Located on the SW corner of Park Ave. and Clarke St., this ornate American Queen Anne style building had apartments on the upper floors, and offices on the ground floor. Dressmakers, physicians, lawyers, music teachers and others rented commercial space there over the years. From 1906 to 1915, the Christian Science Reading Room was located in the Homer Block. Beginning about 1932, the building was named the Central View Apartments. It stood until 1971, when it was one of the first Victorian structures in Helena to fall to the Model City/Urban Renewal wrecking ball.

Copper Griffins Above the Corner Entrance, 1935

COURTESY OF THE SEAN LOGAN COLLECTION

Older Helenans will remember the fantastic copper griffins above the corner doorway of the Homer Block. They are now in the collection of the Montana Historical Society.

Homer Block doorway, photo by Les Jorud, courtesy of the Montana Memory Project, MHS 953-196

On The Map...

The footprint of the Homer Block superimposed on a recent satellite image. A widened Park Ave. now cuts through part of the site.

 

Homer Block from Park Avenue, 1960s

PHOTO BY DENNY McCALL • FROM THE BOOK "GOLD IN THE GULCH" BY JEAN BAUCUS, BAR WINEGLASS PUBLICATIONS, 1981

Homer Block Demolition from Clarke St., 1971


COLLECTION OF JAN AND BILL BROWN, VIA THE INDEPENDENT RECORD

 

Looking South at the Site of the Homer Block, Summer 1973

PHOTO BY VIRGIE MILLEGAN BAIRD • COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

 

Site of the Homer Block from the Federal Building, 1970s

COURTESY CITY OF HELENA / LEWIS & CLARK COUNTY • CLICK ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

 

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