Filed Under Anaconda

Electric Light Building

Anaconda Commercial Historic District

A heavy metal cornice, cast iron columns, and a metal frieze still embellish this building, constructed in 1895. Two cast-iron oriel windows once also graced the upper story. The Anaconda Company’s foundry produced the decorative metal front, a prime example of the many iron fronts that once ornamented Anaconda’s business blocks. The building, constructed by Conrad Kohrs, W. H. Gehrman, and J. M. Boardman—apparently with Anaconda founder Marcus Daly’s backing—housed the Montana Butchering Company. Beef sold here in the early years likely came from Daly’s Bitterroot Stock Farm and Kohrs’ Deer Lodge ranch. Though the building and business changed hands, a butcher shop remained a prominent fixture on this corner until 1910. That year the Anaconda Company purchased the building for its Electric Light and Railway Department, Water Department, pay office, and medical offices. To promote the use of electricity and advertise its role in power production, the Company illuminated the façade with a row of light bulbs, the sockets for which are still visible along the roofline.

Images

Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT View looking south down Main Street with corner entrance of Electric Light Building at left. Source: Smelter City Brewing, Anaconda, MT Creator: photographer unknown Date: ca. 1895
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT View looking east down Commercial Street with Ida Block at left and Electric Light building at right. Source: Smelter City Brewing Facebook page, Anaconda, MT Creator: photographer unknown Date: ca. 1900
Electric Light Building
Electric Light Building Digital ID: hhh linkmt0107-data MT Photos from Survey HABS MT-53-0 Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Creator: Jet Lowe, photographer Date: [no date]
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT View looking southwest at Electric Light building at night. Source: Smelter City Brewing Facebook page Creator: Smelter City Brewing, Anaconda, MT Date: 2015
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT
Electric Light Building, Anaconda, MT View looking southwest at corner entrance of Electric Light building Creator: Joe Furshong, photographer Date: May 2019
Electric Light building, Anaconda, MT
Electric Light building, Anaconda, MT View looking southwest at east elevation of Electric Light building Creator: Joe Furshong, photographer Date: May 2019
Electric Light building, Anaconda, MT
Electric Light building, Anaconda, MT View looking east at north (main) elevation of the Electric Light building Creator: Joe Furshong, photographer Date: May 2019

Location

101 Main Street, Anaconda, Montana | private

Metadata

The Montana National Register Sign Program, “Electric Light Building,” Historic Montana, accessed March 29, 2024, https://historicmt.org/items/show/306.