Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting Outcomes

John Boughton
August 11 2026

2026 Spring Meeting Outcomes (5/16/26)

Nominations Approved:

Recently approved nomination forms are available by request:

State Bank of Terry, Prairie Co (Download RB2605-Terry-Bank.pdf)
Bear Gulch, Fergus Co (Download RB2605-Bear-Gulch.pdf)

Minutes:

Pending approval

2026 Winter Meeting Outcomes (1/23/26)

Nominations Approved:

Mountain Brook School - Flathead Co.
Northern Pacific Engine 1356 - Addendum II to the Missoula Downtown Historic District, Missoula
Big Hole Lookout - Lolo National Forest
Cambium Peeled Trees of the Bitterroot National Forest in Western Montana, 1650-1976 - Multiple Property Documentation (MPD): Indian Trees Campground Cambium Peeled Tree Site, Hughes Creek/Alta Cambium Peeled Tree Site

Minutes:

Bitterroot Conference Room at the Montana Historical Society and Via Zoom

Review Board (Board) Members: Dr. Delia Hagen (Zoom), Chris Averill (in person), Laura Evilsizer (in person), Phillipe Gonzalez (Zoom), Mary Williams (in person), KellyAnne Terry (Zoom), Marv Keller (Zoom), Rose Krieg (Zoom)

State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Staff: Pete Brown, Kate Hampton, John Boughton, Samantha McGowen, Steffany Wood, Melissa Munson, RJ Hillman (all in person)

Guests: Sharon Martin, Susan Horner-Till, Sarah Anderson, Carol Mattox, Janice Burke, Tim Crist, Jeff Kalland, Jerry Hollinger, Doug Berglund, Justin Moschelle, Lisa Kalland, Wendy Hall, Cherie Peacock, Sydney Bacon, Dan Hall, Megan Denis (all via Zoom)

Call to Order-11:00 a.m. Chris Averill (Chair) called the meeting to order and read the State Historic Preservation Review Board mission statement.

Welcome/Introductions-11:10 a.m. Mr. Averill requested the Review Board, SHPO personnel, and guests introduce themselves.

Recent National Register Listings-11:20 a.m. John Boughton briefed the Review Board about the recently National Register listings and future National Register nominations the Review Board will review.

Consideration of National Register nominations-11:25 a.m.

Mountain Brook School (Flathead County)

Sharon Martin, Mountain Brook Homestead Foundation member, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion A.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

A pleasure to read; how much the community loves this school really shone through. The Criterion A argument fits well; as the needs of the community and the school changed, one can physically see how the school changed to reflect that. The nomination packages the history and the story really nicely. Thank you for showcasing how well-loved this school is.
Do the eaves on the Multi-purpose building serve a specific function? They are unusual. (Ms. Martin: not sure at this time though somebody with the foundation may know.)
Correct table to reflect the playground equipment as contributing.

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. None given. Ms. Terry moved and Mr. Keller seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper with the review board edits. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Missoula Downtown Historic District Addendum II, Northern Pacific Engine 1356 (Missoula)

John Boughton, co-author, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion A and Criterion C. This addendum adds the engine as a contributing structure to the district. The engine is also eligible for individual listing in the Nation Register.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

Can the review board vote to concur the engine is eligible to list? Acknowledging the property’s importance can be mentioned in a grant currently being processed for maintenance work on the engine.
Preserve Historic Missoula is the organization undertaking the effort to preserve the engine.
Wonderful nomination.
Does the engine still operate? (All the components remain.)
Eligible under criteria A or C or both? (Both.)
Keep the rails the engine sits on as a contributing resource.
The engine can be listed individually too? (Yes, though it will first be listed as a contributing resource. Mr. Hall will check with the City of Missoula to see if they are interested in listing it individually.)

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. Ms. Terry moved and Ms. Williams seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper with the review board edits as a contributing resource of the Missoula Downtown Historic District. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Mr. Averill then asked for a determination of eligibility motion for the engine. Ms. Evilsizer moved and Ms. Williams seconded a determination of eligibility occur for the engine. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Big Hole Lookout (Lolo National Forest)

Sydney Bacon, archaeologist with the Lolo National Forest, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion A and Criterion C.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

Thanks to the Forest Service for moving this nomination forward.
Few of these L-5 lookouts remain. The board anticipates the Forest Service bringing the other L-5 lookout nomination that borders the state line with Idaho (Skookum Butte) forward.

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. Ms. Evilsizer moved and Ms. Williams seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper with the review board edits. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Break: 12:00 p.m.

Resumption of Meeting: 12:25 p.m.

Cambium Peeled Trees of the Bitterroot National Forest in Western Montana Multiple Property Document (MPD)/Hughes Creek/Alta Cambium Peeled Tree Site/Indian Trees Campground Cambium Peeled Tree Site (Ravalli County/Bitterroot National Forest)

Megan Denis, archaeologist with the Bitterroot National Forest, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion A and Criterion C.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

SHPO staff explained the Multiple Property Document National Register-listing process; individual nominations (in this case, Hughes Creek/Alta Cambium Peeled Tree Site and Indian Trees Campground Cambium Peeled Tree Site) fall under the umbrella context found in the MPD. An MPD contains the majority of information related to a property type allowing the individual nominations to focus exclusively on that property alone. Individual sites are listed under the MPD but the MPD is “accepted” as documentation.
The process to list cambium peeled tree sites in the National Register has taken decades with initial attempts dating back to 1997.
Very good information in the MPD and individual nominations.
Mention some cambium peeled trees lost during the fires of 2000.
Enjoyable MPD and nominations.
Do other cambium peeled tree sites exist other than the two presented to the reviews board? (Yes, the east part of the Forest has been heavily logged but some sites remain in the southwest portion of the Forest. Not aware of any other Forests preparing an MPD for their cambium peeled trees.)
Any precontact campsite identified with these two sites? (No, but some lithics identified at Falls Flat Cambium Peeled Trees site.)
Can one estimate how many times a tree may have been peeled? (Working on some ideas toward this issue.)
How were the National Register boundaries of the two sites of the nominations determined? (Mostly by landforms.)
Have individual trees been identified not found within clusters? (A few, but the current focus is on clustered tree sites.)
Trails can also be associated with cambium peeled trees (Yes.)
How are these types of resources interpreted for the public? (Signage. A few sites/campgrounds already display signage. The Forest Service may add more signs in the future, but a risk exists with advertising these resources.)
Have the Tribes been contacted? (The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe is on board, though official confirmation is pending. The Nez Perce Tribe has some concerns but will concur with forwarding the documentation to the Keeper of the National Register if the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe agrees. The Nez Perce Tribe would like to see some documentation of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe’s concurrence when they provide it.)
Modify the language on page 5 of the MPD that non-Indigenous peeled trees also exist.
When should the Period of Significance (POS) begin and end? (The MPD will begin the POS as “time immemorial” and end with the “present,” while the two individual nominations will begin with specific dates that fall within the MPD’s period of significance and extend to the “present”.)
The Nez Perce noted no strong opinion for either “time immemorial” or a specific date for the beginning of the period of significance.
A revitalization of Indigenous food practices is ongoing so people visiting these sites will likely continue, if not accelerate.
To respect the Tribes, the Review Board will vote to forward the MPD and two nominations to the Keeper; however, the documentation will not move forward until the Tribes approve.

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment. Ms. Evilsizer moved and Dr. Hagen seconded the MPD move forward to the Keeper with date changes noted above and review board edits pending concurrence from the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe and Nez Perce Tribe. Mary Williams abstained from voting. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the Hughes Creek/Alta Cambium Peeled Tree Site. Ms. Evilsizer moved and Mr. Keller seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper with date changes noted above and review board edits pending concurrence from the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe and Nez Peerce Tribe. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the Indian Trees Campground Cambium Peeled Tree Site. Ms. Evilsizer moved and Ms. Krieg seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper with date changes noted above and review board edits pending concurrence from the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe and Nez Peerce Tribe. Mary Williams abstained from voting. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Break: 1:35 p.m.

Resumption of Meeting: 1:45 p.m.

New Business: 1:45

Approval of September 2025 Review Board Meeting Minutes: Ms. Williams motioned and Ms. Evilsizer seconded to approve the minutes. The Board unanimously concurred.
Review Board Match: The Review Board was reminded to submit their donated hours forms to SHPO.
Update on Bethel AME Church in Great Falls: Hampton of SHPO reported the stabilization and repointing project progress, about 95 percent complete. The work focuses on the north and south ends of the building.
ADA Requirements Update: Munson of SHPO discussed bringing SHPO (and MHS) public facing digital content up to ADA accessibility standards by April of this year. Ms. Munson is coordinating the process. The updates include initially SHPO webpages followed by more labor-intensive updates to GIS applications and the National Register map in the future.
SHPO GIS Predictive Site Model Map: Wood presented on SHPO's Archaeological predictive site model. Work on the model has been ongoing for about six years. The model uses GIS (Geographic Information System), spatial data based on placed-based locations. The goal is to create probability layers for SHPO staff to use to predict archaeological site locations in the state. The model uses locational information for over 25,000 archaeological sites and GIS environmental datasets for rivers, streams, tributaries, and a digital elevation model to create a slope map. The model analyses the relationship between precontact archaeological sites and three environmental variables: slope, site proximity to water, and site proximity to ridge lines.
Heritage Stewardship Reporting: Mr. Brown discussed the biennial Heritage Stewardship reporting by the 12 state agencies. The state heritage properties fall under the State Antiquities Act. The reports discuss the condition and preservation priorities of the agencies’ properties. SHPO reviews the reports, which are then provided to the Review Board subcommittee who weigh in with any additional comments or questions. Review of the reports is splits between four SHPO staff followed by four Review Board members. The Review Board voted to include Marv Keller, Chris Averill, Laura Evilsizer, and KellyAnne Terry as reviewers.
Federal Funding: The bill that includes SHPO operational funding passed Congress and moved to the President’s desk to sign. The President coincidentally signed the bill as the Review Board meeting occurred.
SHPO Annual Report: Mr. Brown discussed SHPO’s Annual Report that documents 2025 activities and highlights success stories. These include a $3000 fellowship to a PhD student in Anthropology at the University of Montana, Ms. Hampton’s assistance to Butte-Silverbow with their National Park Service brick-and-mortar grant, SHPO’s GIS Predictive Site Model map, and SHPO state archaeologist Jessica Bush (who sits on the State Burial Board) and her partner built pine containers for human remains sent to SHPO for Tribal repatriation.
Update on SHPO brick-and mortar grants: Mr. Brown discussed progress by the recipients of SHPO-awarded brick-and-mortar grants: these grants went to the Archie Bray/Western Clay Manufacturing Company in Helena to stabilize the Tile Plant building’s failing roof; the Dayton State Bank to assist with the replacement of damaged flooring and roofing; foundation and masonry repair at the State Bank of Terry; and drainage and gutter installation and masonry repair at the Virginia City Schoolhouse.
Time and location of Next Review Board Meeting: The spring 2026 Review Board meeting is slated for May 7 and 8, likely in Red Lodge or Columbus, depending on SHPO funding. If time allows, a walk through Pathways Thru the Bible or the Museum of the Beartooths in Columbus may occur.
Election of New Chairperson: Laura Evilsizer was elected new chair.
Discussion of Virginia City: The Review Board discussed the financial issues faced by the state and lease-holders of the buildings in Virginia City. Part of the Review Board’s purview relates to the built environment, which dovetails with the newly-implemented higher leases offered by the state to the tenants of the buildings. The Review Board discussed the possibility of weighing in on the issue as the Board serves an advisory capacity on historic preservation.

Ideas for involvement included the possibility of the Review Board weighing in via letter or requesting involvement (two or three board members could work on a letter and report back to the Review Board at the Spring meeting). The Review Board discussed how they could “get a seat at the table?” It is possible the Governor’s office didn’t consider the possibility of the Review Board weighing in. The Review Board could reach out to the Governor’s office in a diplomatic manner.

Ms. Hagen motioned for Review Board member Chris Averill to act as a liaison between the Board and Commerce, Deputy Director Rambo. Ms. Williams seconded the motion. The Board unanimously concurred. A follow-up letter could encapsulate the Review Board’s feelings and ideas regarding Virginia City.

Adjourn: 3:20 p.m.

Ms. Williams moved and Mr. Averill seconded for adjournment of the meeting. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

2025 Fall Meeting Outcomes (9/2025)

Nominations Approved

Mountain Brook School - Flathead Co.
Northern Pacific Engine 1356 - Addendum II to the Missoula Downtown Historic District, Missoula
Big Hole Lookout - Lolo National Forest
Cambium Peeled Trees of the Bitterroot National Forest in Western Montana, 1650-1976 - Multiple Property Documentation (MPD): Indian Trees Campground Cambium Peeled Tree Site, Hughes Creek/Alta Cambium Peeled Tree Site

2025 Spring Meeting Outcomes (5/16/2025)

Minutes

Review Board (Board) Members: Dr. Delia Hagen, KellyAnne Terry, Chris Averill, Laura Evilsizer, Phillipe Gonzalez, Rose Krieg, Mary Williams

State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Staff: Pete Brown, R.J. Hillman, Lindsay Tran, Kate Hampton, Samantha McGowen, John Boughton

Guests: Jon Axline, Sharon Martin, Tim Urbaniak, Cindy Urbaniak, Joan Brownell, Rachel Reckin

Call to Order-8:50 a.m. Chris Averill (Chair) called the meeting to order and read the State Historic Preservation Review Board mission statement.

Welcome/Introductions-8: 55 a.m. Mr. Averill requested the Review Board, SHPO personnel, and guests introduce themselves.

Consideration of National Register nominations-8:56 a.m.

Franklin School (Great Falls)

Noel Weidner, co-author, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under criteria A and C.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

- Very much appreciate the historic images.
- Redraw the east boundary line on the aerial image.
- Thank you for documenting the Native American aspect of the property.
- Rephrase the sentence discussing significant dates from “…1929 notes the initial year…” to “1929 marks the approximate year…”.
- Please add the reference for “a proposal occurred to bus students from other areas…” (Section 8, page 26).
- Raise the level of significance from Local to State to reflect the importance of the Native American documented use of the property.
- Good inclusion of the information for adaptive reuse.
- Rework or remove paragraph on page 20 discussing Federal Indian Policy.

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. None given. Ms. Terry moved and Ms. Evilsizer seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper with the review board edits. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Bridges of Pointdexter Slough (Beaverhead County)

Jon Axline, author, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under criteria A and C.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

- One board member asked for a quick verbal description of the geologic conditions for the slough.
- Appreciate the bridges are being recognized.
- Is referring to this property as a district correct? [SHPO answered, yes.]

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. None given. Ms. Evilsizer moved and Ms. Krieg seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Albright Historic District (Cascade County)

Dr. Tim Urbaniak, author, presented the nomination. The property is eligible for listing in the National Register under criteria A, C, and D.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

- Please clarify the discussion that counterpoints mining with World War II.
- Non-metals mining never receives the attention it should, so thank you for this nomination.
- How was the boundary defined? [Rachel Reckin, archaeologist with MT FWP, noted the potential to record the entire canyon as one large site as encampments or communities blend with one another with virtually no break. The present boundary conscribes the known community of Albright excluding nearby settlements.]
- Any reference to Chinese, African American, or Native American workers in Albright [the author responded in the negative.]
- Did the Chinese help build the railroad spur through the canyon? [yes.] Please mention that contribution in the nomination.
- Rework the juxtaposition of “Indigenous” versus “Historical” concepts at the end of Section 8, instead relating future investigations based on chronological dates.
- In the descriptions for Section 7, please call-out the resource name (noted in the Resource Coordinate table provided in Section 9) after the field number. For example, after field number “AB-001,” please add “barn” within the following parentheses prior to the contributing/noncontributing acknowledgement (AB-001, barn, one contributing building).
- Are day hikes possible? [yes, but a long trail from the north end to the south end.]

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. None given. Ms. Terry moved and Ms. Williams seconded the nomination move forward to the Keeper. The Review Board unanimously concurred.

Break: 10:20 a.m.

Resumption of meeting-10:35 a.m.

Herbert Summer Cabin (Park County)

Author Joan Brownell presented the nomination. The property is significant under criteria A and C at a local level of significance.

Questions and Comments from the Review Board:

- None.
- The owner Zoomed in to the meeting and spoke to the review board about his love for the property

Mr. Averill asked for any public comment on the property. Ms. Williams moved and Ms. Evilsizer seconded that the nomination be forwarded to the Keeper.

SHPO Preservation News-10:50 a.m. John Boughton briefed the Review Board about several subjects including:

Local Preservation/Certified Local Government (CLG)

Historic Preservation Offices began the application process for next year. Ms. Hampton received several applications and is working on the contracts. No funding increase for the individual CLG annual grants occurred.

Miles City’s CLG program remains in noncompliance. The search continues for a new HPO for Big Horn County/Hardin to replace Mary Slattery.

SHPO Grant Program

On February 10, a SHPO-sponsored brick-and-mortar grant program closed with funding derived from the annual legislative allocations from the state accommodations tax. Properties awarded grants require listing in the National Register; the listing process can run concurrently with the grant funding. A five-to-10-year preservation agreement will also be implemented based on the award amount.

SHPO offered $155,000 in grant funding; thirty-two applicants sought $2.2 million. SHPO selected four projects that varied from $20,000 to $55,000.

Awardees include:

The State Bank of Terry, $55,000
Virginia City School House, $40,000
Western Clay Manufacturing, $41,720
Dayton State bank, $20,000

SHPO Fellowship

University of Montana PhD. student Lisa Hunt is the recipient of this year’s $3000 SHPO fellowship and receive access to the SHPO database. Ms. Hunt will research the ancestral ties of the three affiliated tribes to the tribes of Montana in addition to researching the three-affiliated tribes’ split with the Crow.

Tax Credit News:

Tax credit projects currently in the works include:

The Franklin School in Great Falls
The Grand Hotel in Kalispell
The Battin-Stillwater Building in Billings
Milligan Building in Miles City
Old Billings Hardware Building in Billings
The Roberts Hotel in Great Falls

Tax credit projects recently certified:

The Dion Block in Miles City

Properties listed since last meeting:

Fortin Ranch House in Lincoln County
Wetzstein/Tipton Ranch Near Rimini
Gardiner Bridge in Gardiner
Castle Rock Lodge, south of Butte
Farmers Trading Company, Bridger
Zortman Ranger Station

Potential Upcoming nominations:

Ashland Mercantile, Ashland
Goughnour Lumber Company, Livingston
Musselshell River Bridge, Ryegate
Carpenter Paper Company, Billings
Chinese American MPD and Mai Wah Building, Butte
Cambium Peeled Trees MPD and associated nominations

Public Comment-11:03 a.m.

Mr. Averill asked for any additional public comment. None given.

New Business-11:04 a.m.

Mr. Brown discussed the present SHPO funding situation and possible implications of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) failing to drop. The NOFO heavily contributes to Montana SHPO funding.

Ms. Tran reported to the review board SHPO’s difficulties with the Virginia City preservation office’s failure to consult. Repeated attempts at compliance fall short with the CLG community continuing to enact projects with no SHPO consultation.

The review board suggested a meeting with the Virginia CLG, SHPO, chair of the Montana Heritage Commission, and Commerce to provide a path to better and consistent consultation with SHPO.

Review Board Match: The Review Board was reminded to submit their donated hours forms to SHPO.

Approval of January 2025 Review Board meeting minutes: Ms. Terry motioned and Ms. Krieg seconded to approve the minutes. The Board unanimously concurred.

Time and place of September 2025 Review Board meeting: The September 2025 Review Board is slated for September 18 in Big Timber. The meeting will occur in the afternoon.

Adjourn-11:50 a.m.

Ms. Terry moved and Ms. Williams seconded for adjournment of the meeting. The Review Board unanimously concurred.