Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Imperial Block
Butte National Historic Landmark District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021
1. Imperial Block Marker
Inscription.
Imperial Block. Butte National Historic Landmark District. The changing character of East Park Street is well documented in the history of this rooming house, built as an investment in 1900 by Abraham Wehl. By this time, Butte’s first red light district, located on the block in the 1870s and early 1880s, had been firmly re-established to the south on nearby Galena and Mercury Streets. Handsome business blocks like this one, which replaced dilapidated mining camp buildings, brought some measure of respectability. Records show that residents at the Imperial were primarily miners and others who worked nearby but in 1910 under proprietress Mamie Smith, the fifty residents included nine prostitutes. Prohibition and reforms brought further change to the neighborhood evident by 1920 when Hugh Quinn, a family man with six children, was tenant landlord. His thirty-three roomers were all men predominantly miners or couples with children. Like most rooming houses of the time, second- and third-floor lodgings were arranged around a central skylight with ground-floor commercial space. The cast iron storefront, graceful upper-story arches, and decorative brickwork well represent turn-of-the-century Butte.
The changing character of East Park Street is well documented in the history of this rooming house, built as an investment in 1900 by Abraham Wehl. By this time, Butte’s first red light district, located on the block in the 1870s and early 1880s, had been firmly re-established to the south on nearby Galena and Mercury Streets. Handsome business blocks like this one, which replaced dilapidated mining camp buildings, brought some measure of respectability. Records show that residents at the Imperial were primarily miners and others who worked nearby but in 1910 under proprietress Mamie Smith, the fifty residents included nine prostitutes. Prohibition and reforms brought further change to the neighborhood evident by 1920 when Hugh Quinn, a family man with six children, was tenant landlord. His thirty-three roomers were all men predominantly miners or couples with children. Like most rooming houses of the time, second- and third-floor lodgings were arranged around a central skylight with ground-floor commercial space. The cast iron storefront, graceful upper-story arches, and decorative brickwork well represent turn-of-the-century Butte.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings
Location. 46° 0.77′ N, 112° 32.034′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. Marker is on East Park Street near North Wyoming Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 78-82 East Park Street, Butte MT 59701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is located at the entrance on the far right of the building.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
