Historic Hotel Calvert Listed on The National Register of Historic Places

WELCOME TO THE FERGUS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION DORMITORY
a.k.a. The Historic Hotel Calvert

The Calvert was not always a hotel. The building was conceived during one of the most exciting times in Central Montana's History. The Federal Homesteads Acts of 1901 and 1912 provided for 320 acres of land and a three year waiting period (rather than 160 acres and five years) for settlement of our arid western lands. This brought many settlers to make their fortunes in agriculture, but it wasn't until the construction of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad into the beautiful Judith Basin, that the settlers began to arrive by the thousands.

Prior to these events, The Montana Legislature recognized the great distances that separated its' people and passed legislation which provided for free county schooling, to be funded by taxation, for all high school age students. The tremendous influx of settlers into Central Montana brought a great period of prosperity and construction to Lewistown. However, it also brought many great responsibilities, one of which was education.

As the county seat, Lewistown was responsible for providing educational facilities for its' residents. Schools were built and teachers hired as required by law. However, Fergus County encompasses a tremendous area and it was impossible to bring all students into Lewistown daily for their required education. Adequate housing was at a premium because of this rapid expansion and boarding houses were few and very expensive.

The School District was not only one of education, but also one of logistics. In 1915 the school administrator recommend that a dormitory be built. The School District was already strapped for funds in just providing basic educational needs and was hardly prepared to provide student housing. So in 1916 the administrator of schools joined with the Chamber of Commerce and set out to raise the needed Monies. As has been true throughout Central Montana's history, the business community rose to the cause! A corporation was formed (the Central Montana Improvement Corporation) and $30,000 was raised by sale of stock.

On February 1, 1917 the dormitory opened. It was a fine structure, made of native brick rising two and one half stories above ground level, with 27 rooms adequate for about 50 students. It contained a full kitchen, dining room and laundry on the lower floor, with rooms for young gentlemen on the main floor, and a parlor and rooms for young ladies on the top floor. This is presently the South side of the Calvert.Because of the Dormitory's great success, an addition was made on the North side around 1919. This doubled the rooms, gave a larger dinning room and kitchen, staff quarters, and even added a two-room infirmary. This is the main structure you see today.

In 1925, because of drought and the exodus of people after World War I, the Lewistown economy drastically declined, banks failed, the school district and county lost their funds, and the dormitory was forced to close.The building set idle until 1928, when it was purchased by Mrs. Emma Marsh. She and her husband George began the conversion to a hotel, adding many private bathrooms and a considerable amount of quality furniture. Mr. Marsh had previously owned Lewistown Furniture. The safe and cash register from that establishment are on display in the hotel.

Fortunately the dormitory has not been greatly altered and it stands today much like it was constructed. The building was purchased by the present owners, John and Eleanor Humphrey in 1978 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. An extensive renovation program was undertaken, and still continues today. Rooms, hallways, and lobbies have been redecorated, and where possible furniture has been refinished.

As with the original construction this has been done without government grants or funds.
We have made great progress in sprucing up the facility and we hope you enjoy your visit. Please feel free to enter any room which has its' door open and freely walk around the building. No two rooms are furnished exactly the same. Some contain original dormitory furniture, some have furniture the Marsh's brought in, and some contain furniture from the Brooks Hotel, which was on Main Street.

We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay With Us!