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.
521 West Main. Lewistown Central Business Historic District. 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.
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 Sign Program.
Location. 47° 3.814′ N, 109° 25.717′ W. Marker is in Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. Marker 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.
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 129 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 11, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.