Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
923 West Mercury
Butte National Historic Landmark District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 13, 2021
1. 923 West Mercury Marker
Inscription.
923 West Mercury. Butte National Historic Landmark District. In 1896, W. Mead Hanson departed Utah for Butte with his wife, Nellie, and their children. Leaving his job as mail clerk for a short-gauge railroad, the thirty-two-year-old Mead opened a cigar store in the Lewishon Building in the heart of Uptown. By 1900, the family had purchased this home, then a duplex. The Hansons lived on one side and rented the other to machinist Timothy Martin and his family including his wife, sister-in-law, two children, and a nursemaid. Only one other residence stood on the block, even though developers had started selling lots ten years earlier; construction had only just begun on the massive Paul Clark Home across the street. By 1916, the Hansons had converted the duplex into a single-family home and neighbors on both sides crowded their one-story, hipped-roof, four-square cottage. The couple remained in residence until Mead, by then working as an insurance agent, died in 1932. An unusual two-story outhouse, on site throughout the Hansons’ residency, still stood behind the home in 1957, a surprising remnant of an earlier time.
In 1896, W. Mead Hanson departed Utah for Butte with his wife, Nellie, and their children. Leaving his job as mail clerk for a short-gauge railroad, the thirty-two-year-old Mead opened a cigar store in the Lewishon Building in the heart of Uptown. By 1900, the family had purchased this home, then a duplex. The Hansons lived on one side and rented the other to machinist Timothy Martin and his family including his wife, sister-in-law, two children, and a nursemaid. Only one other residence stood on the block, even though developers had started selling lots ten years earlier; construction had only just begun on the massive Paul Clark Home across the street. By 1916, the Hansons had converted the duplex into a single-family home and neighbors on both sides crowded their one-story, hipped-roof, four-square cottage. The couple remained in residence until Mead—by then working as an insurance agent—died in 1932. An unusual two-story outhouse—on site throughout the Hansons’ residency—still stood behind the home in 1957, a surprising remnant of an earlier time.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location.
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46° 0.65′ N, 112° 33.017′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. Marker is on West Mercury Street near West Girard Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 923 West Mercury Street, Butte MT 59701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 17, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
