Enjoy three Historic Districts to explore: The Residential, Downtown, and Railroad districts.
The Havre Residential Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, the Historic Downtown Business District and the Railroad District.
With the coming of the railroad came more settlers and they became merchants, business people, farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs. The homestead boom and the creation of Hill County sparked the growth of business and industry.
All homes in the HRHD are privately owned. Enjoy your walk through this historic residential area of Havre. Please respect the privacy of the homeowners and residents. Please leave only your footprints and take only photographs from the public right of ways streets, boulevards and sidewalks.
As you explore the historic business and the railroad district, image how it was back then and how today still mirrors many of the original buildings of the past.
Examples you will see on your self-guided tour (Maps are available at The Chamber):
535 Second Avenue (1919): Frank Buttrey Home
Frank Buttrey, a well-known Havre businessman, opened the Fair Store shortly after arriving with his wife Jane, in 1902. The Fair later gave way to the Buttrey Department Store. He also owned the second radio station in the United States, now KFBB television station. He built his colonial revival residence in 1919 and subsequent owners have kept the home true to its original elegance. Their attention to detail earned them the 2001 Havre Historic Preservation Award awarded by the Havre/Hill County Preservation Commission.
218 1st Street: Northern Home Essentials/ Pioneer Meat Market
This brick building with interesting patterns of brick and the word “Pioneer” emblazed on the front facade was completed in `1912. L. Devlin purchased the Pioneer Meat Market and had this building constructed.
235 Main Street: BNSF Depot
In 1890, the Great Northern sent several hundred workers to Bull Hook Bottoms to build a depot and several sidings. The depot continues to serve as the gateway to the community.
