Preservation in Progress

MPA is bursting with good news on many excellent preservation and restoration projects happening in summer 2011. From new roofs and daubing to high-tech laser documentation, a number of Montana landmark buildings and places are getting a new lease on life. Even more inspiring, these properties have been preserved through much volunteer labor and generous grant funding.

Nevada City
In Nevada City, MPA worked with a group funded by Philip Morris USA to give much needed TLC to the bachelor's cabin, the Finney homestead house, and the Chinese store. Participants helped restore the roof framing, install a new sod roof, and re-chink the logs on the bachelor's cabin. Before restoration (right) the cabin would not suit even the rudest bachelor, but with its sturdy new sod roof and leak-proof walls, the cabin is looking cozy enough for the dandiest of occupants. Careful work on the Finney homestead cabin resulted in a recycled rustic tin roof, restored windows, and new daubing. In addition, the Wing Hong Chong sign on the Chinese grocery store got a fresh coat of paint.

High-Tech Meets History
A six-person team of preservation experts from the University of Pennsylvania was in Helena in July examining, assessing and documenting the beehive kilns at the Western Clay Manufacturing Co. brickyard at the Archie Bray Foundation. The team documented the structures with large-format photography, but will also use a laser scanner to create a 3D model of at least one of the kilns. The result of the work will allow the Bray's staff and board to better plan for the future of this rich industrial heritage site.

The group was led by Professor Frank Matero. founder and director of U Penn's Architectural Conservation Laboratory. Matero has consulted on a wide range of national and international architectural and archaeological conservation projects including the fortifications of Cairo, Egypt; Ellis Island buildings in New York City, and the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials (Washington, D.C.), among others.

Patty Dean, Director of Sustainability and Preservation at MPA noted: "We are truly enthused to have this remarkable group of experts from the University of Pennsylvania documenting the Bray. In fact, they are as excited to be doing this work as we are to have them here. The site is significant not only for its role in Montana's early 20th century industrial history but also noteworthy for its state of preservation and the inspiration it has provided to artists for sixty years." This project was generously underwritten by MPA's J.M. Kaplan Fund to preserve Montana's Endangered Industrial Architecture.

Rock Creek Cabins Ship-Shape

Milo McLeod shows off new shingles and trim on the spring house at the Rock Creek Guard Station.

In May, retired Forest Service Archaeologist, Milo McLeod led volunteers from the Friends of Rock Creek Historic District on another round of preservation maintenance work on three historic Forest Service cabins in the Rock Creek area, east of Missoula.

At the Rock Creek Guard Station volunteers re-roofed the spring house with fresh wood shingles, and also replaced a rotten wall log and the door trim. General preservation maintenance was completed at the Hogback cabin and a new interpretive sign was installed at the Morgan-Case homestead that chronicles the history and significance of the buildings and grounds. The Rock Creek Guard station is still in use by the Forest Service and the Hogback and Morgan-Case homesteads are some of the most popular cabins in the region's cabin rental program.

TLC for Green Meadow Ranch, Helena

The Green Meadow Ranch granary (left) and blacksmith shop (below) are dry and safe now that each has a new roof. The project was funded by an MPA/J.M. Kaplan Fund grant and federal historic preservation stimulus funds awarded to the Lewis & Clark County Historical Society. Much of the labor to remove the old shingles came from Montana Conservation Corps staff.

After two years and $123,000, these majestic Robert Reamer-designed ranch buildings are in great shape. In the end, only the granary was roofed in wood shingles, due to the high cost of producing and installing the shingles. Asphalt rolled roofing protects the blacksmith shop for now, in hopes of stabilizing the building and someday shingling it with wood. All involved are relieved that these rare and outstanding buildings are now safe.