Olsen House

The Olsen House was built in stages after Amelia Derrick Olsen purchased the property in 1874, when Park Street was known as Clore Street and the original home on these lots was a two-story wooden building. In 1884-85, a gable-roofed vernacular stone addition was built at the rear. Though the builder is unknown, its thick stone walls reflect skilled masonry, while its rounded arches with decorative floral carving and steeply pitched rooflines show late Victorian-era influences. About 1909, the original wooden portion was moved to Knight Street and a new stone massing was built in its place, joining distinctive Italianate styling to the vernacular rear section through bracketed eaves, an arcade-like porch, decorative windows, and a pyramidal roof. Members of the Olsen family lived here through 1946, and in 1950 the house became the residence of Montana State Supreme Court Justice John Conway Harrison. In 1989, the building was converted to offices.

Helena, Montana · United States