Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Helena, Main Street - 1905

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021

1. Helena, Main Street - 1905 Marker

Inscription. Before the coming of the automobile, horseshoers were an important part of Helena's business community. Wagons needed repairs, wheels required replacement of rims or spokes and horses must have shoes. Fall was a particularly busy time of year. Horses used for hauling materials were brought to the local horseshoe shop. There the craftsman would "rough" or "sharp" shod the animals with points and studs to improve their traction in the snow. A good horseshoer could provide an owner with corrective shoes to restore a horse to usefulness.
In 1905 Helena had four businesses devoted to the shoeing of horses and fourteen blacksmith shops some of which also worked with horses.
On this site in 1905 horseshoers Bieber & Huber located their business. The city installed cement sidewalks and the horseshoers left their mark with the imprints you see here.
Although the means of transportation in the community have since changed, it is good to reflect on those craftsmen whose hard work provided such a basic and necessary service as keeping transportation maintained and moving.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these

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topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 46° 35.492′ N, 112° 2.22′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is at the intersection of North Last Chance Gulch and East Placer Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Last Chance Gulch. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 435 North 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

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Colorado Building (here, next to this marker); Iron Front Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); C.W. Cannon Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fashion Livery and Boarding Stable

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021

2. Helena, Main Street - 1905 Marker

The marker is to the left of the entrance.

(about 500 feet away); Eybel's Cafe (about 700 feet away); Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Montana (about 800 feet away); YWCA (approx. 0.2 miles away); Federal Reserve Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.