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Welcome
to "Helena As She Was" -- your
Helena, Montana history wiki!
Share
Your Helena-related Images and Other Material Via This Free
Online Resource!
July
4 Parade, Sixth and Main, circa 1900
THE
DAVID HULL COLLECTION
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Since
2006, this site has welcomed over 60 individual contibutors
of Helena-related images, ephemera and recollections.
Those good folks, through their interest in history
and willingness to share, have made "Helena As
She Was" a valuable (and fun) Montana history resource
for students, researchers, and those who just want to
remember days gone by.
An
average of 40 people per day visit this site, half of
those being new visitors! They have come from almost
every state in the union (come on North Dakota, we know
you can do it) and from 23 foreign nations.
Hosted
and edited by Kennon Baird, a native of Helena, this
site is commercial-free and free to access. There's
a short biography of your host at the bottom of the
page.
It's
easy to share your Helena-related material via this
site! Scroll down this page past "Recent Additions"
and the Contributor's Roster for more information...
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07/04/2009
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1894 Williams Street Bridge
UPDATE
THIS
LOVELY IRON PONY TRUSS BRIDGE WEST OF HELENA
IS SLATED FOR REMOVAL IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR SIX 2004 VIEWS OF THE BRIDGE,
COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. PLUS, HISTORIAN
JON AXLINE'S EXCELLENT 2005 HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING
RECORD PAPER ABOUT THE BRIDGE AND ITS ENVIRONS. |
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07/02/2009
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Tower Motel
WHEN
YOU SHOP AT SAFEWAY ON PROSPECT AVENUE, YOU'RE THERE. |
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07/01/2009
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Edwards Street
COURTESY
OF HELENA HISTORIAN VIVIAN HAYES,
WE PRESENT HER EXCELLENT 1999 INDEPENDENT RECORD
ARTICLE ABOUT EDWARDS STREET, A COMMERCIAL THOROUGHFARE
WHICH WAS ELIMINATED BY URBAN RENEWAL IN THE 1970s.
SCROLL DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR THE PDF FORMAT DOWNLOAD. |
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07/01/2009
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Dorothy's Rooms UPDATE
WHAT
WERE HELENA PROSTITUTES WEARING TO WORK
IN THE EARLY 1970s? SCROLL DOWN THE LINKED PAGE TO SEE.
COURTESY OF THE MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MUSEUM COLLECTION. |
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06/29/2009
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Civic Center UPDATE
SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR VIEWS OF EXISTING
ORIGINAL EXTERIOR TERRA COTTA TILES...
Plus
- Continue Scrolling for a A Rare Look Inside the Minaret! |
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06/17/2009
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Deaconess
School UPDATE
SEVERAL
WONDERFUL 1910s-50s IMAGES OF CHILDREN AT THE
DEACONESS. NOW KNOWN AS INTERMOUNTAIN, CELEBRATING
ITS CENTENNIAL IN 2009. OUR THANKS TO MAGGIE LONG,
INTERMOUNTAIN'S COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, AND TO THE
DAVID HULL COLLECTION. |
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05/31/2009
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1890 Arsenal
UPDATE
A
DETAILED ca. 1890 VIEW OF HELENA FIRE DEPT. EQUIPMENT
ON
DISPLAY OUTSIDE THE MONTANA NATIONAL GUARD ARSENAL
ON WARREN ST. COURTESY
OF CAPT. SEAN LOGAN & THE HELENA FIRE DEPT. |
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05/25/2009
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Financial
Institutions UPDATE
SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR TWO
NEW VIEWS
OF THE 1944 MONTANA NATIONAL BANK FIRE
COURTESY OF CAPT. SEAN LOGAN & THE HELENA FIRE DEPT. |
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05/24/2009
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Link
to Historic Helena Fire Dept. Photos
CAPTAIN
SEAN LOGAN OF THE HELENA FIRE DEPARTMENT IS POSTING
TO A "WINDOWS LIVE" GROUP A BEAUTIFUL SELECTION
OF PHOTOGRAPHS, INTERVIEWS AND OTHER MATERIAL FROM THE
HFD ARCHIVES. IT'S A
MUST-SEE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN HELENA'S HISTORY.
YOU
MUST JOIN THE "WINDOWS LIVE" GROUP TO VIEW
THE MATERIAL, BUT IT'S EASY AND WELL WORTH IT. SIMPLY
FOLLOW THE LINK ABOVE.
MANY THANKS TO CAPT. LOGAN AND THE HFD FOR SHARING THEIR
OUTSTANDING ARCHIVE!
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04/20/2009
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The
Hotel Helena
A
HANDSOME FIVE-STORY BRICK STRUCTURE
ON GRAND STREET. 1889-1972 |
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03/27/2009
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The
Lamb Ranch
THE
1918 RANCH HOUSE STILL STANDS. PHOTOS AND
HISTORY COURTESY OF THE LAMB FAMILY |
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03/15/2009
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Y.W.C.A.
UPDATE
SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR RECENT INTERIOR VIEWS
OF THIS DISTINCTIVE 1918 BUILDING, COURTESY OF ELLEN BAUMLER |
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03/02/2009
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KCAP
Radio UPDATE
COURTESY
OF JACK WOMACK, SEVERAL VIEWS
OF LOCAL RADIO PRODUCTION IN THE 1970s. INCLUDING
A 1977 PHOTO OF LEGENDARY BROADCASTER CATO BUTLER
IN ACTION. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THE LINKED PAGE |
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02/16/2009
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Helena
Middle School UPDATE
SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR A
NUMBER OF 1997
PHOTOS OF THE HALLWAYS, GYM, & VIGILANTE STADIUM.
PHOTOS BY MARC SWANSON, COURTESY OF JACK WOMACK |
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02/03/2009
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St.
Helena School UPDATE
A
TIME-LAPSE VIDEO OF THE 2008 DEMOLITON OF THE BUILDING,
WHICH INCLUDES RARE INTERIOR VIEWS. ALSO, A RECENT PHOTO
OF THE CURRENT RESTING PLACE OF THE SALVAGED STONEWORK.
VIDEO FROM SCOTT NELSON, PHOTO FROM TOM KILMER - BOTH
LONGTIME CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS SITE AND CERTIFIED
HELENA HISTORY BUFFS. SCROLL DOWN TO NEAR THE BOTTOM
OF THE LINKED PAGE
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01/29/2009
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St.
Vincent's Academy UPDATE
TWO
INTERIOR PHOTOS OF THE LONG-GONE 1880's
CATHOLIC GIRLS SCHOOL, PLUS A RECENT VIEW OF THE SITE |
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01/24/2009
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City
Views UPDATE
SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR A BIG, BEAUTIFUL
1959 VIEW OF THE EAST SIDE OF HELENA, COURTESY OF
SCOTT NELSON. |
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01/22/2009
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City
Views UPDATE
SCROLL
DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR A HUGE 1950s
PANORAMA OF THE SOUTH MAIN AREA, COURTESY OF
SCOTT NELSON. |
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01/21/2009
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Federal
Building UPDATE
HELENA'S
FIRST SEEING-EYE DOG ASSISTS LOBBY VENDOR, 1960
(PLEASE SCOLL DOWN THE LINKED PAGE FOR THE STORY) |
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01/06/2009
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Capital
City Bowl
OPENED
IN 1958 - NOW GONE |
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12/30/2008
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Tracy's
Lounge UPDATE
A
WONDERFUL 1943 INTERIOR VIEW OF THIS LONG-GONE DOWNTOWN
NIGHTSPOT HAS BEEN SENT IN BY TOM MULVANEY, AUTHOR OF
THE
NEW BOOK "HELENA"
A POSTCARD HISTORY. THANKS, TOM! |
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12/16/2008
- Y.W.C.A.
UPDATE
A
HISTORY OF THE HELENA YWCA HAS BEEN ADDED, COURTESY OF
ELLEN BAUMLER, ALONG WITH A LINK TO A DEC. 2008 INDEPENDENT
RECORD STORY ABOUT THE YWCA, WHICH INCLUDES INFO ON
HOW
YOU CAN HELP MAINTAIN THIS HISTORIC AND VITAL HELENA RESOURCE |
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12/10/2008
- Helena
High School 1955-Today
UPDATE
A
SELECTION OF 1997 INTERIOR VIEWS OF THE GYM AND HALLWAYS,
SURE TO BRING BACK SOME BENGAL MEMORIES.
PHOTOS BY MARC SWANSON, COURTESY OF JACK WOMACK |
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12/09/2008
- Helena
High School 1893-1935 UPDATE
A
WONDERFUL 1911 IMAGE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT SPEAKING
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL STEPS. FROM THE NEW BOOK
"HELENA"
A POSTCARD HISTORY,
COURTESY OF AUTHOR TOM MULVANEY |
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12/04/2008
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The
1892 Kleinschmidt Block
LONG
KNOWN AS THE HARVARD APARTMENTS |
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11/20/2008
- Main
St. - Sixth to Lawrence UPDATE
SEVERAL
NEW 1949-1950 COLOR PHOTOS OF PARADES ON LAST CHANCE GULCH,
PLUS THE STORY OF A 1952 LOVE TRIANGLE GONE VERY WRONG.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BOB AND SUSIE LINDEBERG COLLECTION. |
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11/16/2008
- Montana
Ave. at Custer Ave. 1962 & 2008
INTERESTING
COMPARISON VIEWS OF THIS PROMINENT INTERSECTION SHOW HOW
HELENA IS CHANGING. BUT IS IT FOR THE BETTER? SCROLL DOWN
THE LINKED PAGE ABOUT HALFWAY, WHERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND
A NEW SLIDESHOW BY WALLY PEEL DOCUMENTING RECENT DEVELOPMENT
IN THE MONTANA AVE./CUSTER AVE. AREA |
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11/07/2008
- Sixth
and Main UPDATE
A
REMARKABLE 1958 VIEW OF SIXTH AVE. LOOKING EAST FROM ATOP
THE POWER BUILDING. SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LINKED
PAGE TO ENJOY THIS INTERACTIVE
IMAGE, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY A 2006 VIEW! |
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11/06/2008
- Sunset
Drive-In Theatre
UPDATE
TWO
BEAUTIFUL 1962 PHOTOS COURTESY OF DARCY O'DELL |
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Perennial
Favorites
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3/18/2008
- "Helena
- City of Gold" VIDEO
DOWNLOAD - 27:24
A
promotional film produced in 1973 by the
Helena Chamber of Commerce.
HELENA'S HISTORY, RECREATONAL ACTIVITIES AND COMMERCE
ARE HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH THE CHARACTER OF BOB STANLEY,
ONE OF THE 'FOUR GEORGIANS' WHO DISCOVERED GOLD IN LAST
CHANCE GULCH IN 1864. STANLEY SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF
IN HELENA IN 1973, AND IS BOTH BEDEVILED AND AMUSED
BY MODERN LIFE
VIDEO COURTESY OF KITTY ANN QUIGLEY TAALER.
Open with realPlayer.
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3/07/2008
- Early
Helena TV RECOMMENDED
LINK
VETERAN
HELENA BROADCASTER WALLY PEEL HAS PUT TOGETHER AN EXCELLENT
HISTORY OF EARLY-DAY HELENA TELEVISION FOR THE KTVH WEBSITE
Click
here to visit!
NOTE:
WALLY SAYS IT'S STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, SO CHECK BACK
FOR MORE! |
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10/10/2006
- The
Helena Independent
Record story about this website. |
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There's
a blogger.com Helena History Blog to which you may post.
Latest
entry: Sept. 6 2008 - "Consultant Rejiggers Helena's
'Brand' - Locals Unimpressed" |
IF
YOU ENJOY THIS SITE, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE TO THANK!
Sharing
Your Photos & Recollections
MAIN
ST. LOOKING SOUTH, ABOUT 1913
COURTESY OF WES & CAROL SYNNESS
If
You Have Images of Helena to Share,
Simply Contact Me
Via E-mail !
Please try to include the word "HELENA"
in the subject line of your first email, so it won't
be mistaken for spam and accidentally deleted.
Usually,
images are scanned and e-mailed to me by contributors.
Contributors will occasionally mail CDs with photos
on them. When those methods aren't practical, the
actual photos or other materials are sent to me via
U. S. Mail. I scan the material and return it, paying
for insured postage both ways. I can scan photographs,
slides and negatives.
I
will credit your contributions (if you so desire),
and will also add your personal recollections to the
material you send. I can't offer monetary compensation
for images sent in, but website and/or email links
may be added to your contributions and to your name
on the home page Roster.
The emphasis is on old photographs and other images
of businesses, schools, churches, neighborhoods, streets,
events and other subjects of GENERAL INTEREST.
I'm also interested in old Helena advertising and
promotional ephemera.
Be
advised that your images will be in the PUBLIC DOMAIN
when they're published here, which means they'll be
up for grabs by anyone who wants to use them. My outlook
is that it's better for people to see, use and learn
from such pictures than it is to let them languish in
drawers or old albums. In that spirit, I've included
many of my own photographs in the site, along with numerous
postcards, etc., from my collection.
This
website is a ONE-MAN OPERATION, but I endeavor
to add all material sent to me in a timely manner. Occasionally,
I will hold material until I can "flesh out"
the story using online newspaper archives and other
resources. I stay in contact with contributors.
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ABOUT
PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE
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Your
Great Grandmother Viola was no doubt a beautiful person,
but please limit submissions of photos featuring people
to those which show them in a broader
HELENA-RELATED CONTEXT.
No studio portraits.
Please avoid snapshots of people which show little or
nothing of the city.
"GENERAL INTEREST"
is what to keep in mind when selecting your submissions.
THANKS! |
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Site
Hosted by an Actual Helena Native!

Kennon Baird Editor
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Kennon
Baird's pioneer Great Grandfather, Wallace Millegan,
began ranching in the Helena Valley in 1865, coming
by way of Bannack and Blackfoot City. The Millegan homestead
was the first in the Helena Valley, and 13th in the
Territory of Montana.
Ken
was born in 1950, at the old St. Peter's Hospital on
Logan St.. He lived in Helena until 1972, attending
Kessler School, C. R. Anderson School, Helena Junior
High, and Helena High School. Ken spent many years working
in Houston, Texas, where he also studied design at the
University of Houston. In 1998, Ken moved to Fremont,
California with wife Kathleen, who is a business analyst
for a biotech company.
Ken
enjoys art, history, writing, music and gardening. He's
a member of the Sons
and Daughters of Montana Pioneers and the Montana
Historical Society. Ken's home website is Lifelike
Charm.
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DID
YOU FIND AN INACCURACY?
If you spot an inaccuracy or wish to add information,
please don't hesitate to contact
me. I want this site to be as accurate as possible.
If you have questions or comments about the structure
of the site in general, please write.
Please
enjoy your visit to Helena, the Queen City of the
Rockies...as she was.
Kennon
Baird -- October 2008
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DISCLAIMER
...This
site is educational and non-commercial in nature. To
the best of my knowledge, the images presented on these
pages are either in the public domain or are used in
accordance with Fair Use practices. If you have concerns
about this, contact me.
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