Intervention to Save Historic Places
National Trust staff in Denver and Helena Team up to Save Buildings Damaged in Three Montana Fires
Three fires ravaged historic Main Streets in Bozeman, Whitehall, and Miles City, Montana during the month of March resulting in the total loss of five buildings in Bozeman, three in Miles City and several more teetering on the edge in Whitehall. As soon as it was safe to go in, Trust staff met with city officials and property owners in each community to provide advice and offer financial assistance through the Thorne Intervention Fund. Site visits and follow-up were provided by staff from the Mountains/Plains Office in Denver and our new Partners in the Field Shared Field Representative in Helena. The Montana Preservation Alliance received a PIF grant for this position in 2008.
Bozeman, Montana
Damage to historic buildings in Bozeman, Montana
The Bozeman fire resulted from a gas explosion that took the life of one individual and destroyed five historic buildings. Trust staff spoke with the owner of the Osbourne Block which was fire damaged but is largely intact and he indicated his intent to repair the building. The owner of the Rocky Mountain Rug Gallery is also planning on repairing his building. The City of Bozeman has a strong preservation ethic and a local design review process that should insure that infill buildings are compatible with the character of existing downtown buildings.
Miles City, Montana
Fire damage in Miles City, Montana.
The structural engineering firm hired by the National Trust through the Thorne Intervention Fund to inspect the fired damaged Shores Building in Miles City reported that the building sustained significant damage from the fire and the large amounts of water used to douse it, compromising the structural integrity of the building materials. While a full rehabilitation and reconstruction may not be feasible, stabilization and rehabilitation of the façade, with new construction behind it, is a viable option.
Update: The owners of the Shores Building agreed to pay for the temporary stabilization of the facade to facilitate a potential restoration of the building and the reopening of Main Street which was closed due to public safety concerns. The building's future is yet to be determined.
Whitehall, Montana
Whitehall's Main Street damaged in March 2009 fire.
Owners of two fire damaged historic buildings in Whitehall requested help from the Trust to hire a structural engineer to evaluate their property. Insurance companies have refused to settle with property owners before the completion of a fire investigation now underway. The owners are worried their buildings are deteriorating while they wait. Money from the Thorne Intervention Fund was used to hire an engineering firm to conduct the assessment.
For more information, See Kate Hampton's blog on PreservationNation: http://blogs.nationaltrust.org/preservationnation/?p=3805
