Summer 15

Per cinematreasures.org, the Glacier opened in 1939. Didn't find any detail on the architecture, the style is sort of streamline moderne, but the marquee is relatively recent.

City of Cut Bank building built in 1936. Considering that this was the middle of the depression, it would be expected that this was built with some New Deal funds, but I could find no record of that.

Interesting Elks Lodge sign for BPOE Cut Bank.

Public art in Cut Bank. On the bottom of the picture is a statement noting that a Standard Oil photographer came to Cut Bank in 1944 to document the community and this is one of the photographs. Standard Oil was there because there is a cluster of oil fields north and east of Cut Bank.

Mural in Cut Bank of contact between early U.S. forces and Native Americans. I'm not sure what event this is representing.

Cut Bank Amtrak depot, previously a Great Northern depot.

Cut Bank Amtrak depot, previously a Great Northern depot.

Glacier County Courthhouse, in Cut Bank, MT. The architectual detail (see adjacent photos) is described as PWA [Public Works Administration] Moderne/Stripped Classicism and was used extensively for buildings sponsored by the PWA and WPA [Work Projects Administration], which was the case for this building. National Register of Historic Places description: www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/13000446.htm Documentation of WPA assistance: livingnewdeal.org/us/mt/cut-bank-mt

Detail of the design of the Glacier County Courthouse, built with New Deal assistance in 1938.

Detail of the design of the Glacier County Courthouse, built with New Deal assistance in 1938. The detail shows well in the larger version of the picture.

A level of detail in the light fixtures that you wouldn't expect for a quite remote town in the west.

Interesting architecture on an older, apparently abandoned (wood over the windows) building in Shelby, MT. There was a local sheriff nearby, so I didn't explore further.

"Dancing" On the sleazy(?)/fun side of the railroad tracks, away from downtown Shelby.

Mainly took this for the font on the sign, a style from the 30's. Shelby MT Great Northern/BNSF depot -- there were too many warning signs, so didn't explore further.

At Central & Mineral, the Oil City Saloon. Again, on the side of the tracks away from downtown. I hadn't realized how extensive was oil extraction in Montana. Per Wikipedia there are 45 oil fields in Montana with each likely to have multiple wells.

Downtown Shelby (the 'good' side of the tracks), with neon from the 50's or 60's.

Somewhat pecurliar here -- the O'Haire Manor is about two blocks up the hill, but this archway sign is over a public street. One of the founders of Shelby was an O'Haire, thus the influence.

Interesting detail on the Toole County Courthouse, particularly the eagles at the roofline (see larger version of picture).