Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
California Wine House
Helena Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 14, 2021
1. California Wine House Marker
Inscription.
California Wine House. Helena Historic District. Most of Helena’s earliest commercial buildings fell victim to the fires that plagued the gulch. This simple 1860s commercial building, originally a single story of stone construction, was a notable exception, surviving a disastrous conflagration in 1874. Early occupants include the Sands Brothers Dry Goods and William Pruitt’s wholesale liquor business and saloon. Pruitt, in business until the late 1880s, advertised a pure product “scrupulously guarded from adulterations.” August Fack opened his California Wine House here circa 1890. Fack, who also operated a cigar store, remodeled the stone structure, adding a new brick storefront and a second story. His wine house was known for its fine art collection. From 1902 until Prohibition in 1918, the building housed The Old Stand, another well-patronized watering hole. Brothers Herbert and Archie Goodall relocated their longtime assay business in the old saloon during the 1920s after Herbert served a six-year term as Assayer in Charge at Helena’s federal branch. The building’s 1860s stone work is visible at the rear while the 1890s brickwork and columned storefront well represent Helena’s nineteenth-century commercial architecture.
Most of Helena’s earliest commercial buildings fell victim to the fires that plagued the gulch. This simple 1860s commercial building, originally a single story of stone construction, was a notable exception, surviving a disastrous conflagration in 1874. Early occupants include the Sands Brothers Dry Goods and William Pruitt’s wholesale liquor business and saloon. Pruitt, in business until the late 1880s, advertised a pure product “scrupulously guarded from adulterations.” August Fack opened his California Wine House here circa 1890. Fack, who also operated a cigar store, remodeled the stone structure, adding a new brick storefront and a second story. His wine house was known for its fine art collection. From 1902 until Prohibition in 1918, the building housed The Old Stand, another well-patronized watering hole. Brothers Herbert and Archie Goodall relocated their longtime assay business in the old saloon during the 1920s after Herbert served a six-year term as Assayer in Charge at Helena’s federal branch. The building’s 1860s stone work is visible at the rear while the 1890s brickwork and columned storefront well represent Helena’s nineteenth-century commercial architecture.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
Location. 46° 35.159′ N, 112° 2.436′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. Marker is on South Last Chance Gulch near East Broadway Street, on the left when traveling north. This portion of Last Chance Gulch is a pedestrian mall and is closed to vehicular traffic. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 46 South Last Chance Gulch, Helena MT 59601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
