Sixth Ave. to Lawrence St.


Last Chance Gulch 1948, looking south across Sixth Avenue


COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
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The Safeway market, seen here on the left in the Harmony Hall building, would soon move to the NE corner of Placer and Fuller; the Ben Franklin variety store would subsequently occupy this space. Harmony Hall (upstairs, with entrance on Jackson St.) had a maple dance floor, and was not only used for social events such as concerts and dances, but also as a roller rink. The hall was also known at various times as the New Winter Garden and the Oriental Ballroom. From 1932 to 1958, it was the home of the Central Bowling Alley. The downstairs (Main St. level) was for many years home to the Montana Meat Co. The building was demolished in 1970.

Also seen on the left are Gamble's, Singer Sewing Machines (opened in 1947), and Parchen Drug. On the right are the First National Bank, the J. C. Penney Co., and - in the Power Building - Goldberg's Furriers. Much more detail is available in the "big views".



Butte High Band, "Golden Canyon Days" Parade, July 1949


COLLECTION OF BOB & SUSIE LINDEBERG

"Golden Canyon Days", held July 21-24 1949, celebrated the 85th anniversary of the discovery of gold in Last Chance Gulch, and the start of construction on the new Canyon Ferry dam.

 

 

 

"Golden Canyon Days" Parade, 1949


COLLECTION OF BOB & SUSIE LINDEBERG

The unfortunate fellow portrayed with the noose around his neck looks like either a preacher or a lawyer. On the right is the Vigilante Theatre (formerly the Rio). Farther north on the right-hand side of Main are the Mobilgas station at Main and Seventh (replaced by a new office building in 1956), Dairyland (ice cream and other goodies), Globe Clothing, and the tall Iron Front Building, which is still standing.

The Super Ice Cream store on the left was gutted by fire in January of 1951, and subsequently demolished.



"Golden Canyon Days" Rustic Façade, 320 N. Main, 1949


COLLECTION OF BOB & SUSIE LINDEBERG



Two "Convention Month" Parades, May 1950


COLLECTION OF BOB & SUSIE LINDEBERG

The Anheuser-Busch clydesdales, May 1950.

 



Algeria Shrine Parade, "Convention Month", May 1950


COLLECTION OF BOB & SUSIE LINDEBERG

Visible on the left is part of the Vigilante (formerly Rio) Theatre marquee. The building next to the Rio, 333 North Main, housed the Vigilante Bar when this photo was taken. In 1952, the apartment above the bar would be the scene of a murder-suicide. Click on the photo for the story (new window).

 

 

300 block of N. Last Chance Gulch, 1950s, looking south


COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
CLICK HERE FOR AN EVEN BIGGER VIEW!

On the left are the Mecca Cafe and Scott's Toys. On the right we see Helena Hardware, the Elks Lodge (upstairs), Jorud Photo Shop, Palace Clothing, and the Silver Spur Lounge (which later became O'Toole's).

 

 

300 block of N. Last Chance Gulch, 1963 Last Chance Stampede Parade


COURTESY OF KITTY ANN QUIGLEY TAALER




Enlarged detail of previous image, 300 block of N. Last Chance Gulch, 1963


COURTESY OF KITTY ANN QUIGLEY TAALER


 

1970s postcard view of Last Chance Gulch, looking north


There may be an uglier postcard of Helena, but I've never seen it. Now known as the Donovan Building, the boxy 1963 J. C. Penny Co. store was designed by Portland architects Edmondson & Kochendoerfer. In the summer of 2008, a second story was added to the structure...


INDEPENDENT RECORD PHOTO BY ELIZA WILEY


The Completed Donovan Building, February 2009


COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

With restrained yet handsome brick and stone work, the Donovan building fits in well on Last Chance Gulch. The design is by Crossman-Whitney-Griffin Architects of Helena.



Budweiser Clydesdales, 1964 Last Chance Stampede Parade


COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

Note the rough pine-bark façades on The Globe Clothing Co. and Barnes Jewelry. Many Helena businesses sported these during the Centennial year of 1964. This had previously been done in 1949, during "Golden Canyon Days"..

 


Beer wagon, 1964 Last Chance Stampede Parade


COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

On the far right is the 1934 Rio/Vigilante Theater building, still standing today.



Vigilante Parade, May 11 1973


COURTESY OF TERESE PENIX

Buildings shown, from left to right: 335, 333, 331 and 327 North Main (Last Chance Gulch).



View from W. Lawrence and Fuller, 1964


COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

Notice the split log stockade-type structure on the right. This was "Fort Union" behind the Union Bank & Trust Co., one of many such rustic decorative structures put up during 1964 as part of Montana's Territorial Centennial celebration...