Was just wondering if any photo exists of the St Louis House? My great gggrandparents were married there in 1880.

I've never heard of the St. Louis house. Details? I know about the Steamboat building but nothing called the St. Louis house. If you can give me a little more to go one, I might be able to help.
--Amorette

Amorette,
I only know they we married in what was known as the St. Louis House. I have a copy of their marriage certificate signed by Judge McBride. During a trip through MC a few years ago I tried to find something out about this place but came up with nothing. Sorry this is all the info I have.

I suspect the St. Louis house was a hotel. Lots of folks got married in hotel parlors in those days. If it was 1880, then it was probably a wooden building facing Riverside Park or in the first few blocks of Main St. Those all burned over the years, most before 1885. I will continue to look. Judge McBride is a well known name. If I find out anything, I will post it.
--Amorette

Amorette,

Thanks for your help. I also have a pic of my great grandfather's brother. The bottom of the photo says "Lee at Jacksons". It's a great shot of the inside of looks to be a combination soda bar, cigar store, cases with what I assume are hand guns etc. It has a few children's rocking horses hanging from the ceiling and a sign in the back that says "Ice Cream Parlor". I believe the photo was taken about 1915? This Lee is Lee Sorenson, Niels Sorenson's son.
Thanks again,
Darrell


[This message has been edited by Darrell Petorak (edited 2/26/2001).]

I wonder if the "St. Loius House" wasn't actually the "Macqueen House"?

I mention this because in Part II of Recollections of Old Milestown (which can be found in the History area), Mr. Gordon mentions that the Maqueen House was run by a "genial gentleman from St. Loius".

Here is the pertinent portion of the text:

>> No story of the early days in Milestown would be complete without some mention of the Macqueen House, a hostelry enshrined in the fond recollections of all who shared its hospitalities, whether resident or transient. Its reputation was honestly earned and zealously maintained through a long term of years by Major Macqueen, a most affable and genial gentleman from St. Louis, whose southern lineage had bred in his very bones and marrow the conviction that it was a crime to permit any guest to depart feeling that he had been neglected. <<

That would make very good sense since the original Macqueen House did act as a meeting place. There are certainly photos of that building. I have in mind one picture looking down 5th (Park) street from Main at the house. At least I believe that was the origianl house and not the second Macqueen built after the first burned.

So Larry Antram, what is your story. Not to be too nosey. I find it interesting that you have this great web site (and I am very impressed with how well everythng works on the forums and edits, etc.) plus this interest in the local history.

Well, I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing or why I'm doing it.

A few years ago I became interested in genealogy. I started collecting historical material about Miles City to see if I could find references to my family in it. I quickly realized that it was often very difficult to either find the material or find information in it.

That was a problem. So I decided to create a solution. My idea was to create a comprehensive "digital library" focused on Miles City's history, make it available to everyone who was interested, and make it searchable -- something which would make it an extremely powerful resource.

Instead of just creating another historical site tucked away in some corner of the Internet, I decided to create a community portal. That way the information would be more readily accessible. And it is my hope that as more people become aware of Miles City's history, the more effort will be spent in trying to preserve it.

I was born in Miles City (1967). My MC roots go back to 1881. My southeastern Montana grandparents and g-grandparents were: McFarland, Harrington, Gold, Griffin, Daley/Daly, Flemming, etc.

I live in the Seattle area now (Redmond). The web server is in my house. Amazingly, it made it through the big earthquake without skipping a beat! So that's a good thing.

Well, I guess that's about it for now.

Regards, Larry

I bet you're right on the St. Louis house because I have come up zip on it and the MacQueen House was THE hotel in MC--until it burned. The MacQueen apartments were built on the site of the old hotel. They burned, too. Now it's a metal building called Quad K Supplies on the site.
--Amorette

A picture of the MacQueen House can be found here (although it is not very good quality).

http://www.milescity.com/history/ebooks/room/035.jpg

I just wanted to thank everyone for the help.

Evidently the St. Louis House was not the MacQueen House. I found this information about the St. Louis House in the book, "This Last West" by Lorman L. Hoopes. You can order a copy of the book from the Custer County Art Center (see the "Historical Books" thread):

ST. LOUIS HOUSE: '79: boarding house and hotel, MC; run by J. Russell and wife; north side Main, between 5 and 6; '80: Charles N. Strevell buys land and property, about 4/24/80; razes old building to ground and builds Miles-Strevell Hardware; about 4/10/80, St. Louis House had moved to new location, southwest corner, Main and 6 (advertised as being opposite post office) C. W. Savage store;board, $6.00 per week; run by John (Johnnie) Baker.

David,

Thank you for the info. I actually wrote out a check yesterday for the book and it will go out in today's mail.