Edwards & McLellan Block
Malta, first known as “Siding 54,” took its place along the Hi-Line in 1887 as the Great Northern Railway opened new opportunities. The railroad heavily promoted the area, and by 1910, Malta was the county seat. Longtime residents Lee Edwards and William McLellan partnered to build a commercial block to serve northeastern Montana. Local architect James Maurice Montgomery’s Western Commercial style design included retail space, ten second-story offices, and basement plumbing and tin shops. The brick building features forty-three feet of plate glass display windows, and Chicago style windows on the upper level reveal the architect’s familiarity with contemporary trends in larger cities. Decorative elements include flat arches, second-story pilasters, recessed panels, and a metal cornice. Inside, hardware stock, originally displayed in golden oak Mission style shelving, covered one side while clothing and furnished goods filled Flemish oak wardrobes and cabinets on the other side. Reminiscent of a bygone era, many of these features remain intact and functional. When the store opened in 1910, Edwards and McLellan handed out long-stemmed asters and gold-lettered brush-shaped souvenirs. Over the decades, the massive inventory included everything from Studebaker cars to Frigidaire refrigerators and RCA Victor televisions. Much more than a mercantile, the store was a community hub. McLellan’s wife, Nettie, assumed part-ownership of the business from 1916 to 1937. Edwards family member Harold Leib ran the store until 1975. Scott and Gina Simanton purchased the building in 2020, operating the upper level as lodging. Their careful restoration and stewardship have assured this Hi-Line landmark a future.
Images
National Register of Historic Places Nomination for Edwards and McLellan Block. On file at Montana State Historic Preservation Office.
Creator: Lynne Brewer and Gina Simanton Date: September 2021