Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Woodman S. Paynter House
Helena Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 16, 2021
1. Woodman S. Paynter House Marker
Inscription.
Woodman S. Paynter House. Helena Historic District. Although modest compared to Helena’s imposing West Side mansions of a slightly later period, this well-preserved home was very grand for its early date. Woodman S. Paynter arrived in Helena in 1868 and entered into a business partnership with Henry M. Parchen. He and Parchen, whose home was across the street, ran a retail drugstore. The Paynters’ two-story frame house, built between 1869 and 1875, retains many of its original details including graceful wooden porch columns, two original chimneys, and a pediment with dentil trim over the front door. By 1888, the Paynters had remodeled their house with a one-story addition on the south, likely to accommodate indoor plumbing. The outhouse at the back was incorporated into the family’s stable, enlarging it substantially. The Paynters lived here until 1893. Later tenants included the Salvation Army’s “rescue home” from 1896 to 1897. In the early 1910s, Reverend Jacob Alford, a Methodist minister, rented the residence. From at least 1915 to the early 1960s, various members of teamster Michael Murphy’s family resided here.
Although modest compared to Helena’s imposing West Side mansions of a slightly later period, this well-preserved home was very grand for its early date. Woodman S. Paynter arrived in Helena in 1868 and entered into a business partnership with Henry M. Parchen. He and Parchen, whose home was across the street, ran a retail drugstore. The Paynters’ two-story frame house, built between 1869 and 1875, retains many of its original details including graceful wooden porch columns, two original chimneys, and a pediment with dentil trim over the front door. By 1888, the Paynters had remodeled their house with a one-story addition on the south, likely to accommodate indoor plumbing. The outhouse at the back was incorporated into the family’s stable, enlarging it substantially. The Paynters lived here until 1893. Later tenants included the Salvation Army’s “rescue home” from 1896 to 1897. In the early 1910s, Reverend Jacob Alford, a Methodist minister, rented the residence. From at least 1915 to the early 1960s, various members of teamster Michael Murphy’s family resided here.
Location. 46° 35.092′ N, 112° 2.118′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. Marker is on South Rodney Street near East Broadway Street when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3 South Rodney Street, Helena MT 59601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 13, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
