Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Tootle, Leach & Company Warehouse
This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022
1. Tootle, Leach & Company Warehouse Marker
Inscription.
Thomas Tootle and Richard Leach formed a partnership, operating with various other partners in mercantile stores in Denver, Kansas City, here in Virginia City, and later in Deer Lodge. Tootle and Leach was one of Virginia City’s first businesses, opening in 1863. Their mercantile soon expanded, moving here to Idaho Street, four doors up from the corner of Idaho and Jackson. In 1864, Stephen J. Gainan, who was later a successful placer miner at Brown’s Gulch, built this fireproof stone building adjacent to the main store as a warehouse to house the mercantile’s extensive inventory. Tootle & Leach advertised a variety of hard to find “Fancy and Staple Goods,” such as Shaker hoods, hoop skirts, and fine Brussels and hemp carpets. The store offered practical items as well including stationery, miner’s blankets, brown muslin, “Missouri” jeans, and housekeeping supplies. Tootle and Leach dissolved their Virginia City partnership in 1872, and the store no longer stands. Its other walls and dirt roof long since collapsed, this single stone wall of the warehouse is the lone survivor.
Location. 45° 17.551′ N, 111° 56.77′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. It is on West Idaho Street near Jackson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 214 West 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
