Views of Helena
Bridge
Street, 1860s, looking east from the Gulch
| Bridge
Street, 1860s, looking east from the Gulch. By the 1870s,
this was the heart of Helena's red-light district. Bridge St.
was renamed State St. in 1889. |
Fires Plagued the Early Town
Major Conflagrations
Occured in 1869, 1871, 1872 & 1874
Aftermath
of the 1871 Fire
COURTESY
OF THE RAY and PHIL JEZICK COLLECTION & THE HELENA FIRE DEPARTMENT
CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
| Several devastating
fires raged along Last Chance Gulch during the 1870s. The one pictured
above likely occured in 1871. The large brick building is the International
Hotel, on the corner of Main and Bridge (later State) Street. |
Masonic
Cornerstone Ceremony, June 14 1872
•
• • 1872 FIRE • • •
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD • CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR A LARG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
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The laying
of the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple, NW corner of Main
and Edwards Streets, June 14 1872. This image is taken from
a 1930s photo postcard, sold (and likely produced) by the Jorud
Photo Shop. What makes this photograph even more interesting
is that just 71 days after it was taken, virtually all the buldings
pictured were destroyed by fire.
ORIENTATION:
the Whitlatch Building was located on the NE corner of Broadway
and Jackson, where State Publishing was for many years. The
Main Street Meat Market and J. H. Curtis were where the Atlas
Block now stands.
The fire
began in the rear of the North Pacific Hotel on August 23 1872.
High west and southwest winds carried burning embers eastward
up Broadway, and northward toward Grand St. The loss was spectacular,
but rebuilding commenced immediately.
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The
approximate extent of the 1872 conflagration.
Stereoview
of Main St., 1878
| Note:
You can see such images in 3-D without the use of a viewer by
unfocusing your eyes as you may have done for the popular "Magic
Eye" posters. |
Stereoview
of a July 4th speakers' platform and crowd
Courthouse Square, ca. 1875
A
Late Afternoon in the State St. Area, 1880s
A
lovely view, but where are all the people?
Winter
Smoke, 1889
|
The large home at the top left, on the SE corner of State and
Rodney, was owned at different times by two pioneer Helena merchants,
A. G. Clarke and H. M. Parchen. |
"Catholic
Hill", ca. 1885
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Looking
north across State St., ca. 1885. The large building on the
right is St. Vincent's Academy, a Catholic school. Across S.
Ewing St., to the left, is the first St. John's Hospital.
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Go
back to "OLD SOUTH MAIN"
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