Fort Benton in Chouteau County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Fort Benton Engine House
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019
1. Fort Benton Engine House Marker
Inscription.
Fort Benton Engine House. . The Fort Benton Engine House, built in 1883, and the Grand Union Hotel are two of only a few structures remaining to remind us of the rapid expansion here during the flourishing steamboat days. When Fort Benton incorporated in 1883, a volunteer fire department was organized and a contract let for $1,710 to build this engine house. By fall, the building was complete and thirty-five men organized into three companies of firemen were ready to drill, but the firefighting equipment wintered at Cow Island because the steamboat bringing it up the Missouri met low water at season’s end (not an uncommon situation). The gear was brought on to Fort Benton by ox wagon the following spring. This building served as City Hall for more than seventy-five years, until 1966, and from 1899 it housed the city jail. Its use today as a public meeting hall for service organizations recalls the past use as a center for social activities as well as for waiting firefighters.
The Fort Benton Engine House, built in 1883, and the Grand Union Hotel are two of only a few structures remaining to remind us of the rapid expansion here during the flourishing steamboat days. When Fort Benton incorporated in 1883, a volunteer fire department was organized and a contract let for $1,710 to build this engine house. By fall, the building was complete and thirty-five men organized into three companies of firemen were ready to drill—but the firefighting equipment wintered at Cow Island because the steamboat bringing it up the Missouri met low water at season’s end (not an uncommon situation). The gear was brought on to Fort Benton by ox wagon the following spring. This building served as City Hall for more than seventy-five years, until 1966, and from 1899 it housed the city jail. Its use today as a public meeting hall for service organizations recalls the past use as a center for social activities as well as for waiting firefighters.
Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places.
Location. 47° 49.032′ N, 110° 40.043′ W. Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. Marker is on Front Street near 15th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1506 Front Street, Fort Benton MT 59442, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker is located on the Fort Benton Visitors Center.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019
2. Fort Benton Engine House Marker
The marker is located to the right of the Visitors Center entrance, on left.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019
3. Fort Benton Engine House Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
