Looking at an old west town

 

 

While Missoula in the 1880's wasn't the roughest town in the west by any means, Front street was the center of a redlight district with a regional reputation. As I needed to track down some information and maps for another project I thought I would put this up here with some notes for Old West gamers as an example.

This isn't the most disreputable part of the street, I'll do that another day.

Remember that at this time and place brick is expensive while wood is cheap and readily available. By this point the town is nearing 20 years old and some of the original cabins and buildings have been moved back from the street and are being used as sheds or dwellings.


North side of Front Street from H.G. Wellges Birdseye view of Missoula, MT

In 1884 the north side of this block was along the Mullan trail and one block north of the Hellgate river and the original Missoula Mill that our town is named for.




1884 Sanborn Map of the same block

So to address some questions have come up lately on LAF -

Outhouses - these are marked W.C.
      1  Outside of the Kitchen of the Rodger's House
      2  In the shed complex (#4 1/2) behind the Rodger's House
      3  On the alley behind #37
      4  Attached to the Musical Storage building in the alley (#10 1/2)
      5  Behind the saloon at #30.
      6 The "Out HO." attached to the Law Office

Each building has a number denoting the number of stories (many of the "1"s look like 7) and an "x" denotes a shingle roof.

CL in a circle means the building had preprinted cloth wallpaper, nailed rather than glued.

The stone building at #2 Stevens and the cellar are the only two stone structures, the adobe saloon the only other non wood building.