The Strong Building, a red brick structure with brickwork circles, was built for Lish Strong by the Tueller brothers of Paris, Idaho, and part of its upper level was used for apartments. At one time the post office occupied the east wing on the ground floor, and later that wing housed restaurants, hair salons, a bar, and a leather craft store. A ramp at the back was used to pull cars upstairs for repair. The west end was built by George Stock as a Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealership, and a UTOCO gas station originally stood on the corner of the block now used as a car lot. In more recent years, Tapper Motors supplied the valley's General Motors needs. West of downtown, the railroad was an important part of Montpelier's growth, helping create demand for restaurants and hotels near the depot in 1892. The depot shown was in use in 1929 on the south side of 11th Street and Washington. Montpelier became the home terminal for Union Pacific/Oregon Short Line trains and engine crews and remained a subdivision point until October 1972, when the terminal moved to Pocatello. Although many Bear Lake Valley residents still work for the railroad, the community no longer depends on it as it did before 1972.