Anaconda in Deer Lodge County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Imperial Meat Market

Anaconda Commercial Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

1. Imperial Meat Market Marker

Inscription. The Imperial Meat Market specialized in fresh meat, sausage, game, fish, and oysters when D. D. Walker and Israel Gibbs opened it in a wood-frame building on this lot in 1889. Shop foreman Albert Bourbonniere, in partnership with Big Hole Valley rancher John Wenger, bought the business by 1905. Wenger left the partnership in 1910 and Bourbonniere died in 1912, bequeathing the building to Croatian butcher Rudolph Sokolich. In 1916, Sokolich and his partner Barney McTigue had the original building demolished and hired contractors to build this brick commercial building. The Imperial reopened in December 1916 with architect James Calloway Teague renting the rooms on the second floor. After 1918, Thomas Robinson operated the upstairs as a boardinghouse. Boarders paid three dollars a week for rent. When Sokolich closed the meat market in the 1930s, he moved into the building and rented out rooms until his death in 1952. Later owners remodeled the building to house a saloon on the first floor, but the meat market’s name plate, original side entry, and prismatic glass panels remain.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 46° 7.702′ N, 112° 56.871′ W. Marker is in Anaconda, Montana, in Deer Lodge County. It is on East Park Avenue (State Highway 1) near Chestnut Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 413 East Park Avenue, Anaconda MT 59711, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically outhwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

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: Barich Block (within shouting distance of this marker); 408 East Park Avenue

Imperial Meat Market and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

2. Imperial Meat Market and Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Schmidt Plumbing (within shouting distance of this marker); MacCallum and Cloutier Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Thorsen Brothers Grocery (within shouting distance of this marker); Anaconda City Hall (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wills Residence (about 400 feet away); 321 East Third Street (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Anaconda.

Imperial Meat Market image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 11, 2021

3. Imperial Meat Market

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 10, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.