This five bedroom Victorian House located in the "House of the Good Shepherd Historical District of Helena Montana was built as one of over 200 speculation mansions erected in the city after Helena had been designated Territorial Capitol of Montana. Construction was started in Sept 1891 and completed on or about January 20th 1892, by contractors Williams, Thornbrough, and Day. The design is attributed to George Appleton.
What makes this house especially unique is its location, a short walking distance from the Montana State Capitol. This Victorian contains minute details, such as varnished solid dark oak trim with hand carved floral designs in the entry. Unique hand-forged metal hardware is found on the heavy solid oak interior doors. The house has two ornate antique stained glass windows in the entry hall and main parlor. Stonework on the 1st floor came from the same quarries used for construction of the original Gothic Buildings at Carroll College, across town.
Early title deeds include names of prominent Helena investors and builders. The builder, Thornbourough, acquired ownership after filing a Mechanic's Lien in 1892. A few months later, founding partner of the NY based law firm of Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett LLC, William M. Barnum, filed a successful mortgage foreclosure litigation and won the Deed at Sheriff Auction in 1894. In June 1904, Barnum transferred the Deed to Margaret Elizabeth Noyes Mounsey. Mounsey was stepdaughter of millionaire Henry Maunsell Bradhurst of NY. Margaret E. N. Mounsey, was also widow of Augustus H. Mounsey, a prominent British Ambassador during the 19th Century, and mother to Sir George Augustus Mounsey KCMG, CB, CBE, Ambassador to the League of Nations and Secretary of the British Foreign Ministry 1939-1940 under Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin. Sir George was described as "a classic appeaser of the pre-war period." The Mounseys owned this house along with a brick duplex down the street.
Raymond Hess, a Helena Insurance Executive purchased the house at auction, following County Foreclosure from the Mounsey Estate for failure to pay taxes. The Hess family remodeled the long neglected property and lived here between 1943 and 1959, when Hess sold it to Savegeau.In June 1959 the house was purchased by Col. A.W. Clarkson, M.S., P.E., B.E.E.; Water Quality Engineer for the Montana State Department of Health, USAF Reserve Officer (WWII Veteran, Bio-Environmental Engineer Corps Badge, Meritorious Service Medal), National Director of American Water Works Association (A J Fuller and Lifetime Achievement Awards), and the American Public Health Association (Editor Emeritus.) Clarkson had helped to pioneer existing public water quality laws and policy. Col. Clarkson passed away in 2002. His wife, Vivian M. Noel Clarkson, former teacher from Hannibal MO, preceded him in death in 1996.
In 2003 Clarkson's estate transferred ownership and title to Clarkson's youngest son, Robert N., a Carroll Graduate; Media Photographer (American Society of Media Photographers);, Magic Entertainer (Founder of Prynce Wheeler Assembly #219 Society of American Magicians Life Member, Regional Vice President, National Deputy, Alliance of Harry Houdini Award,) International Brotherhood of Magicians (Wizards Award,) Hollywood Magic Castle™ (invited Performer Member,) Helena Citizen's Council, (elected member,) and a former Public Information Reserve Officer assigned to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (He primarily had been an Armored Cavalry Captain in the USAR.)
