Archives West Finding Aid

The Great Northern Hotel of Malta, Montana opened on January 15, 1904. The builder and proprietor was Max Sklower, a former hotel operator in Helena and White Sulphur Springs.

Max Sklower was born in Prussia, March 30, 1847. There he received his formal education and as a young man served an apprenticeship as a baker. In 1867 he left Prussia for the United States, eventually settling in Helena, Montana Territory. He worked for a short time as a pastry cook in the St. Louis Hotel under the chef, V. Charles Rinda. The two men later bought and operated the Imperial Restaurant, and in 1875 purchased the International Hotel. In 1881 Rinda sold his interest in the hotel. Sklower, along with Marcus Lissner, continued the business until 1884. That year he divested himself of his International Hotel interests and moved to White Sulphur Springs. He leased the White Sulphur Springs Hotel until 1902, when he returned to Helena and became involved in a hide buying firm.

Sklower was the Great Northern Hotel's proprietor until his death in August 1915. His sons Emanuel and Josef continued to operate the hotel until 1945, when it was sold to Homer Sherlock. The hotel was owned in turn by Ferdinand LePage (1949-1958), Duane Compton and Vern Mangis (1958-1961), and Marlan Olson and Bill Hess (1961-?). The hotel closed in 1971.