Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
F.R. Merk Block
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009
1. F.R. Merk Block Marker
Inscription.
F.R. Merk Block. . Gold dust was the common currency when George Higgins built this sturdy “fire-proof stone” business block circa 1866. F.R. Merk leased the new building for his mercantile, advertising fancy and staple groceries, liquors, Queensware, woodenware household implements and a tin shop with “prices to suit the times.” Merk bought the building for $1,800 in 1867, but soon went back to mining. Harrington, Baker and Company sold boots and shoes here during the 1870s and E.L. Smith located his department store on these premises in the late 1880s. At the start of Prohibition in 1918, this was the Little Club Saloon. Like other such businesses, the club switched to advertising soft drinks until saloons were again legal in 1933. The present Pioneer Bar has served as a popular watering hole and gathering place since 1947. Although its ground-floor window openings were “frontierized” in the 1960s with rough boards and smaller panes, the impressive stone facade of this gold rush era landmark has changed little since the 1860s. This property contributes to the Virginia City Historic District . Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior . In cooperation with the Montana Historical Society
Gold dust was the common currency when George Higgins built this sturdy “fire-proof stone” business block circa 1866. F.R. Merk leased the new building for his mercantile, advertising fancy and staple groceries, liquors, Queensware, woodenware household implements and a tin shop with “prices to suit the times.” Merk bought the building for $1,800 in 1867, but soon went back to mining. Harrington, Baker & Company sold boots and shoes here during the 1870s and E.L. Smith located his department store on these premises in the late 1880s. At the start of Prohibition in 1918, this was the Little Club Saloon. Like other such businesses, the club switched to advertising soft drinks until saloons were again legal in 1933. The present Pioneer Bar has served as a popular watering hole and gathering place since 1947. Although its ground-floor window openings were “frontierized” in the 1960s with rough boards and smaller panes, the impressive stone facade of this gold rush era landmark has changed little since the 1860s.
This property contributes to the Virginia City Historic District • Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior • In cooperation with the Montana Historical Society
Erected by Montana Historical Society
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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.
Location. 45° 17.595′ N, 111° 56.768′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on Wallace Street. The Merk Block marker is on the south side of Wallace Street, between Jackson and Van Buren Streets. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 507 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
