Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Daems House

This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

1. Daems House Marker

Inscription. Though simple by today’s standards, the Daems house exemplifies an upper-middle-class, early-1860s Virginia City dwelling. Dr. Levinus Daems and his wife Marie Daems, a nurse, may have been the first residents of the house. Born in Belgium and trained in Paris, Dr. Daems arrived in Virginia City in 1863 to open the City Drug Store. Marie followed a year later with their young daughter and Marie’s two sisters. Levinus served on the first Board of Aldermen in 1865, the Territorial Council in 1866, and as mayor in 1868. He owned more than thirty properties in town. It is unclear if the Daems’s continued to live here as their family and fortunes grew, or if the home became a rental property. Nevertheless, its colorful wallpaper, paint, and faux wood-grain trim reflected the Daems’s economic status and showcased the decorative products their drugstore sold. Levinus died in 1874, and Marie died in 1904. The house remained in the family until 1952. In 2007, the Montana Heritage Commission documented the house’s multi-layered interior finishes before restoring the residence to its 1860s appearance.

Erected by Montana Historical

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Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 45° 17.569′ N, 111° 56.692′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. It is on East Idaho Street near Van Buren Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 East Idaho Street, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country and in Greater Bozeman.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Spacious Victorian Luxury (a few steps

Daems House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

2. Daems House and Marker

from this marker); Corbett House (a few steps from this marker); Belgium, Paris, New York, St. Louis, Virginia City (a few steps from this marker); Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Susie Marr House (within shouting distance of this marker); Allen and Millard Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Creighton Stone Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Barlett’s Blacksmith Shop (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Daems House (r) and Corbett House (l) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

3. Daems House (r) and Corbett House (l)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 17, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.