Big Timber Town Hall

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Erected in 1909, the historic Big Timber Town Hall is significant for its architecture and ties to the city's progressive political and social history. It is an understated yet good example of Western Commercial architecture and housed government offices until 1966. For many years it was also the location of the fire department and jail. The two-story building was built with brick and sandstone, and features recessed brickwork and an open-square belfry. In terms of the town's political and social history, in the early 1900s the Progressive Citizen's Party led the Town Council and worked to enact progressive reforms. Today, a private gym occupies the building.

Images

The historic Big Timber Town Hall was built in 1909. It is significant for its connection to the city's progressive political and social history as well as its architecture.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Generally speaking, on a national level, progressive reforms of the early 1900s included ending corruption, women's suffrage, increased government regulation of the business sector and public utilities, and improving the lives of women and children. In Big Timber, progressives called for public ownership of town utilities, limiting prostitution, and regulation of saloons. Other reforms included installing concrete sidewalks and streetlights, planting trees, and improving streets. Progressives also led the way for the construction of the Carnegie Library.

The impetus to built the hall originated after a fire destroyed around half of Big Timber in March of 1908. Apparently, a spark from a locomotive started a fire in the Northern Pacific Railroad's stockyards, from which hot embers blew into the town. In response, the Town Council voted to build the combined town hall and fire station. The fire department occupied the first floor and the Town Council on the second floor. A jail was added in 1913 and operated until 1955 to make way for an addition for the fire department. The fire department remained until 1995. In 1998, the hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Sources

The Montana National Register Sign Program. “Big Timber Town Hall.” Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault. Accessed July 14, 2020. http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/19995.

Wiggins, Ron & Johnson, Lon. "Big Timber Town Hall." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. February 13, 1998. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/98000125_text.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Mike Cline, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Timber_Montana_Town_Hall_01.JPG

Additional Information

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Big Timber Town Hall