Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Samuel Dempster House
Helena Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021
1. Samuel Dempster House Marker
Inscription.
Samuel Dempster House. Helena Historic District. Small dwellings along this stretch of West Main Street housed miners and other boarders from the mid-1860s. The first plat of the Helena townsite, drawn in 1868, designated this former mining claim Block Number 1. Scottish immigrant Samuel Dempster may have been the home’s first occupant. In 1881, Gertrude Weggenman purchased the property. She and her husband Joseph, a blacksmith at Blackfoot Miles City, moved here. Joseph died of consumption in 1883 leaving Gertrude with six children. She married Samuel Dempster in 1885. The Dempsters moved next door to 488 West Main in 1890 while Gertrude’s two older children, Joseph and Mathilda Weggenman, continued to live at this address. Like most of its neighbors, the modest dwelling is built into the hillside. At the back of the property there is an entrance to the original mine and a root cellar that provided even temperatures year round for food storage. The 1860s two-room north portion, built of rubblestone, features the original door, a porch with chamfered posts, and wood-framed windows. The south wing was added by 1888, probably to accommodate the large Weggenman-Dempster family.
Small dwellings along this stretch of West Main Street housed miners and other boarders from the mid-1860s. The first plat of the Helena townsite, drawn in 1868, designated this former mining claim Block Number 1. Scottish immigrant Samuel Dempster may have been the home’s first occupant. In 1881, Gertrude Weggenman purchased the property. She and her husband Joseph, a blacksmith at Blackfoot Miles City, moved here. Joseph died of consumption in 1883 leaving Gertrude with six children. She married Samuel Dempster in 1885. The Dempsters moved next door to 488 West Main in 1890 while Gertrude’s two older children, Joseph and Mathilda Weggenman, continued to live at this address. Like most of its neighbors, the modest dwelling is built into the hillside. At the back of the property there is an entrance to the original mine and a root cellar that provided even temperatures year round for food storage. The 1860s two-room north portion, built of rubblestone, features the original door, a porch with chamfered posts, and wood-framed windows. The south wing was added by 1888, probably to accommodate the large Weggenman-Dempster family.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings
Location. 46° 34.923′ N, 112° 2.77′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street and Carriage Lane, on the left when traveling north on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 480 W Main Street, Helena MT 59601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
