Havre in Hill County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Havre Post Office and Courthouse
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
1. Havre Post Office and Courthouse Marker
Inscription.
Havre Post Office and Courthouse. . Red brick, finely crafted stonework, and a colonnade reminiscent of a Greek temple brought an imposing federal symbol to Havre in the 1930s. Securing state and federal funds for this post office was an expression of optimism during economic depression. It was also remarkable as one of only three post offices its size constructed in towns of population less than 10,000. The standard federal blueprints called for two stories in the Neoclassical style. Begun in 1930, the building was nearly complete in June 1931 at the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone. Officials placed a box crafted of Butte copper, smelted at Anaconda, rolled into sheets at Great Falls, and formed by Montana workmen within the massive block. The box, containing local memorabilia, was a gift of the Montana Power Company. Construction halted temporarily to secure funding for a third-story federal court, needed to prosecute bootleggers bringing liquor down from Canada during Prohibition. Altering the standardized blueprints made Havre’s post office unique. Used as a post office until 1995, the building remains an important anchor to the historic district.
Red brick, finely crafted stonework, and a colonnade reminiscent of a Greek temple brought an imposing federal symbol to Havre in the 1930s. Securing state and federal funds for this post office was an expression of optimism during economic depression. It was also remarkable as one of only three post offices its size constructed in towns of population less than 10,000. The standard federal blueprints called for two stories in the Neoclassical style. Begun in 1930, the building was nearly complete in June 1931 at the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone. Officials placed a box crafted of Butte copper, smelted at Anaconda, rolled into sheets at Great Falls, and formed by Montana workmen within the massive block. The box, containing local memorabilia, was a gift of the Montana Power Company. Construction halted temporarily to secure funding for a third-story federal court, needed to prosecute bootleggers bringing liquor down from Canada during Prohibition. Altering the standardized blueprints made Havre’s post office unique. Used as a post office until 1995, the building remains an important anchor to the historic district.
Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic
Location. 48° 33.075′ N, 109° 40.735′ W. Marker is in Havre, Montana, in Hill County. Marker is at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street, on the right on 3rd Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 306 3rd Avenue, Havre MT 59501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is on a stand in front of the handicap parking space.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
