Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Leander Frary House
This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022
1. Leander Frary House Marker
Inscription.
Leander Frary House. This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District. Dentist-turned-miner Leander W. Frary came to Virginia City with the gold rush to try his luck. He and his wife Alice owned interests in a number of lode claims. Frary, a prominent citizen, was among the founders of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Virginia City in 1866 and served as Treasurer of Montana Territory in 1869. He went back to his profession in the 1870s, practicing dentistry in Helena. Frary died in California in 1911. Deed records show that in 1866 Frary purchased a house and property here on Cover Street for $200. This early home has interesting architectural elements that support a construction date prior to its use as the Frarys’ residence. The structure originally had a small front porch with a central entry door. Two tall, narrow double French doors running to floor level, like the first Greek Revival style storefronts on Wallace Street, flanked the entry. These features suggest a commercial function, consistent with the character of Cover Street in the mid-1860s. The original gingerbread trim remains tucked under the front gable.
Dentist-turned-miner Leander W. Frary came to Virginia City with the gold rush to try his luck. He and his wife Alice owned interests in a number of lode claims. Frary, a prominent citizen, was among the founders of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Virginia City in 1866 and served as Treasurer of Montana Territory in 1869. He went back to his profession in the 1870s, practicing dentistry in Helena. Frary died in California in 1911. Deed records show that in 1866 Frary purchased a house and property here on Cover Street for $200. This early home has interesting architectural elements that support a construction date prior to its use as the Frarys’ residence. The structure originally had a small front porch with a central entry door. Two tall, narrow double French doors running to floor level, like the first Greek Revival style storefronts on Wallace Street, flanked the entry. These features suggest a commercial function, consistent with the character of Cover Street in the mid-1860s. The original gingerbread trim remains tucked under the front gable.
45° 17.66′ N, 111° 56.717′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on West Cover Street near Van Buren Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 West Cover Street, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 20, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
