In 1928, Strains Department Store owners Arthur and Russell Strain, built this modest three-bay brick and tile commercial building in partnership with Jack and Bertha Skees. Three businesses occupied the building by late summer 1928, including the Skees Gas Shop in No. 14, the Claud M. Smock Grocery in No. 16, and the Checker Cab Co. in No. 18. In later years, many businesses cycled in and out of No. 16 and 18, including a consignment shop, restaurant, Harold’s Beauty Shoppe (1936-1944), a photo studio, dress shop, and a furniture store. However, the Skees Gas Shop remained a fixture, selling gas cooking and heating appliances, and later fireplaces, for nearly seven decades. Affordable natural gas service arrived in Great Falls with completion of the Kevin-Sunburst pipeline in early 1928. To persuade customers to adopt in-home natural gas, gas companies advertised heavily in the Great Falls Tribune and Montana Power offered free gas appliances with purchase of gas service. After Jack and Bertha Skees’ son John sold the building in 2002, new owners later restored the façade to its original 1928 appearance.
Documents
| Name | Info | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Skees Gas Shop Ad The_Great_Falls_Leader_1928_08_04_12.pdf | pdf / 390.47 kB | Download |
| Natural Gas Section Great_Falls_Tribune_1928_05_06_Page_15.pdf | pdf / 700.84 kB | Download |
| Jack Skees obit Great_Falls_Tribune_2003_03_16_Page_14.pdf | pdf / 451.17 kB | Download |