Miles City in Custer County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Furstnow House
Carriage House Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
1. Furstnow House Marker
Inscription.
Furstnow House. Carriage House Historic District. Born in Wisconsin, Al Furstnow settled permanently in Miles City in 1894 and became the major saddler in the northwest. In 1895, Furstnow commissioned Byron Vreeland to build this Queen Anne style home, unusual because the architect usually designed in brick. The previous year Furstnow opened Al Furstnow’s Saddle Shop on Main Street in a Vreeland-designed building. Credited with making the first flower hand-stamped saddles in Miles City for Britain’s Lord Sidney Paget, Furstnow outfitted Leigh Remington of Remington Arms and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show for their Paris exhibition. The bay window heads are embellished with carved medallions in a motif that is continued throughout the interior. The residence retains the original tall ceilings and detailing, including a fan-trimmed arch and four brass and stained-glass chandeliers, one being in the form of a British Crown. Remodeling in 1910 modernized the house with Craftsman details to reflect Miles City’s financial status during the homestead boom. The home remained in the Furstnow family until the late 1980s.
Born in Wisconsin, Al Furstnow settled permanently in Miles City in 1894 and became the major saddler in the northwest. In 1895, Furstnow commissioned Byron Vreeland to build this Queen Anne style home, unusual because the architect usually designed in brick. The previous year Furstnow opened Al Furstnow’s Saddle Shop on Main Street in a Vreeland-designed building. Credited with making the first flower hand-stamped saddles in Miles City for Britain’s Lord Sidney Paget, Furstnow outfitted Leigh Remington of Remington Arms and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show for their Paris exhibition. The bay window heads are embellished with carved medallions in a motif that is continued throughout the interior. The residence retains the original tall ceilings and detailing, including a fan-trimmed arch and four brass and stained-glass chandeliers, one being in the form of a British Crown. Remodeling in 1910 modernized the house with Craftsman details to reflect Miles City’s financial status during the homestead boom. The home remained in the Furstnow family until the late 1980s.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment
Location. 46° 24.521′ N, 105° 50.74′ W. Marker is in Miles City, Montana, in Custer County. Marker is on Pleasant Street near North 11th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1010 Pleasant Street, Miles City MT 59301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
2. Furstnow House and Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
3. Furstnow House
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
