Ward Hotel
National Register of Historic Places

Ward Hotel

Thompson Falls, Sanders County, Montana
Listed
December 22, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Pre Contact
Ref No.
86002769

About this property

The Ward Hotel, at 925 Main Street in Thompson Falls in Sanders County, Montana was built in 1907–1908 by Edward Donlan. Edward Donlan is very likely the most significant individual in Thompson Falls history. He was a substantial land owner, entrepreneur and politician. He was elected state senator from Missoula in 1902, 1906, 1910 and 1918. Construction for the Ward Hotel began in September, 1907 and was completed in May, 1908. The original design called for 30 sleeping rooms, an office, a bar, a restaurant, and a full basement for a power plant and laundry room. The property changed hands many times. The name changed from the Ward Hotel to the Thompson in the 1920s, to the Black Bear Hotel in the 1930s, to the Townhouse Hotel in the 1970s and then back to the Black Bear. It is a two-story post and beam building with a brick veneer laid in common bond. It is supported by a stone and mortar and wood pier foundation. It originally had a front porch which no longer exists. The hotel is currently owned by Daniel Moore and Marlaina Mohr who have taken on the multi-year effort to restore the historic integrity of the property and once again bring it into the center of Main Street activity in Thompson Falls. It is currently named the Black Bear and is expected to be known as the Black Bear going forward. A 1984 review assessed it as "clearly the most substantial commercial building remaining in the downtown business district in Thompson Falls." It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Location

919 Main St.
Thompson Falls, Sanders County, Montana
47.59454, -115.34761

Categories

COMMERCE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Gem Saloon
Industrial
0 mi
Tourist Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sanders County Jail
Industrial
0.2 mi
Thayer House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Northern Pacific Warehouse
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ward Hotel listed on the National Register?

Ward Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Ward Hotel?

Ward Hotel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ward Hotel?

The period of significance for Ward Hotel is recorded as the pre_contact era, specifically around 925.

Can I research the history near Ward Hotel?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ward Hotel will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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