339 South Fifth Street East
Workers inscribed the year “1905” in the wet concrete basement wall as they built this Craftsman style home. Substantial stone porch columns, stucco and shingle siding, and shingled corner brackets in the eaves underscore the home’s stylistic emphasis on natural materials. Attorney John H. Tolan, his wife Alma, two children, and John’s widowed mother lived here from 1913 to 1914. The Tolans left for California, where John later served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Attorney William E. Moore, his wife Sarah, and four children were in residence from 1917 to 1918. The Moores were active in Republican politics. William campaigned unsuccessfully for county attorney in 1916, and Sarah served with the local Women’s Republican Club. Dr. John P. and Mary Ritchey and family lived here from 1920 to 1923. Dr. Ritchey was a physician for the Milwaukee Railroad for more than thirty years and president of the Montana Medical Association. Mary, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Greek from the University of Chicago, was active with the local chapter of the American Association of University Women.
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