Livingston in Park County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Pape Building
Livingston Commercial Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 24, 2021
1. Pape Building Marker
Inscription.
Pape Building. Livingston Commercial Historic District. In 1883, Wetzstein Hall, a two-story wooden building with a liquor wholesale operation on the first floor and a public hall on the second, stood on this site. In 1902, Fred Pape opened the National Park Steam Laundry here. He purchased the building in 1903, only to see it burn to the ground a few months later. The fire, which started in Pape’s laundry, caused an estimated $20,000 of damage and destroyed two other wooden buildings on this block. The street’s brick buildings were spared. Pape hired builder-architect John Sundberg to construct a dignified two-story, fire-resistant brick business block. Completed in three months, the 1904 building originally housed Frank Bliss’s Solo Saloon on the first floor. The second floor became a lodging house, managed by Pape’s wife Clorinda. In 1910, Clorinda rented the rooms to a baseball player, farm laborer, waiter, real estate agent, waitress, and railroad conductor. During Prohibition, the Solo became a soft drink parlor and relocated, but according to local lore, the New York Candy Kitchen, which occupied the first floor, doubled as a speakeasy.
In 1883, Wetzstein Hall, a two-story wooden building with a liquor wholesale operation on the first floor and a public hall on the second, stood on this site. In 1902, Fred Pape opened the National Park Steam Laundry here. He purchased the building in 1903, only to see it burn to the ground a few months later. The fire, which started in Pape’s laundry, caused an estimated $20,000 of damage and destroyed two other wooden buildings on this block. The street’s brick buildings were spared. Pape hired builder-architect John Sundberg to construct a dignified two-story, fire-resistant brick business block. Completed in three months, the 1904 building originally housed Frank Bliss’s Solo Saloon on the first floor. The second floor became a lodging house, managed by Pape’s wife Clorinda. In 1910, Clorinda rented the rooms to a baseball player, farm laborer, waiter, real estate agent, waitress, and railroad conductor. During Prohibition, the Solo became a soft drink parlor and relocated, but according to local lore, the New York Candy Kitchen, which occupied the first floor, doubled as a speakeasy.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included
Location. 45° 39.714′ N, 110° 33.712′ W. Marker is in Livingston, Montana, in Park County. Marker is on West Park Street near North 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 West Park Street, Livingston MT 59047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 29, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
