Historic News from Across the State

GOVERNOR'S BUDGET INCLUDES MORE THAN $4 MILLION FOR PRESERVATION

With input from the Governor’s Council on Historic & Cultural Properties, Governor Brian Schweitzer released his state budget in early November.  The “Yellow Book” as it is known to those on the inside, includes more than $4 million to meet urgent historic preservation needs across the state by making substantial investment in key state-owned properties and programs. Continue reading here.

EXTREME MAKEOVER: BOULDER STYLE

The Boulder Admin building got an extreme makeover this summer, as the first stage of the $179,000 stabilization project began with a thorough cleaning from attic to basement. Workers removed abandoned furniture, old files, and mountains of pigeon guano that had so filled the attic, that in places the ceiling had collapsed under its weight. Today, the building is again clean and being mothballed to secure it against the elements of nature and unwanted inhabitants. The next phase will be to repair the leaking roof which will likely and find new occupants.

According to Don Rypkema, saving buildings such as the Boulder School “can be daunting” but “Daunting is not the same as impossible.”

BRIDGE RESCUE !!

After 4 years of effort to save it, the Craig Bridge was saved from the scrap heap late in November, just days before it was slated to be demolished.  The last minute rescue was pulled off by a Helena family with a business that seeks to adopt the bridge. Continue reading here.

TENTH STREET BRIDGE CANSTRUCTION

The road leading to preservation of Great Falls’ 10th Street Bridge has been marked by imaginative efforts.  This year the members of Preservation Cascade have not let their supporters down.   True to form, Preservation Cascade is planning a whimsical entry for Canstruction, a national event benefiting food banks across America featuring fantastic structures all built of canned food. Continue reading here.

'A' FOR EFFORT :
Libby Leaders Set New Agenda for Reusing Libby School

On Monday, Members of the Libby School District, Libby City Council, Libby Revitalization, Friends of Historic Libby High School met on Nov 9 in Libby with representatives of Conover Bond Developers, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, State Historic Preservation Office and Montana Preservation Alliance to negotiate a renewed strategy for reuse of the historic school. 

TWO MONTANA NHLs GET GREEN LIGHT FOR EXPANSION

A Labor of Love: NPS Approves Expanded Butte-Anaconda NHL
On October 24, 2005 the Landmarks Committee of the National Park Service Advisory Board met in Washington DC, and unanimously endorsed an expanded Butte-Anaconda National Landmark District, urging the full NPS Advisory Board to recommend it to the Secretary of the Interior Gayle Norton for final approval. On January 13, the NPS Advisory Board did just that, and now, the last remaining step in Butte-Anaconda’s 14 year odyssey to gain broader NHL recognition is for Secretary Norton to sign her approval of the new landmark boundaries. Continue reading here.
 
 
Lewis & Clark Rested Here
When the Corps of Discovery traversed the plains and mountains of Montana, little did they dream that 200 years later archaeologists would be looking for evidence of their latrine to determine where they had camped out. But that is just what archaeologist Dan Hall and a research team did, beginning in 1994 at the Travelers’ Rest site near Lolo. Hall’s project involved 10 years of research, based upon the theory that vapor analysis would reveal traces of mercury in the soil -- remnants of laxatives known as Dr. Rush's Thunder Clappers used by the Lewis & Clark expedition to treat their ailments. Because the pills were 60 percent mercury, which does not decompose, the element would remain in the soil long after the explorer’s had come and gone. Continue reading here.

NEW NATIONAL REGISTER LISTSINGS

October 19, 2005:
John Hepburn Place,
Emigrant, Park County

November 9, 2005:
Acme Building,
Billings, Yellowstone County

December 6, 2005:
Adams Hotel
Lavina, Golden Valley County

December 16, 2005:
Charlie and Nancy Russell
Honeymoon Cabin
Cascade, Cascade County

December 28, 2005:
Donovan-Mayer House
Helena, Lewis and Clark County