Grandon Hotel • 1888 to 1968

The Grandon Block Under Construction


FROM THE 1962 LAST CHANCE STAMPEDE PROGRAM • COURTESY OF KITTY ANN QUIGLEY TAALER

Built in 1888 by Albert R. Gates, the Grandon Block (soon remodeled into the Grandon Hotel) was destroyed by fire on March 14, 1968. Three lives were lost in the blaze. The building was notable for the single granite column supporting the northeast bay. Originally four stories high with a corner dome, a fifth story with an observation cupola and railing was added when the conversion to a hotel was made in about 1893.

Location of the Grandon
46°35'16.76"N 112° 2'10.88"W

 

The Grandon Hotel, 1890s

COURTESY OF ROBERT CLARKSON • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

Postcard View

Business Directory Ad for the Grandon Hotel

COURTESY OF SCOTT NELSON - THE BRIDGEWORKS CONSERVANCY

 

 

Bold July 4, 1898 Robbery

 

 

The Untimely Death of Albert R. Gates, 1904
Died of a Stroke at a Doctor's Office in the Nearby Kleinschmidt Block

 

Grandon Hotel City Directory Ad, 1904

Grandon Hotel Restaurant Menu, Oct. 8, 1900

Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library. "DINNER [held by] GRANDON HOTEL [at] "HELENA, MONTANA" (HOTEL)" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1900. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47db-556d-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

 

Souvenir Metal Trays from the Grandon

BOTH FROM THE COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

Souvenir Postage Stamp Holder, 1890s

COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

Trade Token from the Grandon

Presumably good for one free adult beverage.

 

 

"The Grandon" Room Key Fob

Courtesy of Scott Nelson

1890s postcard view taken from N. Warren St.

COURTESY OF THE DAVID POOR COLLECTION • CLICK ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

Views from Atop the Grandon, circa 1911
Click on Images for Big Versions in New Windows
Courtesy of Wendi Kottas Peterson

Looking West

 

Looking North

Grandon Hotel from the West, early 1930s

COURTESY OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON

Grandon and Adjacent Buildings, Looking West, ca. 1949

COLLECTION OF BOB & SUSIE LINDEBERG

 

March 14, 1968 Fire

COURTESY OF THE GEORGE HUBER COLLECTION VIA CAPT. SEAN LOGAN OF THE HELENA FIRE DEPT.

Killed in the blaze were Charles Voels, Casper Gross and Mrs. Augusta "Sarah" Brown, 85, owner of the hotel. It took until May 3rd, 50 days after the fire, to recover remains of all the victims from the rubble.

 

 

Grandon Hotel in Ruins

COURTESY OF THE GEORGE HUBER COLLECTION VIA CAPT. SEAN LOGAN OF THE HELENA FIRE DEPT.

March 15, 1968 Independent Record Story by Les Rickey (1939-2005)

CLICK ON IMAGE TO OPEN PDF FILE

 

Site of the Grandon, September 2011

PHOTO BY KENNON BAIRD