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

Lewistown Silk Stocking Historic District

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

1. Lewistown Silk Stocking Historic District Marker

Inscription. The seven large residences that comprise Lewistown’s mansion, hence “silk stocking,” district were built during the city’s period of greatest prosperity, from 1904 to 1919. In this small neighborhood, central Montana’s major entrepreneurs, whose fortunes represent historic area resource development, built their homes. In 1904, J. T. Wunderlin, a partner in the Barnes-King gold mine at Kendall and an organizer of the Empire Bank and Trust of Lewistown, built his home here. Rancher George Wiedeman built his home in 1905, better able to follow his interests in the Montana Hardware Company and the Lewistown Brick and Tile Company. In the following years, homes were also built by Weymouth D. Symmes, owner of Power Mercantile and a Lewistown mayor; by John Waite, pioneer sheep rancher, banker, and state senator; by department store owner E. C. Swietzer; by rancher- businessman Fred Warren; and by banker T. T. Taylor. Many of these homes were designed by architects. Note the variety of styles—Roman Revival, Shingle style, Arts and Crafts, and Georgian. They attest to the exuberance of this special era in Lewistown’s history.

Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in

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these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 4.04′ N, 109° 25.698′ W. Marker is in Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. Marker is at the intersection of West Boulevard Street and 3rd Avenue North, on the left when traveling east on West Boulevard Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 298 West Boulevard Street, Lewistown MT 59457, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Wiedeman Apartments (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Saint Leo's Catholic Church (about 700 feet away); Power Mercantile Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Warr Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); US Land Office / Warr Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Montana Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mackey Building (Montana Tavern) (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bon-Ton (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewistown.

Regarding Lewistown Silk Stocking Historic District. from Wikipedia:

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

2. Lewistown Silk Stocking Historic District Marker

The Lewistown Silk Stocking District is a historic district in Lewistown, Montana which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

About 4 acres (1.6 ha) in area, the district is roughly bounded by 2nd Ave., Boulevard and Washington Sts. and 3rd Ave. It included seven contributing buildings.

Architecture: Late Victorian, Georgian, Federal

It includes seven historic houses:

• Swietzer Residence (1919), 315 N. 3rd St
• Symmes Residence (1909), also known as Babin Residence, 220 W. Boulevard
• Taylor Residence (1920), also known as St. Leo's Rectory
• Waite Residence (1909)
• Fred R. Warren Residence (1915), Fallen Residence, 210 W. Boulevard
• Wiedeman Residence (1904), designed by architect C.E. Bell
• J.T. Wunderlin Residence (1905)

Also see . . . Lewistown Silk Stocking Historic District Nomination. (Submitted on December 13, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 13, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.