Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Koch House
Helena South-Central Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 16, 2021
1. Koch House Marker
Inscription.
Koch House. Helena South-Central Historic District. A small rectangular gabled dwelling built against a one-room log cabin stood on this spacious corner in the 1870s. The property had changed hands several times when Austrian immigrant Franz Koch, a bookbindery foreman, purchased it in the late 1880s. His German wife, Meta, was a skilled seamstress who ran a dressmaking business from the home. Such “cottage industries” were common in this closeknit neighborhood, where German was a primary language. Both Meta and Franz were talented actors who delighted audiences at the Ming Opera House. By 1895, additions incorporating the original log structure gave the home its present floorplan, and the entrance shifted from Davis to State (formerly Bridge) Street. The Koch family planted lasting roots in the neighborhood, which has since nurtured four generations of descendants. The home remains in the family today, a tribute to Helena’s immigrant settlers who helped shape the early community.
A small rectangular gabled dwelling built against a one-room log cabin stood on this spacious corner in the 1870s. The property had changed hands several times when Austrian immigrant Franz Koch, a bookbindery foreman, purchased it in the late 1880s. His German wife, Meta, was a skilled seamstress who ran a dressmaking business from the home. Such “cottage industries” were common in this closeknit neighborhood, where German was a primary language. Both Meta and Franz were talented actors who delighted audiences at the Ming Opera House. By 1895, additions incorporating the original log structure gave the home its present floorplan, and the entrance shifted from Davis to State (formerly Bridge) Street. The Koch family planted lasting roots in the neighborhood, which has since nurtured four generations of descendants. The home remains in the family today, a tribute to Helena’s immigrant settlers who helped shape the early community.
N, 112° 2.169′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. Marker is on State Street near South Davis Street when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 426 State Street, Helena MT 59601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 12, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
