Anaconda Historic District, Electric Light Building, 101-103 Main Street, Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, MT

Significance: This two-story brick office building has cast-iron storefronts on both the Main Street and Commercial Avenue facades. A corbelled brick cornice also continues around from the west to the north face of the building. The building has an angled entrance at the corner. Some cast-iron columns remain at the first floor level, as does the cast-iron frieze they support. In 1896, this building was known as the Montana Dressed Meat Company Block. It provided space for a meat market and office at 101 Main, and a City Drug Company at 103 Main. In 1899, these businesses and two second floor physicians offices were located here. The building was purchased by the Anaconda Company before 1910, serving as the company headquarters for it's Electric Light and Railway Department, Water Department, Pay Office and Medical Services. A string of exterior electric light bulb sockets still exists along the upper roof line, dating from the years when Anaconda's Electric Light and Railway Department conducted business here. This structure is still referred to colloquially as the "Electric Light Building." The building is now owned by Deer Lodge County. It's offices are used by the Deer Lodge County Welfare Department, the Community Development Department, the Tri-County Environmental Health Department, and the National Ironworkers and Employers Training Program.
Survey number: HABS MT-53-D
Building/structure dates: ca. 1895 Initial Construction