Montana's Old West
Time is running out for these Indian War
officer's duplexes, c. 1878
Credit: Amorette Allison
Sept. 9, 2003
Dear Preservation 911,
Help! I am the city historic preservation officer in Miles City, Mont. We have two c. 1878 Indian War officer's duplexes that we must move or salvage by May 1, 2004 or it's weenie-roast time.
The buildings are part of historic Fort Keogh but were moved off their original site by the Department of Agriculture so it could avoid being responsible for them.
They are structurally in passable shape, but most of the really "good" stuff inside was stolen over the years. Still, they have lovely hardwood floors and could be restored … for a quarter of a million dollars or so.
After 15 years, the administration at Fort Keogh has told us to move 'em or destroy 'em—or they will. They are lovely buildings, authentic souvenirs of the last of the Old West, but we can't afford to fix them up.
Is there someone near eastern Montana who might be interested? Is there any hope you can offer or at all, or will you just send a bag of marshmallows?
Thanks!
Amorette Allison
Miles City, Mont.
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Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list. The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.
