Miles City in Custer County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Graves Funeral Home
Miles City Main Street Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
1. Graves Funeral Home Marker
Inscription.
Graves Funeral Home. Miles City Main Street Historic District. Cabinet and furniture makers also made caskets, and so the two businesses often went hand in hand. Furniture dealer James E. Graves purchased H. C. Plimpton’s long-established furniture and undertaking business in the 1920s. In 1929, Graves moved the mortuary end of his business to this newly constructed facility. Casper Strom, a prolific architect then new to the community, designed the striking Mission style building. Graves likely chose the style. Although unusual for Strom, it is one of his most successful accomplishments. The balanced façade features arches, porticos, curved parapets, and a decorative urn and pendants. These elements, reminiscent of a mission church, are visually appropriate for the building’s function. The combination funeral home and upstairs apartments also blends well with the character of the neighborhood. The spacious, formally landscaped lawn, then as now, adds to the residential ambience. The upstairs apartments accommodated nine households including the owners, their employees, and in 1930, county superintendent of schools Jessie McCoy. The business has changed hands several times since the 1930s, but the building retains its historic integrity and associated use.
Cabinet and furniture makers also made caskets, and so the two businesses often went hand in hand. Furniture dealer James E. Graves purchased H. C. Plimpton’s long-established furniture and undertaking business in the 1920s. In 1929, Graves moved the mortuary end of his business to this newly constructed facility. Casper Strom, a prolific architect then new to the community, designed the striking Mission style building. Graves likely chose the style. Although unusual for Strom, it is one of his most successful accomplishments. The balanced façade features arches, porticos, curved parapets, and a decorative urn and pendants. These elements, reminiscent of a mission church, are visually appropriate for the building’s function. The combination funeral home and upstairs apartments also blends well with the character of the neighborhood. The spacious, formally landscaped lawn, then as now, adds to the residential ambience. The upstairs apartments accommodated nine households including the owners, their employees, and in 1930, county superintendent of schools Jessie McCoy. The business has changed hands several times since the 1930s, but the building retains its historic integrity and associated use.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these
Location. 46° 24.498′ N, 105° 50.275′ W. Marker is in Miles City, Montana, in Custer County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 59) and South Lake Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1806 Main Street, Miles City MT 59301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
2. Graves Funeral Home and Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 11, 2020
3. Graves Funeral Home
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
