Christmas Gift Evans House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Christmas Gift Evans House
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 404 N. Benton Ave. Helena, Montana |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | John B. Sanford |
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| NRHP reference No. | 80004271 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1980 |
The Christmas Gift Evans House, also known as "Myhre House", is a historic home built in 1877 in Helena, Montana. It's special because it combines two interesting architectural styles: Queen Anne and Second Empire. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, which means it's recognized as an important historical building in the United States.
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The Christmas Gift Evans House: A Historic Home
The Christmas Gift Evans House was built in 1877. It shows off two popular building styles from that time. The Queen Anne style often has towers, turrets, and decorative details. The Second Empire style is known for its special "mansard" roof and grand look.
This house is a great example of how homes were built in Helena during the 1870s. It has a unique bell-shaped roof, fancy brackets, and beautiful iron decorations. These features make it a very well-preserved and important historical building.
Meet Christmas Gift Evans
Christmas Gift Evans was born in 1840 in Deerfield, New York. He got his unique name because of his birthday! People often called him "Chris." In 1862, he traveled west for the first time, going through Panama to San Francisco. But he returned home after just one year of placer mining, which is a way of finding gold.
Chris made his second trip west in April 1864. He settled in Helena in 1865. On his journey, he met John B. Sanford, who came from Maine. They became lifelong friends and business partners.
Friends and Business Partners
Chris Evans and John Sanford started their partnership by mining for gold. They worked along Ten Mile Creek and Nelson Gulch. Soon, they expanded into many other businesses. They were involved in lumber, hay, flour mills, coal, and real estate. Their company was called Sanford and Evans.
Their main office in Helena was on the corner of Fuller and Lawrence Streets. John Sanford actually built the house for his wife, Eva, in 1877. Around 1883, Sanford moved, and Chris Evans bought the house from him. After both men passed away, their company became Sanford-Evans Inc.
A Special Historical Marker
For many years, a special plaque stood beside the house. It described the home as a "grand expression" of the Second Empire style. It also mentioned the unique roof, decorative brackets, and beautiful iron cresting. This plaque helped people learn about the house's history.
Sadly, in 2010, the historical marker was stolen from the house. It was valued at about $1,000. This was the first time such a theft had happened in Helena.
Chris Evans' Family Life
Chris Evans married Margaret Graham in 1880. She passed away in 1894. Later, Chris married Bertha Bellis from Liverpool, England, on May 23, 1896. Bertha Evans became very involved in her husband's businesses after he died. Chris Evans passed away in 1915, and Bertha Evans passed away in 1940.
