Last Chance Gulch was the name of the actual gulch in which gold was discovered in 1864. The thoroughfare which was built down the Gulch was originally named Main Street; it remained that way for some 85 years, until July 20 1953, when acting Helena Mayor Dr. Amos R. Little, Jr. signed an ordinance officially changing the name of Main Street to Last Chance Gulch. Both names are still used locally for what was once the grand thoroughfare of Helena's business district.

Last Chance Gulch meanders as it does because it was originally routed between mining claims; it was not designed that way to lower fatalities from stray bullets, as some promotional literature has claimed.

The images in this section are arranged so that the viewer will start near the southern end of Last Chance Gulch, and will move north. The images of each stretch of the street -- like "Broadway to Sixth" -- will be arranged in chronological order, as nearly as possible.

A frequently-photgraphed corner for over a century -- Last Chance Gulch looking north from Broadway, ca. 1890.

On the corner is the Gans (sometimes "Ganz") and Klein clothing store...

Many Helena Baby-Boomers will remember, as I do, placing their young feet in Thistlewaite's shoe-fitting fluoroscope, a hazardous sales gimmick which was banned from the market by the 1960s.

In the early-morning hours of July 16 1928, flames erupted from 28 N. Main St., the building which housed the Curtis Cafe and the Maverick Pool Hall. The rapidly-spreading fire was discovered and reported at 2:00am by Johnny Bukowitz, a printer at the Helena Independent newspaper, who happened to be passing the cafe.

No sooner had the Helena Fire Department responded to the blaze than a torrential hour-long rainstorm began, hampering firefighting efforts but wetting nearby roofs, preventing an even greater catastrophe. Roomers in the adjacent buildings fled into the streets, where they were soon soaked to the skin by the downpour. The storm brought with it shifting winds, which threatened to carry embers in every direction. Frequent lightening bolts illuminated the surreal scene.

In two hours time, the fire was completely out of control, and had spread north destroying numerous businesses. It also crossed over to the east side of Main St., damaging several buildings. Firefighters began concentrating their efforts on saving buildings on Sixth Avenue and the east side of Main. Shop owners and other businessmen hurriedly carried goods, equipment and records from threatened buildings. Explosions were heard when the blaze touched off chemicals stored at the Budd-Fisher Drug Co. The Western Union lines were severed by the fire.

By 6:00am the fire was brought under control, but had destroyed several large commercial buildings housing dozens of businesses. The Granite, Bailey, Gold, and New York Store blocks were reduced to rubble; the Power Block, the A. P. Curtin Block, the Pittsburgh Block, and several other buildings were damaged.

The blaze was far beyond the power of the Helena Fire Department to cope with; water pressure was adequate, but too few hoses and too few men could be brought to bear.

N. Last Chance Gulch, looking north, mid-1950s. Just look at all that beautiful two-way traffic and the abundance of stores. Notice that Woolworth's had replaced their striped canvas awning and classic red and gold sign with a charmless aluminum and plastic overhang. On the right is the Cabin Cafe (formerly the Eddy Cafe). Although the Cabin Cafe advertised "Chicken Dinners" on their matchbooks, what yours truly remembers most are their breaded veal cutlets -- with cream gravy, of course.

COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

Looking north from Edwards Street, 1958. This extensive asphalt repaving and sewer repair project also removed the streetcar rails and 1905 brick paving.

Main Street was first paved in 1892, with hot coal tar over a macadam base. In 1905, the stretch between Cutler Street north to Helena Avenue was paved with bricks.

In the above photo, the man in khaki, with hands hips, is James Nelson. The cement truck on the right is still in operation today. COURTESY OF SCOTT NELSON - THE BRIDGEWORKS CONSERVANCY

Last Chance Gulch, ca. 1960, looking north toward 6th Avenue. The Cabin Cafe was then Bryant's, and a prominent "Kuppenheimer" had been added to the Anderson Clothing sign.

The second Montana Club building, Sixth and Fuller, about 1915. Built in 1905 to replace the original 1893 building which was destroyed by arson, the new Club was designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert. On the left can be seen the sign for the A. P. Curitn Music and Art store.
COURTESY OF BLAKE GARDINER

1925 Ad for the A. P. Curtin Music & Art store.

Last Chance Gulch, late 1940s, looking south across 6th Avenue. The Safeway market would soon move to the NE corner of Placer and Fuller, and the Ben Franklin variety store would occupy the building pictured here.

Also seen on the left are Gamble's, Singer Sewing Machines, and Parchen Drug. On the right are the First National Bank, the J. C. Penney Co., and - in the Power Block - Goldberg's Furriers.

At top center is the Union Bank "Weatherball" sign, a white translucent sphere which gave the latest weather forecast at night via colored-coded lights inside. The bank's often-played radio jingle gave the code, and permanently emplanted itself in the brains of all Helenans:

"Union Weatherball red as fire, the temperature is going higher.
Union Weatherball white as snow, down the temperature will go.
When the Weatherball is green, no change in temperature is foreseen.
Weatherball flashing night or day, rain or snow is on the way."

Postcard view of Last Chance Gulch, 1970s, looking north. There may be an uglier postcard of Helena, but I've never seen it.

The ca. 1963 J. C. Penny Co. store, the featureless box on the left, was designed by Portland architects Edmondson & Kockendoerfer.

Main News & Confectionery, 407 N. Main, 1980. COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

The 1942 Montana National Guard Armory, 1100 N. Last Chance Gulch at Lyndale. Built to replace the Warren St. Armory which was destroyed in the 1935 earthquakes, this building is now occupied by State of Montana offices.

For many years, traveling shows, such as the Siebrand Bros. Circus and Carnival, would set up on the large open area behind the Armory. In September of 1953, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailry Circus set up their big top.