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

Hangman’s Building

By Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009

1. Hangman’s Building Marker

Inscription. On January 14, 1864 , the Vigilantes used the heavy center support beam of this building, then under construction, to hang five of Henry Plummer’s road agents: Frank Parish, Boone Helm, Jack Gallagher, Haze Lyons and Club Foot George Lane. Druggists Clayton, Hale and then Morris occupied the completed building until the 1880s when the U.S. Post Office was located here. In 1903, the Virginia City Water Company, owned and operated by Sarah Bickford, purchased the property and maintained offices here until her death in 1939. Bickford was perhaps the only black woman in state history to own a utility, a remarkable achievement in turn-of-century Montana. This property contributes to the Virginia City Historic District • Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior • In cooperation with the Montana Historical Society

Location. 45° 17.618′ N, 111° 56.716′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is at the intersection of Wallace Street and Van Buren Street on Wallace Street. Touch for map. The Hangman's Building is located on the north side of Wallace Street at Van Buren Street. Marker is in this post office area: Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

Hangman’s Building image. Click for full size.

By Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009

2. Hangman’s Building

The marker is between the right door and window.

distance of this marker. The Remarkable Sarah Bickford (a few steps from this marker); Elling Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Creighton Stone Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Barlett’s Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Masonic Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Pfouts and Russel (within shouting distance of this marker); Virginia City National Historic Landmark District (within shouting distance of this marker); Metropolitan Meat Market (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Also see . . .
1. The Vigilantes of Montana. (Submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California.)
2. Virginia City Hangings (1864). (Submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California.)

Additional keywords. lynching, vigilantes

Categories. • African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Women •

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2018. This page originally submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 449 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.