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. 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

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Helena’s nineteenth-century commercial architecture.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 46° 35.159′ N, 112° 2.436′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Gold West 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

California Wine House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 14, 2021

2. California Wine House and Marker

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Earthquakes of 1935 (here, next to this marker); Uncle Sam's Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Boston Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Dunphy Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Sands Brothers Dry Goods (within shouting distance of this marker); Raleigh and Clarke Dry Goods (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Louis Block (within shouting distance of this marker); The Discovery at Last Chance Gulch (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 389 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.