Carlin Building, 117-119 North Broadway, 1918

This site passed through several speculative owners as undeveloped property until P.G. Carlin built the building in 1918 and the following year sold it to Oliver H. Hovda, a real estate man. Early storefront occupants included a clothing shop, millinery and the Atlas Apartments upstairs.

Historic Name:
Carlin Building
Current Name:
Carlin Building

Builder:
unknown

Original Use:
Store, apartments
Current Use:
Stores, offices

Physical Description:
The Carlin Building is a two story commercial building with Italianate influences. The building is constructed of common red brick. The building fronts west onto N. Broadway and it is faced on that primary façade with dressed brick, and what appears to be cast stone, however, it is all painted. The building is divided into two retail spaces on the first floor, and offices above. A projecting metal cornice with heavy decorative bracketing completes the façade. Above that a short parapet is finished with simple coping. Across the façade, a sign panel bears the name and date 19 CARLIN 18.

Both storefronts have been modernized, with newer applied stone and storefront alterations. A metal awning slopes down to span the entire first floor. Above this four, second story windows are arranged across the façade. Each is set off by a segmental relieving arch with quoins and a keystone, now painted white. The windows appear to be original, and are double-hung 1-over-1 with narrow sidelights.

On the east, the building opens onto a rear alley. Brick is painted but historic doorways and historic windows with transoms are visible (many now bricked up). The sides abut adjacent buildings.

Historical Associations:
Lot 15-16 in block 92 passed through several speculative owners as undeveloped property during the end of the 1800s. During the early 1900s, the lots sold first to Eloise McGinnis and then PG Carlin as the downtown business district began to spread to the north. The construction of the Acme Hotel and the Montana Power Building during the early 1910s anchored development in this block, as the Broadway corridor increasingly became central in the expanding downtown.

Carlin built this building in 1918, and the following year sold it to Oliver H Hovda, a real estate man. It appears he rented space in this building to a variety of tenants. Early storefront occupants included a clothing shop, millinery, and the Atlas Apartments upstairs.

Photograph Courtesy of Paul Whiting