A group posing on the Lewis & Clark/Powell County line, atop Priest Pass, 1920s.
Priest Pass was put through as a toll road in 1879 by Valentine Priest (1831-1890), a former employee of R. Alexander MacDonald, the then-owner of the Frenchwoman's Road toll road, which later became known as MacDonald Pass.
The new Priest Pass was, for a time, used more than Frenchwoman's Road (MacDonald Pass). In 1889, both toll routes were taken over by Lewis & Clark and Powell Counties, and became public thoroughfares. Both fell into disrepair, however, because the counties only maintained Mullan Pass, a few miles to the north.
In 1912, the counties began employing State Prison convict labor to upgrade MacDonald and Mullan passes. This was also done in 1915 to Priest Pass, which was designated part of the "Great White Way", one of many tourist routes (Auto Trails) which were were created throughout the nation during that time. The Great White Way connected Yellowstone National Park to Glacier National Park.
In Montana, the Great White Way originated at the west entrance to Yellowstone Park, went north along today’s US 287 to Harrison, then up to Cardwell, then followed the route of MT 69 to Boulder. From there, it went to Helena, then across Priests Pass, US 12 to Garrison, then along today’s I-90 to the junction with US 93 and then north to Glacier, where it terminated.
By the mid 1920's, most of the states were receiving federal funding for highways and a numerical system was beginning to be used to standardize the highway system. Many Auto Trails became obsolete or were renamed under this newly adopted system.
Beginning in the 1920s, government money was put into improving MacDonald Pass, and it became the primary western route over the Rockies from Helena.
Today, the Continental Divide Trail passes the spot where this photo was taken.
Many thanks to Jon Axline for much of the info in this brief history.
Photo Courtesy of Merrill RiChey Meredith.
A colorized 1910 view of the Helena Cab Co., which was on the northeast corner of Park and Edwards.
This Moorish Revival livery stable and garage was built in 1907 by Joseph Murray and Jacob Fischer, both notables in the Helena livery business.
It was an up-to-date facility, advertising a horsey-odor-free experience for customers, along with other modern conveniences such as a separate waiting room for women.
From the start, plans were in place to dedicate part of the facility to the repair and servicing of automobiles, which was ultimately its function over the decades.
This building was last known as the Porter Garage, and was demolished in 1968, at the start of Helena's Urban Renewal projects.
Elements of the Moorish Revival design of the building are certainly reminiscent of the 1921 Helena Civic Center, but I'm unsure if the same architect was involved.
The illustration is from the souvenir booklet of the 26th Annual Encampment of the Montana Grand Army of the Republic ...
A then-and-now view of Neill Avenue, highlighting Eck's Toys and Hobbies in 1974. Eck's was a happy destination for many Helena kids and hobbyists.
Norm and Elaine Eck originally opened the shop at 15 Placer St. in October of 1959. It was moved to the Neill Ave. location, a former garage, in October of 1963. Eck sold the business to Joe and Arlene King in 1974.
Vintage photo courtesy of Janet Eck Bloom.
The earthquake-shattered 1890 Montana National Guard Arsenal, 1029 (now numbered 1025) N. Warren St. The rear of the building was also badly damaged.
Guard equipment continued to be stored in the wrecked Arsenal until it was finally demolished in the spring of 1939. The lot remained vacant until at least 1955.
For more about the Arsenal, please take the link in the comments below...
