Philipsburg in Granite County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Pizer Building

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 23, 2011

1. Pizer Building Marker

Inscription. One of a network of Jewish merchants who supplied miners in the Rocky Mountain West, nineteen-year-old Benjamin Pizer arrived in Helena from Poland with his wife Jessie Silverman and their newborn son David in 1869. With limited capital, he purchased fifty pounds of dry goods, which he peddled to area miners. After seven years, he bought a wagon and expanded his territory. In 1878 he purchased a dry goods business in Philipsburg. A building boom fueled by Philipsburg-area silver mining and the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad prompted Pizer to invest in this one-story brick vernacular style building in 1887. Pizer sold furniture, notions, and tobacco from this shop, while a saloon operated on the building's east side. Well integrated into the Philipsburg community, Pizer served as a Republican county commissioner and was a member of both the Knights of Pythias and the Oddfellows. A founding member of the Helena Hebrew Benevolent Society, Pizer also retained ties to Helena, where the family returned in 1896. He died there in 1921 and was buried in the Home of Peace Jewish cemetery.

Erected by Montana Historical

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Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 46° 19.909′ N, 113° 17.569′ W. Marker is in Philipsburg, Montana, in Granite County. It is at the intersection of East Broadway Street and South Montgomery Street, on the right when traveling east on East Broadway Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 East Broadway Street, Philipsburg MT 59858, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically outhwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country. 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

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 23, 2011

2. Pizer Building Marker

are within walking distance of this marker: Kaiser House (within shouting distance of this marker); Weinstein Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Walker Commercial Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Morse Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Doe's Drug Store (within shouting distance of this marker); C.T. Huffman Grocery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 123 East Broadway (about 300 feet away); Philipsburg Historic District (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philipsburg.

Also see . . . Philipsburg, Montana. (Submitted on July 29, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 502 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 29, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.