Historic Havre: Photographers, churches and Oddfellows

Keith J. Doll

Havre/Hill County Historic

Preservation Commission

This is part 1 of 2 parts.

Oct. 14, 1892, Judge Dudley DuBose for the state of Montana, sold lots 19 and 20 in Block 20 in the Original Townsite of Havre for $28. These lots are where Helmbrecht Studio at 224 4th Ave., Credit Bureau of Havre at 228 4th Ave., the IOOF — Independent Order of Odd Fellows — building at 230 4th Ave. and Kostelecky Chiropractic Clinic at 236 4th Ave. are today. After selling a couple more times, they were bought by the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church Sept. 8, 1893.

The Sanborn Map shows no buildings on these lots, until the First Presbyterian Church was built there in 1901, where the IOOF building is today. On Sept. 28, 1917, P.A. Brainerd and J.P. Grady bought the two partial lots on the north side of lots 19 and 20 to build on. These lots were close to First Presbyterian Church. Excavation work started the third week of April 1917.

As the Havre Plaindealer put it: “The north building will be occupied as a photo studio by P.A. Brainerd, and the adjoining room by J.P. Grady & Co. as a plumbing shop. The upper floors of each will be fitted up into three and four room apartments.”

Clerk and Recorders Office shows that Sept. 23, 1919, the balance of lots 19 and 20 were sold to the Assinniboine Lodge No. 56, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, by the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Havre. In 1920, the church building on it was bought by the members of First Baptist Church, moved to 625 4th Ave. and remodeled. The first service as First Baptist Church was held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, 1920, by Rev. Frank D. White. First Baptist Church is still in this location, and regular service is held there.

Jan. 12, 1928, P.A. Brainerd and J.P. Grady signed an agreement that since they were joint owners of the property, the 3 feet in back was for access to the building and for a garbage chute, and they would share equal expense of the front stairway and hallway. This agreement was to follow the sale of the property by either party.

Clerk and Recorders records show that May 28, 1929, P.A. and Jean Brainerd sold to Myrtle H. Fulmer, another photographer, who sold to Vern Helmbrecht. Now, Steve Helmbrecht, Vern’s son owns the property. It’s interesting to note that since the building was built in 1917, the north side has always been a photo studio.

The left side of the building, Grady side with land under it, was sold Jan. 19, 1955.