Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory (Site # 120)

Address:	211 East Main
Ownership Name:	Lewistown Community Hotel Co.
Historic Name:	Milwaukee Depot
Common Name:	Yogo Inn
Date of Construction:	1913
Architect:
Builder:
Original Owner:	Milwaukee Railroad
Original Use:	Passenger Depot
Present Use:	Motel/Dining/Bar

Physical Description:

A large complex composed of four distinct elements: a multi-story brick railroad depot that has been adaptively reused, a more recent one story administrative and dining facility attached to the southwest side of the depot, a two story L-shaped CMU mot el wing across a courtyard from the dining facility (constructed at the same time as the dining area), and a very recently constructed two story CMU addition on the southeast side of the complex. The last addition is large and connects to the L-shaped wi ng of the depot across the southeast side.

Railroad Depot: The depot has a long linear gabled roof element in three states: a two story north element, a high one story center element, and a lower one story southern element. The gabled roof is covered with flat red tile and the gable end s are "crow stepped" or "shouldered" and project above the adjacent roof covering. The gables have precast concrete coping; eaves have a sheet metal cornice with a wood soffit below. The brick is common bond and is enriched with subs tantial pattern work in the form of belt courses and architraves around openings. A decorative precast concrete belt course occurs between the first and second floors of the two-story element. There are some precast concrete haunches and accents evident in the upper walls. Some of the original windows have been bricked in, louvers have been added to the north elevation, and contemporary metal panels have been added below windows (suggestive of balcony railings). Substructure is concrete.

Administration and Dining: A one-story common bond brick addition with a flat roof applied over wood decking; the edge of the roof has a metal gravel stop. Entrance and vision areas from the dining area are framed with natural color aluminum wi ndows; glazing is large pan glass with cement asbestos panels in transom and sill areas (some of which have been painted).

Motel Areas: Two story stacked bond CMU with a flat roof over wood roof decking. A metal railing is provided at balcony areas, windows are in natural color aluminum frames, and hollow metal doors and frames provide access to the balcony. The s ubstructure is concrete. The newest section of motel area is a two story painted CMU element with flat roof, metal coping, and a few contemporary window penetrations. A raised center area houses an indoor swimming pool.

The original depot could have qualified for register listing as a singular structure under Criteria C; remaining elements would not. The original depot makes a very strong statement about brick architecture and is highly representative of depot design in 1913.

Classification: Mixed. The original depot is strongly derivative of Dutch brick architecture as adapted to the building type of "railroad depots" throughout the west and midwest. Remaining elements are domestic building technology.

Historical Significance:

Lewistown first received railroad service in 1903. A branch line, (known as the "Jawbone") constructed from Lombard to Castle by the Montana Railroad Co., linked the fledgling community to the Northern Pacific line.

The Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Co., seeking to extend lines to the West Coast, purchased and improved the "Jawbone" in 1908, which gave Lewistown regularly scheduled trains.

Peak years of settlement followed the liberalization of the homestead program under the Enlarged Homestead Acts of 1909 and 1912. An accelerated promotional campaign by railroads, as well as state and local groups, lured thousand of homesteaders to th e dry land acres of Fergus County. The Milwaukee line proved such a success that the Milwaukee built two branch lines to Lewistown in 1912-1013.

The Milwaukee passenger depot, built in 1913, stands as a visual reminder of the development of Central Montana in these peak settlement years.

The Milwaukee discontinued passenger service in Lewistown in 1953 and freight service in 1979.

The passenger depot was purchased by the Lewistown Community Hotel Co., and was adapted for reuse as a hotel in 1963.

Integrity:

The numerous additions and changes of materials are noted in the text under physical appearance. The original depot and first addition contribute to the character of downtown, the CMU wings are of a different character than the traditional brick mason ry.