Red Lodge in Carbon County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Alderson House
Red Lodge Hi Bug Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 22, 2021
1. Alderson House Marker
Inscription.
Alderson House. Red Lodge Hi Bug Historic District. Over a quarter of the houses in the elite “Hi Bug” neighborhood were built between 1900 and 1901, including this one-and-one-half-story home, erected as a real estate investment by Red Lodge merchant Walter R. Hall and his wife Louisa. After leasing it briefly, Red Lodge Picket owner and editor Walter Alderson and his wife Anna purchased the home, where they lived for twenty-four years. Sometime before 1907 they added an open front porch. Upwind from the coal mines and separated from the railroad depot by the city’s first park, the Aldersons raised three children here. When Walter died in 1924 following a long illness, Anna lost the property. J. F. Montgomery, owner of the Golden Rule Store, purchased the residence in a sheriff’s sale in 1925. In the 1930s local contractor Leo Ranta was likely hired to update the house by enclosing the front porch and adding distinctive Craftsman style detailing. The tri-arched fascia over the sun porch and front door is a Ranta hallmark. Though rare in this neighborhood, the design elements are found on homes throughout Red Lodge.
Over a quarter of the houses in the elite “Hi Bug” neighborhood were built between 1900 and 1901, including this one-and-one-half-story home, erected as a real estate investment by Red Lodge merchant Walter R. Hall and his wife Louisa. After leasing it briefly, Red Lodge Picket owner and editor Walter Alderson and his wife Anna purchased the home, where they lived for twenty-four years. Sometime before 1907 they added an open front porch. Upwind from the coal mines and separated from the railroad depot by the city’s first park, the Aldersons raised three children here. When Walter died in 1924 following a long illness, Anna lost the property. J. F. Montgomery, owner of the Golden Rule Store, purchased the residence in a sheriff’s sale in 1925. In the 1930s local contractor Leo Ranta was likely hired to update the house by enclosing the front porch and adding distinctive Craftsman style detailing. The tri-arched fascia over the sun porch and front door is a Ranta hallmark. Though rare in this neighborhood, the design elements are found on homes throughout Red Lodge.
Location. 45° 11.429′ N, 109° 14.909′ W. Marker is in Red Lodge, Montana, in Carbon County. Marker is on Hauser Avenue North near 7th Street West, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 313 Hauser Avenue North, Red Lodge MT 59068, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 14, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
