Glendive in Dawson County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Dion Brothers Building
Merrill Avenue Historic District
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2020
1. Dion Brothers Building Marker
Inscription.
Dion Brothers Building. Merrill Avenue Historic District. Henry Dion built this brick building circa 1894 to expand his mercantile business. In 1908, he sold it to his two eldest sons, Harry N. and Fred. The brothers enlarged the original one-story building in 1910, adding a second story with apartments and a new faηade. The four original shops were converted to one large general merchandise store that catered to the homesteaders then pouring into Dawson County. The business included an International Harvester farm equipment outlet across the street. The brothers, who themselves had a ranch on Belle Prairie, stocked everything imaginable from a spool of thread to a team of horses. Smaller purchases, wrapped with paper and tied with string, had to be secure enough to be carried many miles on horseback. Miles City architect Brynjulf Rivenes designed the stunning Neoclassical style faηade, which features extensive brick and sandstone detailing. Note the “Dion Bros.” inscription and decorative lions heads, perhaps a reminder that the French-Canadian name, Dion, was Americanized to rhyme with lion.
Henry Dion built this brick building circa 1894 to expand his mercantile business. In 1908, he sold it to his two eldest sons, Harry N. and Fred. The brothers enlarged the original one-story building in 1910, adding a second story with apartments and a new faηade. The four original shops were converted to one large general merchandise store that catered to the homesteaders then pouring into Dawson County. The business included an International Harvester farm equipment outlet across the street. The brothers, who themselves had a ranch on Belle Prairie, stocked everything imaginable from a spool of thread to a team of horses. Smaller purchases, wrapped with paper and tied with string, had to be secure enough to be carried many miles on horseback. Miles City architect Brynjulf Rivenes designed the stunning Neoclassical style faηade, which features extensive brick and sandstone detailing. Note the “Dion Bros.” inscription and decorative lions heads, perhaps a reminder that the French-Canadian name, Dion, was Americanized to rhyme with lion.
Location. 47° 6.245′ N, 104° 42.828′ W. Marker is in Glendive, Montana, in Dawson County. It is on South Merrill Avenue near West Bell Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 South Merrill Avenue, Glendive MT 59330, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Missouri River Country. It is also in the American Mountain West, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, on the Great Plains, and specifically on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2020
2. Dion Brothers Building and Marker
The marker is at the left end of the building.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 418 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 31, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
