The Montana Theater, Concert Hall/Billiard Rooms, and Wells Fargo Reverse Flats

If one makes a careful examination of the water tanks located at Falls Creek, Beaver Brook and Central City, one will find a waybill adverstising "The Incredible Harry Brunk" at the Montana Theater. Hence, it would be nice to have the Montana Theater somewhere in Central City for him to peform at.

The Montana Theater was located on the north side of Lawrence where it joined Eureka and Main. It was located next to a building that was known by its advertisement sign: "Concert Hall Billiard Rooms". Adjoining that was the Wells Fargo/Overland Stage Lines office. Unfortunately, none of these buildings survived the 1874 fire and they were not rebuilt afterwards.

Fortunately, the DPL includes the following photos of the Eureka/Lawerence/Main corner:

1. South west view - this photograph dates from between 1866 and 1873 based on the presence of Goldman's wholesale cigar/liquor store under the Montana Theatre as well as the Wells Fargo banner on the Overland Stage Lines Office
2. Another south west view that shows details of the doors on the floor under the Montana theater
3. Street level view of the Concert Hall Billiard Rooms front
4. Second print of the Concert Hall Billiard Rooms front - this second view provides photographic evidence for the Warren Hussey Bank being under the Montana Theatre. This dates this photograph to no later than 1864, as the bank moved to the corner of Main and Eureka in the late 1860s.
5. A view from the southeast
6. A view from the south, which helps with the Overland Stage building
7. A view from the north before the fire of 1874! This view is uncommon, but will help with the roof lines for the cutaways.
8. A post fire view from the north

Given the amount of space dedicated to Central City, it is not feasible to model these buildings with full structures. However, given that Central City's location (almost fully visible from all four sides), a set of regular flats aren't all that interesting either. So, my idea is to model these structures with a reverse flat (where the outside of the building faces towards the layout and the viewer sees a "cutaway" view of the inside of the structure).

Photos #3 and 4 provide a starting point for determining plans for each of these structures, using a variation of the excellent methods documented in BHI Publications' book on Scratchbuilding Beaver Brook Station. After removing the effects of perspective the result is an image that can be measured for the base front and side elevation drawings (300 dpi with a scale of 3/32 inch to the foot).

Photos 1, 2 and 4 provide enough information to make an educated guess on the front of the Montana Theater. Since the Warren Hussey Bank and Goldman & Co's both were located in the same portion of the first story under the Montana Theater, we invoke modeler's license and move the the Warren Hussey Bank to the other half of the building. With this change, one can update the front and side view elevation drawings. (also 300 dpi with a scale of 3/32 inch to the foot). The remaining open question from photo #4 is what is the emblem in the middle of the "Cigar Store" sign above Goldman's?