Malta in Phillips County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Edward & McLellan Block
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 1, 2011
1. Edward & McLellan Block Marker
Inscription.
Malta, first known as “Siding 54,” took its place along the Hi-Line in 1887 as the Great Northern Railway opened new opportunities. The railroad heavily promoted the area, and by 1910, Malta was the county seat. Longtime residents Lee Edwards and William McLellan partnered to build a commercial block to serve northeastern Montana. Local architect James Maurice Montgomery’s Western Commercial style design included retail space, ten second-story offices, and basement plumbing and tin shops. The brick building features forty-three feet of plate glass display windows, and Chicago style windows on the upper level reveal the architect’s familiarity with contemporary trends in larger cities. Decorative elements include flat arches, second-story pilasters, recessed panels, and a metal cornice. Inside, hardware stock, originally displayed in golden oak Mission style shelving, covered one side while clothing and furnished goods filled Flemish oak wardrobes and cabinets on the other side. Reminiscent of a bygone era, many of these features remain intact and functional. When the store opened in 1910, Edwards and McLellan handed out
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long-stemmed asters and gold-lettered brush-shaped souvenirs. Over the decades, the massive inventory included everything from Studebaker cars to Frigidaire refrigerators and RCA Victor televisions. Much more than a mercantile, the store was a community hub. McLellan’s wife, Nettie, assumed part-ownership of the business from 1916 to 1937. Edwards family member Harold Leib ran the store until 1975. Scott and Gina Simanton purchased the building in 2020, operating the upper level as lodging. Their careful restoration and stewardship have assured this Hi-Line landmark a future.
Location. 48° 21.581′ N, 107° 52.316′ W. Marker is in Malta, Montana, in Phillips County. It is at the intersection of South its Street East and South First Avenue East on South its Street East. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 South First
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 1, 2011
2. Edward & McLellan Block Building and Marker
The marker is on the South First Avenue East side of the building.
Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Missouri River Country. It is also in the American Mountain West, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, on the Great Plains, and specifically on the Northern Plains. 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 2 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cattle Brands (approx. 1.9 miles away); Early Day Outlaws (approx. 9.3 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
