Lewistown in Fergus County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

521 West Main

Lewistown Central Business Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2019

1. 521 West Main Marker

Inscription. In March of 1914, four hundred local business owners protested locating Lewistown’s new post office on this site, claiming that the call for bids was not properly advertised. Most favored housing the post office in the Masonic Temple building. Nevertheless, the Fergus County Realty Company, one of the two bidders, won the five-year lease. Lewistown architects Wasmansdorff and Eastman drew the plans and construction commenced immediately under federal supervision. Uncle Sam occupied part of the storefront while businessman A. H. Smurr and attorney W. R. Kirk leased the remaining space. Smurr and Kirk’s enterprise included a confectionery/ice cream parlor, a factory for the manufacture of their “delicacies,” and a billiard room/bowling alley catering to the “the highest class of the trade.” The post office remained in the building until the construction of the federal building in 1931. This historic building has been carefully restored to its original appearance and, since 1958, has housed one of Montana’s longest running newspapers, the Lewistown New-Argus.

Erected by The Montana National Register

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Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program, and the Postal Mail and Philately series lists.

Location. 47° 3.814′ N, 109° 25.717′ W. Marker is in Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. It is on West Main Street (U.S. 87) near 6th Avenue South, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 521 West Main Street, Lewistown MT 59457, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: McDonald and Charters Block (within shouting

521 West Main image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2019

2. 521 West Main

distance of this marker); Attix Clinic (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Courthouse Historic District (about 600 feet away); Phillips Drug Company (about 700 feet away); Carnegie Library (about 700 feet away); Bon-Ton (approx. 0.2 miles away); Warr-Lane Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Power Mercantile Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewistown.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 11, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.