Fish-scale shingles, decorative carved trim in the gable end, and a bay window with leaded glass windows define this well-preserved Queen Anne style cottage. Carpenters built hundreds of cottages like this in the early 1900s as copper mining in Butte grew rapidly and demand for housing soared. The Otto Stoelker Engineering firm constructed this home and its near twin next door in 1908 at a cost of $2,500 each. Anaconda Company blacksmith George Bettenson and wife Lillian had bought the home by 1909. They shared the residence with their married son Ray (also a blacksmith) and daughter-in-law Gertrude. In 1916, they added an expensive improvement—a garage that cost $6,500. Ray and Gertrude moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1920, where Ray took a job as superintendent of employment at the Northwest Bridge and Iron Company. Lillian died in 1930. The next year, George rented out the house to Hennessey's department store salesman John R. McGregor and his wife Rose. In 1936, the McGregors purchased the home and also opened the McGregor Dry Goods Store, which they operated until 1956.
Images
