Forsyth in Rosebud County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Commercial Hotel
Forsyth Main Street Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 13, 2020
1. Commercial Hotel Marker
Inscription.
Commercial Hotel. Forsyth Main Street Historic District. Decorative brickwork marks this impressive hotel designed by Montana architects Link and Haire. A vivid diamond pattern of light and dark brick provides a decorative band below the cornice, while raised brickwork divides the building vertically. A smooth belt line separates the street façade from the upper levels. In this, it mirrors traditional Renaissance Revival design, which organized large buildings into horizontal layers, with each floor becoming increasingly more refined. Rusticated stone was often used to make the first floor seem rougher than the upper levels, an effect simulated here through brickwork. Owned by pioneer entrepreneur Hiram Marcyes, the hotel was built in stages from 1903 to 1906. Marcyes, who owned a brickyard south of town, had earlier built Forsyth’s first brick business block as well as several other properties. A 1905 newspaper article gave Marcyes “credit for constructing not only the most [buildings], but the largest building in the city”, the new Commercial Hotel. The hotel, it said, was “the result of much personal effort,” Marcyes “having been carpenter, mason, and painter . . . at different times.”
Decorative brickwork marks this impressive hotel designed by Montana architects Link and Haire. A vivid diamond pattern of light and dark brick provides a decorative band below the cornice, while raised brickwork divides the building vertically. A smooth belt line separates the street façade from the upper levels. In this, it mirrors traditional Renaissance Revival design, which organized large buildings into horizontal layers, with each floor becoming increasingly more refined. Rusticated stone was often used to make the first floor seem rougher than the upper levels, an effect simulated here through brickwork. Owned by pioneer entrepreneur Hiram Marcyes, the hotel was built in stages from 1903 to 1906. Marcyes, who owned a brickyard south of town, had earlier built Forsyth’s first brick business block as well as several other properties. A 1905 newspaper article gave Marcyes “credit for constructing not only the most [buildings], but the largest building in the city”—the new Commercial Hotel. The hotel, it said, was “the result of much personal effort,” Marcyes “having been carpenter, mason, and painter . . . at different times.”
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture
Location. 46° 15.91′ N, 106° 40.811′ W. Marker is in Forsyth, Montana, in Rosebud County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and North 8th Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 807 Main Street, Forsyth MT 59327, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 13, 2020
2. Commercial Hotel Marker
The marker is to the left of the hotel entrance, in front of the white car.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
