Architect William A. O’Brien designed this grandly scaled Craftsman style bungalow for prominenet attorney Lewis O. Evans circa 1906. The stunning home incorporates Craftsman style characteristics, but its magnificent gabled dormers and prominent corner location make it a Butte landmark. After the foundation was laid, Mrs. Evans reputedly insisted on adding a library cast of the living room; thus, the home has a second foundation. Unusual interior appointments include imported Italian marble, Mexican tile, and a fireplace sheathed in copper floor to ceiling. Evans earned his fine reputation as an expert in mining law in partnership with attorney John F. Forbis. He subsequently served as general counsel for the Amalgamated Copper Mining Company from 1914 until his death in 1931. Involved in a number of precedent-setting cases during the long span of his career, Evans was also much admired for his “colossal intellect and rare understanding.” The Montana Standard paid Evans this tribute: “Men loved Mr. Evans because he never forgot, never passed them by.”
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