Gold Rush Mansions of Helena Montana, 60 Seconds #whyhelenamt

60 Seconds: Gold Rush Mansions Of Helena Montana

Helena Montana was born in the gold rush of 1864. She was named the Queen City in the late 1800s, when more millionaires lived here, per capita, than anywhere in the USA. The Montana Club here in Helena, with its exclusive brotherhood of men who were millionaires, registered 140 members.

Filmed and Uploaded in 4K

This video again: is just to wet the appetite. Tons of history here. From Pharmacist, bankers, ranchers, politicians, shipping, railroad, businessmen, hospitality, mine operators/managers, lawyers, physicians, all and so much more represented in these homes. All because gold was found in abundance in these parts of Montana. Much of materials for these mansions were shipped into Helena. Some even coming up on steamboat to Fort Benton and teams of oxen over to Helena. Most of the bricks were from Helena, some of the granite and stone was also from Helena. The Railroad was used extensively once in place for mostly shipping from the East to Helena.

The Book “Historic Helena”. Had pictures of about 4- pages 25 mansions from the turn of the previous Century. Late 1800’s - early 1900’s.
This video follows those mansions in the pictures of that book. A few are gone but the video shows where the homes were located.

“An Early - Day Photographic History Of Montana’s Capital City” Historic Helena 1864 - 1964

Mansions after the gold rush in Helena Montana.
Later 1800’s to early 1900’s.

The Original owners were listed in the Historic Helena Book. Those are the names used in this video.
Listed as the pictures displayed in the Book:
Samuel Word, 626 Madison
A.C. Johnson, 724 Harrison
Louis Kaufman, 402 Dearborn
Louis Stadler, 418 Lawrence
Henry Barbour, Hauser and Monroe
(Now is 721 Hauser)
T.H. Kleinschmidt, 1823 Highland Ave.
T.C. Power, 604 Harrison Ave.
H.H. Hall, Jerome Place ( no exact address)
George B. Childs, 2028 Hauser
Mrs. Catherine Ming, 6 Olive Street
Sen. Thomas H. Carter, 644 Dearborn
W.J. MacHaffie, 635 1st Street
W.J. Bickett, 642 Madison
H.M. Parchen, 207 South Rodney ( different address now)
Gov. J.K. Toole, 203 N. Ewing
D.A.G. Flowerree, 706 Dearborn (different address now)
T.J. Walsh 343 Clark
B.C. Brooke, 8 South Benton
A.J. Seligman, 802 Madison
W.E. Cox, 531 Power
W.A. Chessman (Old Governor’s Mansion) 304 N. Ewing
B.H. Tatum, 705 Harrison
J.S.M. Neill, 725 Madison
George L. Tracy, 702 Harrison
Charles L. Dahler, 212 8th Ave.

Others:
Conrad Kohrs, 804 Dearborn Ave.
Samuel T. Hauser, 720 Madison Ave.
729 Stuart Street
731 Stuart Street
704 Stuart Street
716 Harrison Ave.
628 Dearborn Ave.
600 Harrison Ave.
615 Power Street

J.S.M. Neill, 725 Madison
Significance: This imposing home was presented to his daughter, Anne, as a wedding gift by former Governor S.T. Houser in 1888. It was purchased from Ann K. and Olis R. Allen by John S.M. Neill in 1903 for $10,000. John S.M. Neill was the owner and publisher of the Helena Independent, a civic leader in Helena and active in state politics as a Democrat. This house has remained in the Neill family, and is one of the best preserved of the fabulous nineteenth century mansions in Helena. Building/structure dates: 1888 Initial Construction. “ Library Of Congress”.

T.H. Kleinschmidt, 1823 Highland Ave.

B.H. Tatum, 705 Harrison
Tatum - Young House:

Samuel T. Hauser, 720 Madison Ave.
The history of this magnificent home, one of the earliest of the great mansions built on Helena’s west side, is finely interwoven with the history of Montana. Pioneer entrepreneur and financier Samuel T. Hauser built the twenty-nine-room residence in 1885, the same year President Cleveland appointed him territorial governor.

Conrad Kohrs, 804 Dearborn Ave. Kohrs Mansion
Mining investor Joseph Russell built this brick Queen Anne-style residence circa 1887. An octagonal tower adorned with applied terra-cotta flowers, spindled porches and balconies, and multiple gabled dormers with complex ornamentation distinguish it as an exemplary Victorian-era mansion. Russell speculated heavily in mining and ultimately lost the home to creditors. Deer Lodge cattle baron Conrad Kohrs first rented, then later purchased the mansion in 1900 as an anniversary gift for his wife Augusta.

H.M. Parchen House, 207 South Rodney Street
View of a several story brick and stone house with multiple chimneys. The H.M. Parchen House at 207 South Rodney Street in Helena, Montana. The home was built by A. G. Clarke.
1904-1930. From the website: Mtmemory.org / Montana State Library

Thank you to helenahistory.org
“Helena As She Was”
So much amazing history in this one website!
Pay them a visit and contribute to the rich history of Helena Montana.
URL: http://helenahistory.org

The Historic pictures as well as information on history in this video is from the above website. Pay them a visit.

Thanks for Watching!
Come and visit Helena!

Why Helena MT.com
Why Helena Montana .com
https://www.whyhelenamt.com/