SUPPORT
THE WRIGHT LIBRARYPROCEEDS FROM EVERY SALE GOES TO SUPPORT THE WRIGHT LIBRARY.
CLICK TO ORDER.
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT FALLINGWATER
AND THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
ARTIFACTS
John Stroud hold a small piece of concrete next to a section of concrete at the site of the Bitter Root Inn, an artifact now added to our collection.
Title: Bitter Root Inn Remnant (S#145).
Description: Concrete foundation remnants from the Bitter Root Inn. Designed in 1908, the Inn opened in October of 1909. The "apple boom" was on in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana. Investors from the east were wined and dined. They were given free rail passage and transportation where they were lavishly entertained at the Bitter Root Inn. Lodging, dinner and golf were free. So was the French wine. The boom was short lived. Blight destroyed much of the valley’s crop in 1913. Law suits plagued the company. They filed for bankruptcy in 1916. It ceased as an inn, but was used as a dance hall and roadhouse. Finally on July 26, 1924, fire destroyed the Bitter Root Inn. For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 5 x 6.5 x 2.25.
S#: 0085.06.0909
BOOKS Date: 1904 Title: The Iron and Steel Works of The United States 1904 (Compiled and Published by The American Iron & Steel Association, Philadelphia, PA. Sixteenth Edition, Printed by Allen, Lane & Scott, Philadelphia)
Author: American Iron & Steel
Description: Includes information concerning W. I. Moody, General Manager of the Muncie Works, American Rolling Mill Corporation, with offices in the Rookery Building (S.113), Chicago, Ill. Moody was involved in financing and promoting the Como Orchard Summer Colony, University Heights (S.144) and the Bitter Root Inn (S.145). (Digital copy) For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size:
Pages: Pp 468
S#: 0055.02.1009
Date: 1918 Title: The Pacific Reporter, Volume 171 (Published by West Publishing Co., St. Paul)
Author: West Publishing Co.
Description: "Como Orchard Land Co. v. Markham." Pages 274-276. 6.25 x 10. Relates to the Como Orchard Summer Colony, University Heights (S.144) and the Bitter Root Inn (S.145). (Digital and Printed version.) For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size:
Pages: Pp 1183
S#: 0139.04.1109
Date: 1988 Title: National Register of Historic Places, Hamilton, Montana. Historic Resources of Hamilton, Montana. (Published by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington D.C.)
Author: Michels, Kirk
Description: Inventory - Nomination Form. History of Hamilton, Montana and the surrounding area. Includes historical information on the Big Ditch Development, the Bitterroot District Irrigation Co., and the two planned communities designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, which included "University Heights near Darby and the town of Bitterroot near Corvallis." For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 8.5 x 11, Digital and printed version.
Pages: Pp 21
ST#: 1988.47.1009
Date: 1991 Title: National Register of Historic Places, Stevensville, Montana. Historic and Agricultural Resources of Stevensville, Montana. (Published by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington D.C.)
Author: Montana State Historical Preservation Office Staff
Description: Multiple Property Documentation Form. History of Stevensville, Montana and the surrounding area. Includes historical information on the "Apple Boom", the Big Ditch Development and the Bitterroot District Irrigation Co. "The new townsite of Bitterroot was platted just north of Stevensville, and the Bitterroot Inn, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was built in 1920 and served as an informal headquarters for the Chicago-based land developers and investors." For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 8.5 x 11, Digital and printed version.
Pages: Pp 30
ST#: 1991.49.1009
Date: 1991 Title: Bitter Root Project (Published by The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Records. National Archives and Records Administration, Denver, Colorado)
Author: Bridges, Kelly
Description: "Thousands of acres of newly irrigable land were purchased by newcomers. These newly settled lands became the subdivisions of East Side Addition, Hamilton Heights, ... and University Heights. Each of these divisions saw the construction of golf courses and large inns. Additionally, many of these divisions planted acres of McIntosh Apple orchards. Intense advertising to attract even more people to these lands occurred, boasting that land selling from $200 to $300 per acre could earn net returns of $5000 for each ten acre plot. The Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Company even offered a development plan for undeveloped lands. This plan consisted of a buyer paying $300 per acre for land and having the company caring for an orchard on that land for five years, after which the company represented the land as being self supporting... Relates to the Como Orchard Summer Colony, University Heights (S.144) and the Bitter Root Inn (S.145). For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: Pp 13
ST#: 1995.51.1109
John Stroud hold a copy of his book "Twice a Mail Order Bride" which includes information and three photographic postcards of the Bitter Root Inn. The site of the original Bitter Root Inn is over his left shoulder, across the ravine.
Title: Twice a Mail Order Bride, The Story of Grandma Rush. (Soft Cover) (Published by Stoneydale Press Publishing Company, Stevensville, MT)
Author: Stroud, John
Description: "This Local History also touches on.. the connection of the Apple Boom to the Bitter Root Inn designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; as well as the irrigation from Lake Como south of Hamilton. Lake Como was named by Father Antonio Ravalli after a lake very similar to this in the Alps of his native Italy." (Publishers description.) Includes information and three images of the Bitter Root Inn designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Original List Price $13.95. (First Edition) For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: Pp 104
ST#: 2006.27.0909
Date: 2013 Title: Frank Lloyd Wright in Montana, Darby, Stevensville and Whitefish (Soft Cover) (Published by Drumlummon, Helena, Montana)
Author: LeCocq, Randall
Description: Publisher’s description: Generously illustrated with photographs and architectural drawings, Frank Lloyd Wright in Montana: Darby, Stevensville, and Whitefish highlights the intriguing stories of three little-known but important Frank Lloyd Wright projects built during the 20th century in western Montana. Randall LeCocq writes: "[Wright’s two] Bitterroot projects, Bitter Root Town and Como Orchard’s "University Heights," remain significant to architectural historians as early examples of architectural modernism... They are models of Wright’s early "Prairie House" designs, few of which are to be found outside of Wright’s core midwestern U.S. homeland. The Bitterroot projects are also significant as early twentieth-century experiments in town planning... providing a community close to nature, where like-minded families could live in "organic," uncluttered houses and cultivate their own ten-acre apple plots. Original list price $9.95. (First Edition)
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: Pp 32
ST#: 2013.05.0114
BROCHURES Date: 2003 Title: Alpine Meadow Ranch Flyer
Description: "Montana’s only Frank Lloyd Wright designed guest ranch, retreat and wildlife refuge - the historic and unique Alpine Meadow Ranch... In 1910, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to design a development that would allow people from the city to live in the mountains, pick apples, socialize, and live in a little utopia. It is believed that Wright visited the site to select the locations of the dwellings." (Published by the Alpine Meadow Ranch, Darby, Montana) Includes three photographs and one illustration. 29 copies. For more information on the Como Orchard Summer Colony see our Wright Study.
Size: 8.5 x 11
Pages: Pg 1
ST#: 2003.36.0909
Date: 2005 Title: Alpine Meadow Ranch Brochure
Description: "Montana’s only Frank Lloyd Wright designed guest ranch, retreat and wildlife refuge - the historic and unique Alpine Meadow Guest Ranch, LLC... In 1910, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to design a development that would allow people from the city to live in the mountains, pick apples, socialize, and live in a little utopia. It is believed that Wright visited the site to select the locations of the dwellings." (Published by the Alpine Meadow Guest Ranch, LLC, Darby, Montana) Includes nine photographs and one illustration. For more information on the Como Orchard Summer Colony see our Wright Study.
Size: 3.4 x 7.7
Pages: Pp 6
ST#: 2005.24.0909
MAPS Date: 2009 Title: Bitterroot Valley, Montana: Aerial Map.
Description: Aerial view of the site of the Bitter Root Inn (S#145) in 2009. (Published by DigitalGlobe, GeoEye) For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 8.5 x 11
ST#: 2009.05.1009
POSTCARDS Date: Circa 1908
Title: Bitter Root Valley, Montana Circa 1908.
Description: View of an orchard in the Bitter Root Valley, Montana. Frank Lloyd Wright designed two projects for the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Company. The Bitter Root Inn (1908), and the Como Orchard Summer Colony, University Heights (1909). They were two separate projects over forty miles apart. Chicago financiers W. I. Moody and Frederick D. Nichols (1906 - S.118) were early developers of the Bitter Root Valley. By 1904 Moody was General Manager of the Muncie Works, producing Iron and Steel as well as operating Natural Gas Wells. Their offices were in the Rookery Building in Chicago. Wright remodeled the Rookery in 1905 (S.113). Moody visited the Bitterroot Valley in 1905. By 1907 they had purchased and sub-divided large sections of the valley into 10 acre parcels for fruit orchard development. They paid $2.50-$15 per acre and resold "apple orchard tracts" at $400-$1,000 per acre. The company quickly became rich.
By 1909 three rail lines ran to Missoula, Montana, with a connecting spur to the Bitterroot Valley. Most likely because of Nichols’ relationship with Wright and Moody’s knowledge of Wright, he was hired to design two developments. Como Orchard Summer Colony (S.144) and the Town of Bitter Root. In February 1909 Wright, Moody and Nichols visited the valley. Wright's first site plan for the Town of Bitter Root was rejected. His second proposal was a scaled down version which he called the Village of Bitter Root which included the Bitter Root Inn, the only structure built in the Village. It opened in October of 1909. Sales was aimed at the wealthy. The "apple boom" was on. Investors from the east were wined and dined. They were given free rail passage and transportation where they were lavishly entertained at the Bitter Root Inn. Lodging, dinner and golf were free. So was the French wine. The boom was short lived. Blight destroyed much of the valley’s crop in 1913. Law suits plagued the company. They filed for bankruptcy in 1916.
Text on the face: "Type of Orchard Being Developed for Non-Resident Owners. Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Company. First National Bank Bldg., Chicago." Text on verso: "The Valley of Opportunity. You may purchase a tract and have it scientifically developed to orchard, without leaving your present business. Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Company. First National Bank Building, Chicago." Note: This postcard was strictly used for promotion. The was only room for writing an address.
Size: 5 x 3.6
S#: 0085.52.0422
PERIODICALS
THE CHICAGO ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Advertisement: Como Orchard Land Co.
Title: The Chicago Alumni Magazine - March 1908 (Published monthly by The University of Chicago Alumni Association, The University of Chicago, Chicago.)
Author: Advertisement: Como Orchard Land Co.
Description: "An Unusual Opportunity." Half page ad for the Como Orchard Land Co. "University Heights, Community and Orchard... with a plan of providing for each investor a summer cabin in an attractive village community. A few Five and Ten-Acre Tracts still available in he division reserved for the University of Chicago..." Related to the Como Orchard Summer Colony (S.144). Original cover price 25c. For more information on the Como Orchard Summer Colony see our Wright Study.
Size: 9 x 6.5. Digital copy.
Pages: P 21
S#: 0085.07.1109
MONTANA, THE MAGAZINE OF WESTERN HISTORY Date: 1987 Title: Montana, The Magazine of Western History - Summer 1987 (Published quarterly by the Montana Historical Society, Helena, MT)
Author: Johnson, Donald Johnson
Description: "Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architectural Projects in the Bitterroot Valley, 1909-1910... Frank Lloyd Wright was invited to participate in this optimistic enterprise. His role was that of architect and community planner for BRVICo, and he began the first project in the Bitterroot Valley in early 1909 with a plan for University Heights, a subdivision development to be located near Darby. Wright’s success with that commission encouraged BRVICo to ask him to design the new city of Bitter Root, six miles north of Stevensville near a main lateral of the Big Ditch." Includes 12 photographs and illustrations. Original cover price $4.50. (See Wright Study in Montana)
Size: 7.75 x 10.75
Pages: Pp 12 - 25
ST#: 1987.83.1014
OVERLAND MONTHLY Date: January 1909 Title: Overland Monthly - January 1909 (Published monthly by The Overland Monthly Company, San Francisco, CA and Butte, Montana)
Author: Teale, George M.
Description: "The Bitter Root Valley." Description and information on the Bitter Root Valley. Includes 22 photographs. Includes information on the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Co. and W.I. Moody. "...and some day the inhabitants will look back to these days and bless the day that the B. R. V. I. Co. was organized." Moody was involved in financing and promoting the Como Orchard Summer Colony, University Heights (S.144) and the Bitter Root Inn (S.145). Original cover price 15c per issue. For more information on the Bitter Root Inn see our Wright Study.
Size: 7 x 10.5. (Digital copy)
Pages: Pp 59-69
S#: 0086.01.1009
BACK TO TOP
