Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory (Site #244)

Address:	210 W. Boulevard
Ownership Name:	Robert W. and Robert T. Pullen
Historic Name:	Fred R. Warren Residence
Common Name:	Pullen Residence
Date of Construction:	1915
Architect:
Builder:
Original Owner:	Fred. R. Warren
Original Use:	Residence
Present Use:	Residence

Physical Description:

This nicely detailed two story detached residence is located mid-block on the northwest side of Boulevard Street. It is a gable-roofed structure with very large intersecting wall dormers to the northwest and southeast side of the house. A porte-cochere extends from the southwest, and the main entrance to the house is recessed at the east corner. The roof is covered with wood shingles and is edged by a medium width flat fascia and molding edge trim. The soffit is of bed joint boards. All four corners of the roof have a dropped pent corner that resembles a boxed cornice with return except it is lowered approximately 1’0" below the plane of the roof and extends into both planes of the intersecting gable. The porte-cochere is capped by a bell cast mansard roof of wood shingles; the flat portion of the roof serves as a sun deck for second story bedrooms. Edges of the roof along the rakes are flared upward in a unique architectural detail that diverts water away from the barge and adds "oriental" flavor to the roof visually. Tapered brick columns enhance and support both the port-cochere and the corner of the house with the recessed main entry. The walls are surfaced with medium exposure beveled wood siding that is trimmed with flat wood corner boards, frieze boards and water table trim board. Gable ends are stuccoed. Windows are typically wood double hung 1/1 and are architecturally grouped in the wall surface. The windows into the solarium are four part with a single segmented arch over. Openings are cased with flat butted casing with drip mold at the heads of the openings. The substructure is concrete and is surfaced with common bond brick between the first floor line and grade. This residence shares a detached garage with the adjoining property to the southwest. Two small-undecorated square chimneys penetrate the roof of this structure.

This residence qualifies for register listing under Criteria C. A very high quality of craftsmanship using restrained and tasteful architectural appointments on this period structure is evident. The unique roof details as noted in the integrity statement are also significant.

Classification: Mixed (perhaps an extremely restrained version of eclectic); second empire bell-cast mansard roof at the porte-cochere, pagoda flared eaves at the rake, classical influences at the cornice returns, segmental arches originally founded in the architectural designs of Italy, and domestic builder technologies are all present.

Historical Significance:

This property is significant because of its association with Fred W. Warren who "as a freighter, rancher, banker, and businessman of large affairs", was well known in the region around Lewistown and made significant contributions to the development of Fergus County.

Mr. Warren, who arrived in Montana in 1883, worked for John D. Waite in the sheep business for about two years when he established a flock of his own. Typical of the success of many early ranchers, he at one time had 14,000 sheep grazing on his own and leased land. In 1914, he sold his ranch and sheep and moved to Lewistown, where he built his home.

The Warren residence, built in what became known as the "Silk Stocking District", stands as a visible sign of the prosperity and stability of the period.