Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Belgium, Paris, New York, St. Louis, Virginia City

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016

1. Belgium, Paris, New York, St. Louis, Virginia City Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Dr. Levinus Daems built or purchased the home on the right (West) soon after his arrival in Virginia City in 1863. Born in Belgium, Levinus Daems studied medicine and pharmacy at the University of Paris. While in Paris, he likely met his future wife and nursing student Marie Valstin. Levinus sailed to New York with the Valstin family in 1856. They traveled west to St. Louis, where Marie and Levinus married in 1860. After stopping in Colorado, Dr. Daems arrived in Bannack, Montana in 1863, where he stayed only briefly before coming to Virginia City. Marie joined him from Colorado in 1864. Dr. Daems operated the City Drug Store on Wallace Street just east of the present day Masonic Temple. Active in local politics and the Masonic Lodge, Dr. Daems died in 1874, Marie in 1904, and many of their descendants still live in the area.

Separated by mere inches, windows in the Daems side look directly to the exterior walls in the Corbett side of the home; providing no view whatsoever. Logic dictates that the homes were completed when further apart because current locations make exterior construction impossible. Research into the property

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titles gives little insight into the mysterious placement of the houses. It would appear that the present locations are somehow connected to the construction of the Methodist Church next door in 1875. Perhaps the Daems family moved their home to accommodate the church? The definitive answer remains a mystery but the two homes are now connected by an interior doorway and function as a single unit. The Daems family sold the property to Charlie Bovey in 1952.

Erected by Montana Heritage Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 45° 17.56′ N, 111° 56.697′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on West Idaho Street east of Van Buren Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is a composite plaque, mounted on a waist-high post, directly in front of the Daems House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 West Idaho Street, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Spacious Victorian Luxury (here, next to this marker); Corbett House (a few steps from this marker); Methodist Church (a few steps from this marker); Daems House (a few steps from this marker); Susie Marr House

Marker detail: Portrait of Levinus and Marie Daems image. Click for full size.

courtesy of Joy Daems

2. Marker detail: Portrait of Levinus and Marie Daems

(within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Francis Meager Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Francis Meager (within shouting distance of this marker); Allen and Millard Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. John L. Corbett & Dr. Levinus Daems Homes

Also see . . . Daems Research.
Dr. Daems was one of the first doctors who came to Montana. When the excitement of the discovery of gold at Alder Gulch, Montana, reached him, Dr. Daems, who owned a drug store, was stricken with the gold fever. He loaded his drug store on a wagon drawn by a bull team and went to Virginia City, Montana. In 1863 he set up his store on Wallace Street and operated it under the name of City Drug Store. Dr. Daems was the first elected Mayor of Virginia City and he served in both branches of the Montana Territorial Legislative Halls. At the time of his death in 1874, he was County Treasurer of Madison County. Dr. Daems was a man of great vision and put his heart and soul into bringing law and order into the Territory of Montana. He was one of the organizers and leaders

Marker detail: Dr. L. Daems' City Drug Store (<i>far right side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Montana Historical Society

3. Marker detail: Dr. L. Daems' City Drug Store (far right side)

of the famous Vigilantes of Virginia City, Montana. (Submitted on May 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Belgium, Paris, New York, St. Louis, Virginia City Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016

4. Belgium, Paris, New York, St. Louis, Virginia City Marker (wide view)

Methodist Church (1875) (<i>adjacent to Daems house on west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016

5. Methodist Church (1875) (adjacent to Daems house on west side)

John L. Corbett Home (<i>left</i>) & Dr. Levinus Daems Home (<i>right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016

6. John L. Corbett Home (left) & Dr. Levinus Daems Home (right)

Today: Masonic Temple houses US Post Office & Dr. Daems City Drug Store Building houses a bank image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016

7. Today: Masonic Temple houses US Post Office & Dr. Daems City Drug Store Building houses a bank

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 277 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on May 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.