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

YWCA

Helena Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021

1. YWCA Marker

Inscription. Only seven years after organizing, the Helena chapter of the Young Women’s Christian Association, Independent, opened this residential building for the city’s young working women in 1918. Founded by women from most of Helena’s churches and synagogues, the local chapter is today the only Independent YWCA in the nation, welcoming both Christian and non-Christian members. Although the chapter chose not to join the national organization, it too strived to improve conditions for the working woman. In a time of dramatic change in traditional roles, this building welcomed young women with safe housing, and with practical classes such as typewriting and sewing machine operation, and also more intellectual courses such as astronomy and physiology. Adult recreational sports, child care, and children’s day camps also were organized. The building was designed by Chester H. Kirk and built of locally made bricks from the Kessler Brick Yard by Frank Jacoby and Son. It combines decorative detailing common to both Craftsman and Classical styles of architecture. This includes simulated quoining in brick at the corners, a soldier course that

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wraps around the building between the basement and first floor levels, a brick belt course at the sill level of the second floor windows, and stacked brick window surrounds. Public rooms occupy the first floor interior, with 43 bedrooms—all finished with maple, birch and white pine—on the upper floors.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 46° 35.531′ N, 112° 2.406′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is at the intersection of North Park Avenue and West Placer Avenue when traveling north on North Park Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 North Park Avenue, 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.

YWCA Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021

2. YWCA Building and Marker

The marker is on the right at the end of the low wall.

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: Olsen House (within shouting distance of this marker); Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Montana (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Federal Reserve Bank (about 500 feet away); Western Life Insurance Company (about 600 feet away); Christmas Gift Evans House (about 600 feet away); First Unitarian Church (about 700 feet away); Boyer/Hawkins Residence (about 700 feet away); Fashion Livery and Boarding Stable (about 700 feet 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 233 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.