Gooch Homestead, Barn, 10401 Gooch Hill Road, Gallatin Gateway, Gallatin County, MT

2014 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Third Place
Significance: Edward Gooch was a prominent settler of the area. The ridge upon which his homestead resides carries his name to this day: Gooch Hill. This property overlooks much of the Gallatin valley. The main barn is a well-recognized feature in the community as it sits close to the main road from Bozeman to Gallatin Gateway.

The Gooch homestead was founded in 1889. The exact construction date of the main barn is unknown but its construction suggests it is one of the earliest buildings on the property. The barn is a unique example of a particular building period in Montana history. The main structure is heavy timber, complimented by light framing. This mixed framing technique is relevant to the time in which the barn was constructed. Heavy timber was a somewhat rare technique for this region. Early homesteads used log construction for larger buildings, until the opening of the railroad introduced balloon framing knowledge. Large timbers where also hard to come by, and their use speaks to the importance of the structure. Balloon framing was a relatively new technology and, although easier, was not entirely trusted for large buildings until later in time.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N2056
Survey number: HABS MT-171-A
Building/structure dates: after 1889 Initial Construction