Page 42 - Flathad Beacon // 10.8.14

42 | OCTOBER 8, 2014
REAL ESTATE
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
LANDMARKS
205 Fifth Ave. E., Kalispell
The Switzer House By JAIX CHAIX
In 1907, like many other men of success and ambi- tion, Switzer decided to make a name for himself, and started the Switzer Furniture Company. His success continued and at the time the Swizters moved into the home, theirs was the largest furniture business in Northwest Montana.
Lew and his wife Blanche (née Boos) are the name- sakes of the house, as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Switzers lived in the home until 1947. Lewis unfortunately passed away in 1949, while Blanche survived him until 1961, when she too was bur- ied at the Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
And much like the legacy of Switzer’s fair deal- ings, support for the Kalispell community and busi- ness achievement, their namesake house persists as well. The home reveals hallmarks of a bygone archi- tectural style: the wrap-around porch, wide pedi- ment entrance, hipped roof, porch columns, clapboard with contrasting fish-scale siding, a third-story garret flanked by cross-gables with pent-roofs – these are just a few of the appointments that we can still appreci- ate today. (admittedly, the rest outnumber the words for this article).
The Swizter House is a proud definition of the Queen-Anne style in Kalispell – built at a time when the meaning and social significance of “a home” was being defined as well.
Jaix Chaix appreciates history and architecture. Share ideas and facts with him at [email protected] or at facebook.com/flatheadvalleylandmarks.
The house at 205 Fifth Ave. E. in Kalispell is a quint- essential Queen-Anne-styled residence. It was built in 1910 for George McCrea, secretary of the Northwest- ern Lumber Company. McCrea could comfortably af- ford such a splendid home, as the Northwestern was the largest mill in the area at the time. Indeed, miles of logs floated down the Stillwater River along with wan- nigans and workers (known as “river rats”) who kept the saw blades spinning at an unrivaled pace.
For a bit of perspective, society at large was debat- ing the merits of its ranks and the significance of “a house to call home” while McCrea was debating the ar- chitectural nuances of the home. He grappled with how to treat the tympanum of the pediment (the triangle space above the front entrance) and how to accentuate the angle of the bay windows and depth of the extended eaves with broad dentil moulding.
Meanwhile, Kalispell authorities were busy grap- pling (more literally) with men of a lesser lot – the ho- boes, harvest tramps, and other nomadic heathens without a steady job or sense of place – and “floating” them out of town (much like logs down a river). Indeed, building a grand, Queen-Anne style home on a promi- nent corner lot was a landmark of achievement – and a statement about permanence and position within soci- ety at the time.
Thus, it should be of little surprise that the home was purchased in 1920 by another prominent business- man: Lew Switzer.
Notably, Switzer’s success developed much like
PHOTO BY JAIX CHAIX
the development of Kalispell itself. Switzer, like many other settlers, came from “back East.” He worked at a hardware store in Logansport, Indiana and came to Montana in 1888 to work for Captain T.P. Fuller, a hardware store owner – and mayor of Helena.
In 1889, Switzer took employment with the Missou- la Mercantile Company. Two years later, Switzer was charged with overseeing the hardware department at the company’s branch store at DeMersville.
As Kalispell became the destined “new railroad town of Northwest Montana,” and businesses moved from DeMersville to Kalispell in 1892, Switzer im- plored the managers of the Missoula Mercantile to do the same. Upon his urging, a branch store was opened at Kalispell, where Switzer continued to play an impor- tant role in the company.
FLOOR SPACE By Georgia Christianson
What You Can Buy for About $350,000
NEXT WEEK: $400,000
KILA
LAKESIDE
KALISPELL
KALISPELL
1701 Browns Meadow Rd.
565 Sunset Circle
173 Hadley Rd.
459 Third Ave. EN
PRICE: $349,900
WHAT: Two-bedroom, two-bath home
SQUARE FEET: 2,240
This creekside log home sits on more than 16 acres in Kila. A rustic bridge spans Mount Creek on the property, which features great views and fencing for livestock.
West Venture Real Estate, LLC MLS #: 330128
PRICE: $360,000
WHAT: Four-bedroom, three-bath home
SQUARE FEET: 3,297
This home features great views of Flathead Lake and features a new roof, flooring and deck. It has an open floor plan with a separate dining room.
Trail West Real Estate/Lakeside
MLS #: 329719
PRICE: $339,900
WHAT: Four-bedroom, three-bath home SQUARE FEET: 2,404
This country custom home sits on 1.37 acres and features great views of the Swan Range. It has stainless applianc- es, Knotty Alder cabinets, great master suite and three-car garage.
Glacier Real Estate of Montana MLS #: 329700
PRICE: $365,000
WHAT: Four-bedroom, two-bath home SQUARE FEET: 3,377
Built in 1912, this eastside home was updated in 1985 and 1995 and main- tains its turn-of-the-century character. It has a south-facing sunroom, expan- sive kitchen, maple hardwood flooring and perennial and vegetable gardens. Montana Brokers, Inc.
MLS #: 329492
If you would like your property listed in the Floor Space section, please e-mail [email protected]. Entries are compiled by the Beacon staff and Georgia Christianson, Montana Brokers.
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Call Georgia, a certified residential specialist for a free one-hour consultation.