{"id":359,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:07","latitude":47.0652907999999996491169440560042858123779296875,"longitude":-109.4265163999999685984221287071704864501953125,"title":"Power Mercantile Building","subtitle":"Lewistown Central Business Historic District","fullsize":"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b9cd161ce75eeba950b31f6f6ed881e2.jpg","address":"302 West Main Street, Lewistown, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":16,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Possibly one of the first architect-designed stone buildings along Main Street, the Power Mercantile Building is the most visible example of Lewistown’s stone architecture. Merchant Francis Janeaux became indebted to supplier T. C. Power and lost his buildings, merchandise, and some lots to cover his $5,096 debt. The Power Brothers established the Power Mercantile Company in 1883 and dispatched N. M. Erickson to run the operation. Erickson petitioned for a post office designation for Lewistown and became the city’s first postmaster on March 10, 1884. Erickson remained managing partner of Power Mercantile until his death in 1894. W. D. Symmes filled Erickson’s vacant post and ultimately became sole proprietor of the mercantile. Active in Lewistown’s development, Symmes served two non-consecutive terms as mayor. The well-established business moved into this larger stone facility in 1901. The mercantile continued to flourish, expanding with a matching addition in 1913. The addition connected the store on Main Street with the warehouse on Broadway. Eventually Power Mercantile occupied most of the 300 block of Main Street.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Private","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["Read about the Lewistown Central Business Historic District","See photos of the Lewistown Central Business Historic District"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b9cd161ce75eeba950b31f6f6ed881e2.jpg":{"id":1178,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Building, Lewistown, Montana","description":"Power Mercantile Building, front view of the building, facing north on Main Street. F.W. Woolworth Co. and Anthony's Department Store rented the building in later years. | Montana History Portal | 1994 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/b9cd161ce75eeba950b31f6f6ed881e2.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8450756cfa71511bb9f0899073852ae8.jpg":{"id":1179,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Building, Lewistown, Montana","description":"Power Mercantile Building, Power Mercantile expanded its business from 302 W. Main Street to the back at 301 W. Broadway Street. This was their warehouse built in 1908. | Montana History Portal | 1945 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8450756cfa71511bb9f0899073852ae8.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/cea4a0b789984ed3fd486fbfa1e3b91f.jpg":{"id":1180,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Building, Lewistown, Montana","description":"Power Mercantile Building, view of the extension of the Power Mercantile building at 301 W. Broadway. | Montana History Portal | 1940 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/cea4a0b789984ed3fd486fbfa1e3b91f.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b6b1c4d9e829cf4d715e31a203d780e9.jpg":{"id":1181,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Building, Lewistown, Montana","description":"Power Mercantile Building; The second Power Mercantile building was located at 301 W. Main, Lewistown, MT. Signs on the building read "Power Mercantile Co. Dealer in General Merchandise." "Groceries, Clothing and Dry Good" "Furniture, Boots and Shoes and Men's Goods". In 1901 the Power Mercantile built a third store across the street at 302 W. Main. | Montana History Portal | 1890 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/b6b1c4d9e829cf4d715e31a203d780e9.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1c9f3c878a744fea4aa894761dd73cd8.jpg":{"id":1182,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Co., Lewistown, Montana","description":"Power Mercantile Building; Located at 302 W. Main and was built in 1901 by the Power Mercantile Co. The Power Mercantile Co. was started by T.C. Power when he bought out Francis Janeaux's Trading Post in 1883. This was the 3rd building called Power Mercantile. | Montana History Portal | 1950 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1c9f3c878a744fea4aa894761dd73cd8.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/12b45af057cee70f7ff2fc3e6fcee913.jpg":{"id":2037,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"302 West Main St., Lewistown","description":"View looking northwest at Power Mercantile building. | Aug 2019 | Christine Brown, Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/12b45af057cee70f7ff2fc3e6fcee913.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b335ec9c92e40496f5d830cb00a3dd2a.jpg":{"id":6053,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Block","description":"Photo of storefronts. | Montana Historical Society | 27 August, 2022 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/b335ec9c92e40496f5d830cb00a3dd2a.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/19e859147ec176d6afd5508140d9fd93.jpg":{"id":6054,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Power Mercantile Block","description":"Photo of building details. | Montana Historical Society | 27 October, 2022 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/19e859147ec176d6afd5508140d9fd93.jpg"}}}