Miles City in Custer County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Dr. Redd's Brick Building

Main Street Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020

1. Dr. Redd's Brick Building Marker

Inscription. Dr. Robert G. Redd served as an army surgeon at Fort Keogh in the 1870s. Redd resigned in 1881 to assume a private practice. He served as county physician, coroner, and surgeon for the Northern Pacific Railroad as well as mayor from 1889 to 1900. He commissioned architect Byron Vreeland to design a two-story permanent building for his drug store. Henry C. Smith—mayor from 1911 to 1913—purchased the edifice in 1908 and contracted with city engineer Grover C. Pruett to remodel the façade in 1915. The marble and terra cotta Renaissance Revival style of the building was rare in Miles City and Smith used it to advertise the city’s cosmopolitan attributes in the early twentieth century. “1915” adorns a terra cotta rectangle above the windows and the entrance bears a polychrome mosaic tile floor arranged in the image of a pocket watch. Although remodeling obliterated the original façade, the original 1883 corbelling remains on the east side.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Science & Medicine.

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In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 46° 24.35′ N, 105° 51.062′ W. Marker is in Miles City, Montana, in Custer County. It is on Main Street (Business Interstate 94) near South 5th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 510 Main Street, Miles City MT 59301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Montana, in Custer Country and in the Powder River Basin.

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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Commercial Block (within shouting distance of this marker); The Olive Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Miles City Main Street Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020

2. Dr. Redd's Brick Building Marker

The maker in the right side of the window; but it can only be read from the outside.

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kenney Block (Montana Saloon) (about 400 feet away); Early Horse History (about 400 feet away); The Horse Nation and Native People (about 400 feet away); Photography (about 400 feet away); The Chappel Brothers Corporation (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miles City.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020

3. Dr. Redd's Brick Building Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 303 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.