Page 38 - Flathead Beacon // 12.25.13

38 | DECEMBER 25, 2013 REAL ESTATE
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LANDMARKS
728 First Ave. E., Kalispell
The Ford Residence

Montgomery Ward advertised “The Vincennes”
By JAIX CHAIX
as a “splendid home” that “follows the true bungalow

style” with four bedrooms – although the Fords modi- The Ford Residence, a ine example of 1920s Crafts-
ied this home to have ive bedrooms – each made even man architecture, has a lot to boast about when it
more attractive with their own built-in closet, as adver- comes to local history – a history that reveals a lot
tised with “The Vincennes” model.
about the ways of life in a bygone era.
Aside from many other common architectural ele- The home is the namesake of James A. Ford, a
ments, “The Vincennes” boasted a truly modern con- stockman and real estate developer who arrived in Ka-
venience of the day, namely that “while the ice box is lispell in 1891 – the same year Kalispell was founded –

handy, it is in a cool, out-of-the-way place and the ice and hardly more than a ledgling town site.
man does not have to go in and dirty up the kitchen to At a time when the Salish and Kootenai still
ice it.” Imagine that: keeping the ice box cool and the camped along the outskirts of town, Ford must have
kitchen clean!
perceived that progress was here to stay. In 1898, he
“The Vincennes” was a popular model for Mont- selected the corner of First and Main and developed a
gomery Ward, and adaptations of it can be found two-story business block there. As typical of the day,
throughout the U.S. – including right here.
businesses occupied the irst loor along the street, and
Perhaps the most interesting modiication is the rooming houses were built above on the second loor.

front porch, which has been enclosed with a row of That’s where Ford kept another tradition – or necessity
symmetrical, multi-paned windows (despite the origi- – depending upon your situation: siblings and extended PHOTO BY JAIX CHAIX
nal, curving arch) typical of the Bungalow/Craftsman families living together under the same roof.
style.
In 1923, perhaps needing to make room for business (if not only) option toward realizing the “American
So aside from being a classic example of its style and or board, Ford and his sisters chose a city lot of their Dream” of happiness and homeownership. And consid-
day, the Ford home also has much to tell about a chap- own to call home, one quite a distance from the bustle ering that “money saved is money made” were words
ter of local history that seems to fade a bit from memo- below them at one of Kalispelĺs busiest intersections.
to live by, many who chose a mail-order home chose to

ry each day. A chapter when family, economy and “sim- In building their home, the Ford siblings took an- save opting for “not ready cut” material and wood over
ple extravagance” were hallmarks of a prosperous life.
other approach that was quite popular then – but seem- the slightly more expensive “ready cut” option.
ingly unheard of today: they chose a mail-order house. There are many homes throughout the Flathead
At the time, companies such as Sears, Roebuck & Co. Valley that resemble (and are) mail-order homes. And
Jaix Chaix is a writer who appreciates history and and Montgomery Ward & Co. ofered homes by mail, this one is almost certainly based on “The Vincennes”
architecture. You can share ideas and historical facts which included not just the building plans, but the pre- model ofered by Montgomery Ward. In other words,
with him at [email protected]. Also visit cut lumber, hardware and other materials.
it’s a “Wardway” or “Ward home” as they were often
facebook.com/latheadvalleylandmarks
For many, a mail-order house was an economical
called.

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