Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Helena First, Inc. records, 1965-1991
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Helena First, Inc.
- Title
- Helena First, Inc. records
- Dates
- 1965-1991 (inclusive)19651991
- Quantity
- 4.5 linear feet of shelf space
- Collection Number
- MC 250
- Summary
- Helena First, Inc. was incorporated in 1967 with the goal of promoting and participating in the economic development of Helena. The records (1965-1990) consist of correspondence, minutes, project and subject files, and organizational materials. The major project of the organization was the building of the TraveLodge Motel (later Park Plaza Hotel).
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Helena First, Inc. was incorporated on September 21, 1967, with the goal of promoting and participating in the economic development of Helena. Its membership consisted of owners of Helena businesses. The organization hired Alex Cunningham, a local insurance and property management consultant, as manager. Ward Shanahan served as legal counsel. Helena First, Inc. cooperated with the Helena Urban Renewal office in planning for the economic revitalization of downtown Helena. The major project of the organization was the building of a motel and convention center in the downtown area. This eventually led to the construction of the TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch (currently the Park Plaza). The motel was leased to Pearson Enterprises, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, with an option to buy. When the lease expired the Pearsons declined to exercise the option and the hotel was sold to Eric Myhre in June 1980. Myhre's purchase contract was cancelled in October 1982 and a new contract made with Don West. West, however, was unable to complete the purchase and the property was sold to DeTienne Associates. In 1983 the name was changed to the Park Plaza. The negative side of Helena's Urban Renewal was the razing of many historic buildings on the Gulch in downtown Helena. These included the Wheat Building (formerly the Union Bank Building), the Wallace grocery building, the Holter hardware building, and several small rooming houses in the first block north of Broadway, as well as many other buildings throughout the downtown area. Helena First, Inc. officially dissolved itself in the fall of 1991.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Records. 1965-1990. 4.5 linear feet. Records of Helena First, Inc. include general correspondence (1965-1975), consisting primarily of interoffice correspondence between Alex Cunningham and board members Ward Shanahan and John Schroeder, and photocopies of Cunningham's outgoing correspondence sent to Shanahan and Schroeder for reference purposes. Later correspondence (1975-1991) is among the various board members and between them and other parties. Also included are legal case files (1983-1988) kept by Ward Shanahan as attorney for Helena First, Inc.; financial records (1967-1991) including annual financial audits, tax records, and invoices; legal documents (1967-1984); maps of downtown Helena; minutes (1967-1991); organizational records (1967-1991), including articles of incorporation, by-laws, and stockholder lists; and reports (1965-1988) consisting primarily of feasibility studies for the planned hotel. Subject files (1966-1987) concern the Helena Urban Renewal program, acquisition of the needed properties, and the building and operation of the hotel, including Jacobson & Shope's architectural plans for the hotel. In addition there are miscellaneous items, including a sketch of the Securities Building, and minutes (1967-1983) of several other organizations concerning property transfers.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged by series. Some material housed in Archives Map Case. See inventory below for more information.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
General Correspondence Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1 | TraveLodge Corporation (correspondence of Alex
Cunningham, Inc. prior to incorporation of Helena First, Inc.) |
1965-1966 |
| 1 / 2 | Miscellaneous (includes Montana Secretary of State,
Union Bank and Trust Company, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) |
1967 |
| 1 / 3-4 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, City of Helena,
Richard Shope, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Small Business
Administration, Wellington Rankin Estate) |
1968 |
| 1 / 5-9 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Capri Motels,
Helena Urban Renewal, Lewis and Clark County, Montana Club, Montana Power Company,
Morrison-Maierly, Richard Shope, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Small
Business Administration) |
1969 |
| 1 / 10-11 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Helena Urban
Renewal, Lewis and Clark County, Montana Power Company, Pearson Associates, Richard
Shope, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) |
1970 January-June |
| 2 / 1-2 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Helena Urban
Renewal, Montana Power Company, Montana Investment Commissioner, Pearson Associates,
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) |
1970 July-September |
| 2 / 3-6 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Helena Urban
Renewal, Montana Power Company, Montana Liquor Control Board, Pearson Associates,
Irwin "Shorty" Shope, Richard Shope, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Watters
Construction Company) |
1971 |
| 2 / 7-8 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Helena Urban
Renewal, Montana Liquor Control Board, Pearson Associates, Richard Shope, U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, Watters Construction Company) |
1972 |
| 2 / 9-10 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Helena Urban
Renewal, Pearson Associates, Richard Shope, TraveLodge, U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, Watters Construction Company) |
1973 |
| 2 / 11 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, City of Helena,
Pearson Associates, Richard Shope, TraveLodge) |
1974-1976 |
| 2 / 12 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Helena Urban
Renewal, Pearson Associates, Richard Shope, TraveLodge) |
1977 |
| 3 / 1 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, City of Helena,
Pearson Associates) |
1978-1979 |
| 3 / 2 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Anderson
ZurMuehlen & Co., Eric Myhre, Myhre Advertising, Pearson Associates) |
1980-1981 |
| 3 / 3 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Anderson
ZurMuehlen & Co., Capri Motels, Eric Myhre, Myhre Advertising, Park Plaza Hotel) |
1982 |
| 3 / 4 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Anderson
ZurMuehlen & Co., Park Plaza Hotel, Don West) |
1983-1984 |
| 3 / 5 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Anderson
ZurMuehlen & Co., DeTienne & Associates, Patrick Melby, Park Plaza Hotel) |
1985-1987 |
| 3 / 6 | Miscellaneous (includes interoffice, Anderson
ZurMuehlen & Co., DeTienne & Associates, Patrick Melby, Western Federal
Savings, Bob White) |
1988-1991 |
Case Files Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 7 | Helena First, Inc. vs. City of Helena (re quieting
title on property) |
1987 |
| 3 / 8 | Helena First, Inc. and DeTienne Associates vs. Dept.
of Revenue of State of Montana (re tax appeal on Park Plaza Hotel) RESTRICTED
|
1983-1988 |
| 3 / 9 | Helena First, Inc. vs Donald J. West d/b/a Park Plaza
Hotel (re default on mortgage payments) |
1984 |
| 3 / 10 | Anna Lukanish vs. Helena First, Inc. (re injury
claim) |
1983-1985 |
Financial Records Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 11 | Balance sheets |
1968-1989 |
| 3 / 12 | Bank books |
1977-1985 |
| 4 / 1-2 | Bank statements |
1983-1991 |
| 4 / 3-5 | Corporate income tax returns RESTRICTED
|
1968-1990 |
| 4 / 6-8 | Financial statements and audits RESTRICTED
|
1969-1988 |
| 4 / 9 | Financial statements: JMJ Properties, Inc. |
1983 |
| 4 / 10 | Financial status estimates |
1970-1972 |
| 4 / 11 | Insurance materials |
1980-1988 |
| 4 / 12 | Invoices |
1981-1984 |
| 5 / 1 | Invoices |
1985-1991 |
| 5 / 2-3 | Property taxes RESTRICTED
|
1967-1991 |
| 5 / 4 | Recapitulation of Alex Cunningham's management costs |
1968-1970 |
| 5 / 5 | Report of gross sales: TraveLodge |
1972-1981 |
| 5 / 6 | Miscellaneous |
1967-1991 |
Legal Documents Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 7 | Agreements: City of Helena |
1970-1978 |
| 5 / 8 | Agreements: liquor licenses |
1970 |
| 5 / 9 | Agreements: Don West (re Park Plaza Hotel) |
1982-1984 |
| 5 / 10 | Deeds: Hartwig property |
1937, 1970-1971 |
| 5 / 11 | Deeds: Harvey Hotel, Inc. |
1968 |
| 5 / 12 | Deeds: Holter Building |
1968 |
| 5 / 13 | Mortgages: Home Building and Loan Association |
1967-1976 |
Maps Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 14 | Plats of Last Chance Gulch and surrounding area (show
building occupants and uses) |
undated |
Minutes Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 15 | Board of Directors and Stockholders meetings |
1967 September- 1973 March |
| 6 / 1 | Board of Directors and Stockholders meetings: drafts
(includes some material not in official minutes) |
1968-1972 |
| 6 / 2 | Board of Directors and Stockholders meetings: drafts
(no official set of minutes exists for this period) |
1973-1991 |
| 6 / 3 | Board of Directors and Stockholders meetings:
agendas, notes, meeting notices, etc. [scattered] |
1967-1991 |
Organization Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6 / 4 | Articles of incorporation and amendments |
1967-1970 |
| 6 / 5 | Bylaws |
1967, 1970 |
| 6 / 6 | Corporate directors lists |
1970-1991 |
| 6 / 7 | Corporation annual reports [incomplete set] |
1967-1989 |
| 6 / 8 | Mailing list |
1987-1991 |
| 6 / 9 | Registration with Montana Investment Commissioner |
1970 |
| 6 / 10 | Stock offering |
1970-1971 |
| 6 / 11 | Stock pledges: correspondence |
1967-1974 |
| 6 / 12 | Stock pledges: not paid |
1970-1971 |
| 6 / 13 | Stock pledges: partially paid |
1970-1973 |
| 6 / 14 | Stock register |
1967-1974 |
| 6 / 15 | Stockholder and subscription lists |
1968-1974 |
| 7 / | Stockholder card file |
undated |
Printed Material Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 1 | "Reclaimed stakes on Last Chance Gulch" (brochure re
Urban Renewal) |
1973 |
Reports Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 2 | "An appraisal of the Park Plaza Hotel on the Walking
Mall, Helena, Montana," by C. Robert White |
1988 |
| 8 / 3 | "Economic feasibility study for a proposed motel and
related facilities in Helena, Montana," by Urban Research and Development Company for
E.W. Chaffin |
circa 1965 |
| 8 / 4 | "Market, site and economic feasibility study for a
proposed motor hotel in downtown Helena, Montana," by Harris, Kerr, Forster and
Company for Helena First, Inc. |
1969 |
| 8 / 5 | Park Plaza Hotel expansion project report |
1985 |
| 8 / 6 | Richard Shope conceptual plan for hotel |
undated |
| 8 / 7 | "Specifications for motor hotel, phase 1, Helena
First, Inc., Helena, Montana," by Jacobson and Shope, Architects |
1970 |
Subject Files Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 8 | Helena Urban Renewal and City-County Planning Dept.:
correspondence |
1971-1973 |
| 8 / 9 | Helena Urban Renewal (includes public information
bulletin, redevelopment plan, HUD handbook) |
1970-1972 |
| 8 / 10 | Helena Urban Renewal (re purchase of property from
Helena First, Inc.) |
1970-1971 |
| 8 / 11 | Jacobson and Shope, Architects: correspondence |
1970-1972 |
| 8 / 12 | Jacobson and Shope, Architects: contract |
1970 |
| 8 / 13 | Montana Investment Commissioner (registration of
stock salesmen) |
1969-1973 |
| 9 / 1 | Montana Power Company garage site acquisition |
1968-1970 |
| 9 / 2 | Park Plaza Hotel: balance sheet and five-year
operating performance sheet |
1983-1987 |
| 9 / 3 | Park Plaza Hotel: Victor and Soren DeTienne /
DeTienne Associates purchase |
1984-1987 |
| 9 / 4 | Pearson Enterprises: correspondence |
1970-1972 |
| 9 / 5 | Pearson Enterprises: financial statements |
1976 |
| 9 / 6 | Pearson Enterprises: general information |
circa 1976 |
| 9 / 7 | Pearson Enterprises: legal documents |
1970-1980 |
| 9 / 8 | Pearson Enterprises: legal documents re sale of hotel
to Eric Myhre and Myhre Advertising |
1980-1982 |
| 9 / 9 | Pittsburgh Block: deed and minutes of Pittsburgh
Block Company authorizing sale |
1969 |
| 9 / 10 | Rogene's of Helena, Inc.: stock certificate and
minutes |
1971-1974 |
| 9 / 11 | Saddleback Inns of the Americas (re proposal for
Helena hotel) |
1969-1970 |
| 9 / 12 | Irwin "Shorty" Shope (re proposed mural for hotel) |
1971 |
| 9 / 13 | TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch |
1972-1984 |
| Oversize Folder | ||
| 1 | TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch: architect's drawing
and plans [Oversize: See Archives Map Case] |
1971-1973 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9 / 14 | TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch: financial statements |
1977 |
| 9 / 15 | TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch: inventory |
1972 |
| 9 / 16 | TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch: repairs |
1981 |
| 9 / 17 | TraveLodge on Last Chance Gulch: swimming pool |
1973 |
| 9 / 18-21 | United States Securities and Exchange Commission (re
listing of stock issue) |
1969-1973 |
| 9 / 22 | United States Small Business Administration |
1966-1971 |
| 10 / 1 | Watters Construction Company: correspondence (re
building of TraveLodge motel) |
1970-1973 |
| 10 / 2 | Watters Construction Company: legal documents |
1971-1972 |
| 10 / 3 | Watters Construction Company: payment certificates
(includes lists of jobs completed) |
1971-1972 |
| 10 / 4 | Wheat Building (formerly Union Bank Building):
correspondence and 1959 brochure offering building for sale |
1959, 1968-1969 |
| 10 / 5 | Wheat Building (formerly Union Bank Building): legal
documents |
1969 |
Miscellany Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 10 / 6 | Helena Housing Authority Development Program status
report |
1971 |
| 10 / 7 | Minutes of other organizations (includes Harvey
Hotel, Inc.; First National Bank and Trust Company; ad hoc group interested in
downtown business district) |
1967-1983 |
| 10 / 8 | Sketch of Securities Building |
undated |
Clippings Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 10 / 9 | Miscellaneous (re TraveLodge, Urban Renewal,
railroads) |
1969-1987 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Motels
Corporate Names
- Helena First, Inc. (creator)
Geographical Names
- Helena (Mont.)
Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
1994
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