The Imperial Block

South Jackson Street 7 plex gets a face lift

2008-11-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Granite Street 4 plex gets a new paint Job

2008-11-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Before:

After Porch repair and paint work

MT Standard Article Some huskies have a new home

2008-11-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2008/11/18/area/hjjbiiibjjfejg.txt

Some of the dogs being held at "Camp Husky" at the Anselmo Mine were transported last weekend to a new shelter on South Arizona Street.Robert Edwards Jr. of Silver Bow Properties said the dogs are being housed at the former Stewart's Transmission building at 102 -106 S. Arizona St. These are the dogs that were seized by the county last month from a man accused of hoarding the animals in filthy and unhealthy conditions.The county has been housing and caring for more than 100 dogs in the hoist house of the mine since they were seized more than a month ago.Edwards said he received permission from the building's owner, John Richen, to lease the building to the county to house the dogs.Edwards, who also is a member of Butte's Historic Preservation Commission, said it's important to get the dogs out of the hoist house for the sake of the animals and the integrity of the historic building."The historic nature of that space was at risk," Edwards said about the hoist house.Butte's Animal Services has been looking for an alternate location to keep the dogs before the weather turns cold. Phyllis Ruana, the county's animal services director, said earlier this month that it would be difficult to keep the hoist house warm during the harsh winter.Edwards is leasing the South Arizona Street building to the county for $1 a month. The Butte Council of Commissioners is expected to approve the lease Wednesday at its regular meeting.The new facility has about 3,200 square feet and about 2 acres of fenced-in yard. Edwards said the building has heat and running water available.Edwards said all the dogs will be moved from the mine yard to the new building this week.The county may not adopt the dogs yet, because of the pending criminal charge in this case.Phillip Brode, 60, was arrested Oct. 5 after the bus he was driving broke down at the Rocker truck stop and investigators discovered more than 100 malnourished dogs, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty Nov. 6 to felony aggravated cruelty to animals, and remains jail on $10,000 bond.— Reporter John Grant Emeigh may be reached via e-mail at john.emeigh@lee.net or by telephone, 496-5511

Ice carving

2007-12-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Benny carving a Budda

Before and after pictures of three bedroom remodel

2007-12-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

Before Pictures

Tore up carpet, repaired holes in walls, cracking and failing plaster, textured walls, painted walls in Blonde, Doors, floors and trim in Alabaster white gloss.

The Main Clean out

2007-11-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

7 People
3 days
22000 gallons of water
13 roll off dumpsters

44 East Park clean out

2007-11-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Painting 135 East Park

2007-07-22T22:12:00.000-06:00

The old Tony the traders shop

West Park Duplex Facade Project

2007-07-22T21:26:00.000-06:00

Beginning demolition

Rocky helping out

Using Mill to cut copper plate into shapes for lamp

West Park Street Duplex Facade Before & After Photos

2007-07-22T21:07:00.000-06:00

Before Front

Almost after, still need to add the Custom Copper stained glass light fixtures & find a matching front door.

Before Kitchen & Dining space

After

Wrought Iron gates

2007-06-09T22:54:00.000-06:00

Wrought iron security Robert Edwards and Max Detjens secure a wrought iron gate in the 400 block of West Granite Street. They belong to the all-volunteer Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization, which stepped into action after a rash of wrought iron gate thefts earlier this year. For details on the protect-a-gate program, visit www.buttecpr.org.

http://www.montanastandard.com/articles/2007/05/09/opinion_top/20070509_opinion_top.txt

This past week has also brought some positive developments at the local level — most notably Butte-Silver Bow’s newfound common-sense approach to the Corette Memorial Pool and Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization’s proactive response to recent thefts of historic wrought-iron gates.

As for the antique gates, leave it to the creative members of Butte CPR to devise a plan to help stop these insidious thefts. The community owes them a big thank-you, and probably the best way to say thanks is for Uptown homeowners to accept nonprofit’s offer of chains and bolts to make these gates harder to steal.Many of these ornate gates and fences were installed on the Butte Hill more than a century ago, and you’d think people would have the decency to leave them alone where they belong.Since that doesn’t seem to be the case, anyone with a historic gate should at least make it as difficult as possible to remove. For help, call the good folks at CPR at 723-2174.

http://www.montanastandard.com/articles/2007/05/06/butte/hjjcjejdjjfjha.txt

Gate savers: Historical preservationists offer chains, welding to prevent theft in Butte
By John Grant Emeigh of The Montana Standard - 05/06/2007
A historical preservation group wants to make stealing antique gates a thing of the past.After a rash of thefts of wrought iron gates, the Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization decided to help property owners protect their valuable gates.The group will give away free chains or will weld a bolt to the hinge to prevent the gate from being removed.Mitzi Rossillon, a Butte CPR board member, said the service will be provided on a “first come, first serve basis.” Last month, Butte-Silver Bow police received four separate theft reports of antique, wrought iron gates. Sheriff John Walsh said gates and fences are among antique thieves’ favorite targets.Rossillon wants to help people save their property because of the historical significance of these gates.“We want to enhance and preserve the historic heritage of Uptown Butte and wrought iron fences are part of that heritage,” she said.

Many of these fences on the Butte Hill were placed there more than a century ago.Preservationist Jim Warner said he and CPR member Robert Edwards will gladly do their part to save these historical gates.“We just can’t stand to see all this thievery,” he said.For details, call Butte CPR at 723-2174.

Third floor attic, into a master bedroom

2007-03-28T23:35:00.000-06:00

Insulated, wired for phone, cable TV.

Flush mount can lights with copper trim bezels.

Then sheet rocked, Fir floor was sanded & finnished in dark mohogany stain. Trimmed out & painted.

Living room on 2nd floor, large picture window with a great view of Highlands, Arts Chateu, & Motherload Theater.

Stripping paint from metal parts

2007-03-28T23:10:00.000-06:00

1950's Forced air grills, with a basecoat-powder coat, glossy oil based layer, & a top coat of semi gloss latex.
I use a propane fired turkey fryer pot, the aluminum eventually degrades from this process, also the pot will never be the same so don't plan on cooking in it afterwards.

Water laced with baking soda & old paint goo, will foam up & spew out of the pot, place your pot somewhere where this foul evecuation wont make mess. Top up water as needed. time elapse 2-3 hours.

Scuff up parts, & repeat with fresh water & baking soda until part is clean.

Atop the Dumas Brothel

2007-03-28T22:29:00.000-06:00

Big news day for the Mai Wah

2007-02-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Check out the side show on yahoo news about the Chinese new year parade.

http://news.yahoo.com/page/chinese_new_year;_ylt=AhZ3jyitB0v0BaE4PA_F41.s0NUE

Also a MT Standard article about the Mai Wah

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2007/02/23/butte/hjjcjhhgjjejgj.txt

Archaeological dig among Mai Wah museum plans
By Leslie McCartney, The Montana Standard - 02/23/2007

The Mai Wah society building is shown here at 17 W. Mercury St. Standard File Photo. The Mai Wah Society has big plans for the coming year, including upgrading its museum’s infrastructure and conducting an archaeological dig on an adjacent vacant lot.The society has applied for a cultural trust grant for $17,500 which is working its way through the Legislature. The match requires $3 for every $1 of the grant so the society must raise $52,000 to secure the money.“We are working toward making some major improvements,” said Jim Griffin, president of the all-volunteer organization.The money will be used to bring much-needed water and sewer service to the historic building at 17 W. Mercury St., as well as brickwork, facade repair and window replacement.Griffith said one of the best things about the Mai Wah museum is that it is historically intact because there have been no significant upgrades and remodels in past decades.But it also means that the most basic infrastructure needs, except for a new roof put on 15 years ago, were ignored.
“It’s just amazing to go in and see nothing has changed,” he said.If the grant is given and the money raised, the group is hoping to start improvements this year.Another project is a collaboration with the county and the Urban Revitalization Agency.The groups hope to excavate a vacant lot across from the Mai Wah as part of a summer archaeological dig to obtain Chinese artifacts.With a renewed interest in vacant Uptown land, the county wants to sell the property.But first, the Mai Wah would like to search for artifacts since the site was home to Chinese homes and businesses. The Mai Wah’s will handle the educational component of the dig and be the keeper of any artifacts found there.“We have a lot going on,” Griffin said.

New Toy

2007-02-05T00:44:00.000-07:00

Millermatic 210 MIG welder (worth every penny)

Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization help to save the Dumas Brothel

2007-02-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

(Photo from front page of the MT Standard of me standing in a brothel, I'm sure my mother is proud.)

CPR members Dick Gibson, left, and Robert Edwards tour the historic Dumas brothel on East Mercury Street in Uptown Butte Thursday morning. The Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization have been making repairs to the roof to stop water damage in the 117-year-old building. Walter Hinick photos / The Montana Standard .

link to article
http://www.montanastandard.com/articles/2007/02/02/butte/hjjcjhjhjiibjd.txt

The Dumas revisited
By Justin Post, of The Montana Standard - 02/02/2007

A Butte landmark built for sex recently had some tender loving care of its own.

A team of volunteers from the Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization recently converged on the 117-year-old Dumas Brothel to make temporary repairs on its roof.

Armed with blow torches and 45 gallons of roof patch, the group sealed cracks where water was entering the historic bordello and destroying its interior.

“It’s a job getting up there,” joked Robert Edwards of CPR during a Thursday tour of the brothel, 45 E. Mercury St. “It’s one of the scariest things I have done.” The brothel closed in 1982 and was turned into a museum to preserve the bawdy history of the city’s busy red light district.

Rudy Giecek owned the building for 15 years before closing it in the spring of 2005 because of safety concerns. He said he also suffered two strokes and could no longer conduct routine maintenance.

“It just broke my heart that I couldn’t keep it going,” he said.

Edwards toured the building at the time and noticed water seeping through the roof. He returned the next year to find the building rapidly deteriorating.

“The water was really bad,” he said. “You could see where it was tearing out all the plaster on the inside. Water was just gushing into it.” CPR agreed to earmark about $500 from its grant program, and seven volunteers participated in the repairs, Edwards said.

This spring or summer, the group plans to complete additional roof repairs to protect the building until Giecek or a new owner can begin restoration.

“I think it’s an amazing piece of history,” Edwards said. “I think it’s one of the more important buildings in Uptown Butte.” The building nearly fell into the county’s hands after Giecek said he fell behind on his property taxes. A majority of the bill was recently paid, however, and Giecek said he wants to restore the Dumas.

Giecek, who purchased the building 17 years ago, said he is seeking investors to assist in the project.

“We’re going to fix it up,” he said.

The project may also qualify for grant money through the county’s urban revitalization program after the remaining taxes, $768, are paid, said Karen Byrnes, director of community development.

The renovation will be an effort of major undertaking, but Giecek said the building is an integral part of Butte.

“It’s too important of a piece of history to lose,” he said. “It can be fixed.” — Reporter Justin Post may be reached via e-mail at justin.post@lee.net or by telephone, 496-5572

link to Butte CPR website detailing our work.
http://www.buttecpr.org/threat.htm

Done W/ Park Street 4 plex facade

2007-02-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

$12K latter.

Making tree pots

2007-02-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

680 pound tank salvaged from the scrap yard.

11.5 feet long 18" diameter.

Ron Cutting w/torch

Ron shaping & grinding

Paint prep

Paint

Ironwork

2007-02-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

Finnished post

Onsite fitting

Preping for paint

Handrails in Primer

Handrails in black emamel

Handrails in trailer

Stair stringer construction

Attaching treads to risers

Fitting the orginal ironwork

Damaged ironwork

Fixing broken tyne

Straiting orignal ironwork

Installing handrail for steps

Restoring the front doors

2007-02-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

Chemicaly stripping the doors

Repair to damaged wood work detail.
the little nails help to hold the body filler

Body filler, before shaping

Shaping

One of the 4 doors didn't have any of the trim work. So it had to be made from scratch.

Short strand fiberglass filler used to fill large gaps in woodwork.

Primer

Paint

Park Street 4 Plex Facade work

2007-02-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

The before photos

Thanks to Butte CPR for a Historic Improvement Grant(HIP)
http://www.buttecpr.org/

Tear off & reroofing of porch.

100 Year old concrete

All the post bases were compleatly rotten

Rotten Porch decking

Aurgh!

2006-12-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

I realize that i have not updated this thing a in awhile, I will get to it right after the new year.

for now all I have for you is proof we have heat.

Have a great holiday!

Two car garage tear down in 33 seconds

2006-10-21T16:01:00.000-06:00

Bathtub Rehab

2006-08-05T20:45:00.000-06:00

Disgusting bathroom, people lived here with kids. the dirt had to be shoveled out in places. Note the creative paint scheme.
Two of the mounting points for the feet on the tub had been broken off.

Less than appealing paint on the feet.

Chemically stripping the green & yellow paint off.

I fixed the broken anchor points with 5/16" bolts & JB Weld epoxy. A week later it seems to have held, so we'll see if this is a long term solution. If it doesnt continue to hold I have already made arrangments to build a saddle for the tub to sit on.

Tub in paint booth, after spraying with black enamel.

Finnished bathrrom & tub. (New flooring, sink, vanity, painted walls, & restored tub)

Leaded Glass transom window

2006-07-26T08:09:00.000-06:00

Soldering the coper foil

After leading & patina

Installation

Broadway Interior

2006-07-08T10:09:00.000-06:00

Before & after photos of Broadway Duplex interior.

Flags N' Flowers

2006-06-20T10:32:00.000-06:00

Travonia Headframe with Irish Flag

2006-06-19T11:29:00.000-06:00

President of Ireland (Mary McAleese) came for a visit.
The large headframe all flew the Irish flag for a few days.
Photo taken from our Clark Street house project.

Broadway duplex Brick work

2006-06-19T11:19:00.000-06:00

Before photos

Previous owner replaced windows, & never properly bricked up

Toothing out the old bricks.

removal of previous "repair" using globs of concreate.

Installation of steel window lentels

Painted door Rookwood Red added brass door knocker & peephole.

Still need to finnish painting, Trim out windows, & paint trim & accent colors, & reinstall wrought iron fencing across the front.

Boardman house

2006-06-19T10:49:00.000-06:00

We passed on this property, but the electrical was so horrible I thought I would share a few photos I took during my inspection.

Electrical Splice, didn't even bother to wrap the wires.

Electrical service pannel

Foundation has almost 1' of lean over 6' to the south west.

Busy Busy Busy!

2006-06-15T18:19:00.000-06:00

Its been awhile since I last updated this blog, Not because we haven't been busy. I have infact been so busy I havent had time to update the webpage. I decided my new posting policy would be to show start to finnish projects not just as it happens progress. Ive saved up just over a hundred photos, so check back soon.

In meanwhile Check out this short video of our friend Brian, he shipped his colapsable boat to us a few weeks ago, then took two weeks to bike up to Butte. rested for a few days, then left from the Headwaters state park, just outside of Three Forks, Montana on a 60 day, 2800 mile kayak trip to St louis. Brian's a little crazy.

here is the video of his boat assymbly & launch.
enjoy
http://www.mikeablexray.com/bin/img/blog/Brian_Goes_Down_the_River.wmv

Sanding poles/ preping for paint

2006-02-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Boiler room

2006-02-20T23:01:00.000-07:00

Beginning

Before concrete pour.

Pouring the floor

Before:

After:

New Boiler next to the old boiler.

Stands for Mai Wah Dragon

2006-02-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

Max & I lighting firecrackers for the Parade.

Misc Metal fence projects

2006-02-20T22:57:00.000-07:00

Back deck hand rails

2006-02-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

Painting the Washington Street duplex doors & handrails

2006-02-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

Work Shop

2006-02-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

Head Frame & M Hill

2006-01-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Appartment clean up, before & after photos

2006-01-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Carpet & paint.

Blew apart the freeze plate on the Imperial Building water meter

2006-01-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

Another animated .gif

2006-01-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Barn doors in the shop

2006-01-09T22:42:00.000-07:00

Now have a separate place to sand blast, grind, paint & weld that is separated from the rest of the shop. Should keep things a bit cleaner.

Sewer Replacement

2006-01-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

Painting in January

2006-01-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

What have I done?!!!!

The colors looked so much differnt on the little cards.

Beer Bottle Collection

2006-01-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

Living room/Bar.

181 bottles

Insert Caption Here:

2006-01-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

More clean out

2006-01-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Cat in snowglobe

2006-01-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

The Gates, New York Central Park

2006-01-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

A few pictures, from back in Feb of 2005.

Welding on the hot dip tank.

2005-12-22T01:22:00.000-07:00

Not much going on upstairs

2005-12-20T00:36:00.000-07:00

Sick of working on handrails, almost done!

2005-12-20T00:24:00.000-07:00

More Poles

2005-12-20T00:22:00.000-07:00

Triming out a window

2005-12-20T00:21:00.000-07:00

Cleaning out the creepy basement

2005-12-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

Ice sculptures

2005-12-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

Repointing foundation

2005-12-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted a 768 Cubic Foot snow globe?

2005-12-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas
To: Cassandra

60' 2" PVC Pipe
Misc PVC Fittings
24 cubic feet of Recycled Expanded Polystyrene beads
3 1.2 Amp blowers
3 Custom built venturi Tubes
27 Man hours

PVC Pipe Venturi Tubes

Using Bernoulli principle to transport the EPS beads.

T day

2005-12-09T01:09:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for the holiday, Ill post updates soon.

Winter

2005-11-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

Repairing the Brick in the back alley of the imperial

2005-11-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Im not thrilled the coloring of the replacement brick isnt an exact match of the old brick, but its all we could do.

Now the 3 gas meters can be installed below the eletrical meter box.

2nd porch foundation work

2005-11-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

Rebuilding Woodwork

2005-11-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

THe screws help to secure the Fiberglass filler to teh wood surface.

Misc Image

2005-11-06T03:02:00.000-07:00

Roof top views from Imperial & Nadeu Buildings

2005-11-06T02:54:00.000-07:00

Painting the main street floor

2005-11-06T02:49:00.000-07:00

No Title

2005-11-06T02:48:00.000-07:00

Main Street Hand railing

2005-11-06T02:31:00.000-07:00

Reproducing the hand railing for the stairs to match the wrought Iron fence In front of the building.

Update of a project simular to ours

2005-11-06T02:11:00.000-07:00

Not our project, but a simular undertaking by a friend of ours On Park street.
Before Photos

Gutting out

No Roof

After:

New roof

Elevator Shaft

First Windows in

Refinnishing the Floor @ one of the fourplexes

2005-10-27T02:52:00.000-06:00

Took the Dogs to the top of Red Mountain

2005-10-24T03:54:00.000-06:00

Before the winter hit I wanted to make a trip to the top this year.

Nadeu Building gut out

2005-10-14T02:56:00.000-06:00

Removing the Lathe & plaster ceiling @ the Nadeu Park Street Building

Starting the Porch

2005-09-11T15:23:00.000-06:00

The Block

The footing (5/8" rebar set in 16" of concreate)

Dog in/on finnished concreate

Dog Trail

Setting the block

Billy Bob the inspector

If somebody has written it, then it must be true.

2005-09-08T00:30:00.000-06:00

Section of the opinions page in the Sunday edition of the Montana Standard.

That's right, I think ill update my resume immediately to include "Visionary" or maybe ill have my business cards redone.

Kind of scary, this might also be the first time anyone has referred to me as "Mr."

2nd story decking

2005-09-05T22:22:00.000-06:00

THe composite decking is great stuff, a little expensive, but it doesnt require painting, & is immune to splitting or cracking. A draw back is the material is more flexable, so the sub structure cannot excede 16" spans. We had to do some addaptaions to the old supports to make up for this issue.

Stairs

2005-09-02T21:55:00.000-06:00

Base plates

Two Steel Post for landing hanging for paint.

Risers

Beams for stringers

Painting

The Install

Installing the Composite treads

This week , well finnish up the decking on the 2nd story. The center post is still being rebuilt, & will be reinstalled latter this week. Then the two remaining posts will be removed for restoration. With the decking installed I can build the hand railings. The railings will match the design of the Iron fence that runs across the front of the building(still being restored). Hopefully the city will be starting their new sidewalk project. The Iron work will be installed into the cement sidewalk.

Sand blasting the old iron work fences. Some of the fencing will require straiting & repainting.

Front porch work begins

2005-09-01T22:51:00.000-06:00

Porches on this place are in pretty bad shape, the decking is shot. & the coble stone foundation has failed in several spots causing the whole thing to slump.

On the right side is one of three bedrooms in each unit, this front room has its own door. Kind of a bad design, as the front door is inches away from this door, & for security, noise & heating reasons having a door to this front bedroom is kind of unappealing. The previous owners solved the problem, by installing sheets of T-111 over the doorways.
I am not sure which is worse idea, The 2nd door or the T-111 wood siding. Since this isn't a trailer park I pulled the T-111 siding off and bricked up the doorway properly.

Removed T-111

Hidden doorway.

Bricking up the doorways

Sierra Club Sucks Racing

2005-08-05T23:29:00.000-06:00

40,000 people, an 18' foot dirt jump im front of the building for three days.

The camera setup.
With my camera on continuious shoot mode on a tripod I shot roughly 500 photos per session. 3 exibitions a day, for three days plus practices gave me nearly 5000 photos.

The crowd & ramps

Knevl Week

2005-07-29T13:35:00.000-06:00

Photo from in front of the Imperial Building.

Taxes, meets Mr. Fish

2005-07-25T00:04:00.000-06:00

Fixing Brick

2005-07-23T13:21:00.000-06:00

A fair amount of brick rot on the front side of one of our properties.

Repointing the mortar & fixing bad bricks before we paint the front, I will leave the unpainted sides of the building natural.

New Properties

2005-07-23T11:48:00.000-06:00

Newest additions. Like I needed another project!

Paid $1000, yes $1,000 for both of these duplexes.

New guy

2005-07-23T11:44:00.000-06:00

One of the guys rough wiring lights @ one of our duplex remodels.

Finnaly done with demolition @ imperial

2005-07-23T11:41:00.000-06:00

13 roll off dumpsters latter, finnaly done with the demolition.

The silver chute is the 3rd floor addaptor, directing the trash to the 2nd floor chute. The chute has become its own tourist attraction.

Messy Shop

2005-07-23T11:39:00.000-06:00

Never seem to get this place cleaned up, always a project brewing.

Ralph reproducing some woodwork & repairing a pillar for one of teh main street duplexes.

Wiring closet

2005-07-23T11:37:00.000-06:00

Wiring closet framed out.

refinnishing floors

2005-07-16T11:36:00.000-06:00

Two of my guys sanding down hardwood floors in one of the appartments.

2005-07-11T00:52:00.000-06:00

4th Of July

2005-07-10T11:12:00.000-06:00

Butte has no restriction on fireworks, so anything goes here, 4 dozen fireworks stands pop up throughout the city, selling anything from sparklers to $500 a piece mortar dispays.

I buy my fireworks from the girlscouts, Forget cookies.

Fireworks mortar launcher

Parts:

40 minutes

installation

$170 worth of fireworks. (240 mortars)

the whole town gets into it, for days before the 4th hundreds of people set off their own fireworks, making the town sound like a war zone. Best state ever.

Billy Bob

2005-06-23T19:01:00.000-06:00

Aurgh, So on a morning walk Billy Bob decides to roll in the carcass of a dead animal. The stench was horrible, Infact unbareable.

over two hours of scrubbing, he finnaly came out clean.

Here is a photo of Billy Bob soaking in two types of shampoo, Lemon scented Dishsoap, 2 cans of tomato juice, & one can of Coors beer.

2005-06-23T18:47:00.000-06:00

Getting ready to paint the east wall of the workshop.
Billy Bob Supervising

Chistina painting the wall.

Inside viw of damaged Nadeu building.

Third floor wall of damaged Nadeu, to be removed by hand.

Nadeu Building basement clean out before and after.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

View of third Rolloff dumpster from Nadeu Building basement clean out.

2005-06-16T23:28:00.000-06:00

Christina's mother Carol came to visit us for a few days, we toured the historic uptown area, lewis & Clark caverns, & Glacier National park.

Christina in the caverns

Carol & I at Glacier.

One of our duplexes, This one in the middle of a conciderable renovation. The lower unit is getting a compleate brand new bathroom, electrical & plumbing system. I have already removed teh rod iron fence from the front, & the red paint is primer on the sections of wood that the paint was stripped off. The Stairs need work & will include metal handrailings.

The basement access in the back yard had alot of rot & was caving in. It took 1 man nearly 3 days to dig the hole out(was still cheaper than renting a backhoe)

Our Newest property

As you can see it is a very large clean up project, But the neighbor gave us teh building for free, & government saw it fit to give us grant $ for the clean up. ChaChing!
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2005/06/12/newsbutte_top/hjjejdiihgibfh.txt

View from the roof.

Here is what remains of the third floor, We'll have to take this section down by hand. The west side wall will be trimed up & remain freestanding. The roof will replaced over the colapsed section, & the 2nd floor replaced. The first floor (4,000 sf.) will be used as retail space. The basement is a parking garage for the Imperial Block, & tentants of this building. The 2nd floor will be made into 4 1,000 sq foot high end luxury appartments with a community roof access, deck, BBQ, spa & garden area.

The demolition of both the 2nd & 3rd floors is now pretty much compleate. (Each of teh upper floor windows is just under 7 feet in height)

Small temporary art gallery, in one of the store fronts.

end of May

2005-05-31T21:09:00.000-06:00

"Rocky" & his new dog bone.

My new truck & trailer.

The Camper shell is going to the dump.

We cut the side rails of the trailer down, & rewelded the railing on, making it a more useful trailer.

Power company removing the gas main tap.

Demolition of the third floor begins.

View up the street from out my bedroom window.

Camping trip on Memorial Day Weekend.

Montana RV

Patching up the hole in the wall

2005-05-22T15:35:00.000-06:00

Before:

Will finnish up latter.

Can lights.

Bank Robbery

2005-05-20T17:05:00.000-06:00

Someone decided to rob the bank two doors to the west.

Aurora

2005-05-16T00:52:00.000-06:00

Photo taken in Bozeman MT Sat night

Imperial Block in a movie

2005-05-15T22:53:00.000-06:00

Our building is going to be the back drop for a few scenes in a movie, to be released in mid October. Whooo Hoooo!

http://www.dontcomeknocking.com/

Going Fishing

2005-05-15T22:16:00.000-06:00

Getting Tired of looking @ photos of my dogs yet?