Nims Ford Dealership, 116 North Main Street, Ekalaka, Carter County, MT

Significance: In a town of few masonry buildings, the stone buildings constructed by Nick Folak are among Ekalaka's more important architectural resources. The sandstone Nims Ford Garage represents the legacy of the master stonemason. Born Nicholas Kalafatich, the craftsman learned his trade in his native Austria prior to immigrating to the US. between 1917-1928, Folak built four commercial buildings, three churches, and at least three rural residences in the locale. Most of these are still standing. In 1914, William Phineas Nims moved to Ekalaka, where he later served on town council. Nims pursued a number of business interests; he bought and sold livestock, established the towns first meat market, constucted a lumberyard and operated a livery. As the automobile replaced the carriage, the entrepreneur began operating the Ford dealership. In need of an automobile showroom and garage, Nims purchased and razed a hotel, then hired Folak to construct a 60'x112' building on the site. The craftsman utilized the locally available stone found a few miles east of Ekalaka. The white stone on the front Main Street facade (now painted), arranged in a coursed ashlar pattern, came from the Haggen quarry. The rubble on the sides of the building came from the Kennedy quarry. The front facade contained large display windows to feature new automobiles in the showroom. The rear portion of the building held the service and repair facility, with vehicle doors on two sides. Later, after Nims sold the building, it was modified to it's present configuration to house a bar, cafe, and dance hall; it operated under the name New Life Bar and Cafe until it was recently abandoned. The building is in a state of partial collapse and advanced deterioration.
Survey number: HABS MT-115
Building/structure dates: HABS MT-115