Willma Bruns (née Applegate) was born on March 28, 1909 near Deer Lodge, Montana. As a child, she moved with her family to Philipsburg, Montana and later worked at her father's general store, The Granite Exchange. In 1932, she married Willard Bruns, and the couple eventually had four children. In addition to running a daycare in Philipsburg, which earned her the nickname "Grandma Bruns," Willma was also an amateur historian for Granite County. She had a particular interest in collecting historic photographs of Philipsburg and the surrounding area. Willma Bruns died on July 2, 1993.
The Willma Bruns Collection of Granite County Photographs consists of 34 images of businesses and sites in and around Philipsburg, Montana from circa 1878 through circa 1930. Some of the captions provided by Bruns include local stories and lore behind the photographs and trace the evolution of certain buildings as they housed different businesses throughout the years. The format of the photographs is 4" x 5" negative.
This collection is arranged by photo number.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana.
Willma Bruns Collection of Granite County, Montana Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
The collection was held by Willma Bruns before she shared it with the University of Montana in 1982 for duplication. The original photographers are unknown.
Gift of Willma Bruns, 1982.
The photographs in this collection were originally housed in an album, which Willma Bruns loaned to the University of Montana in 1982. The Archives made duplicates of the individual images, assigned each a photo number, and placed them into its general photograph collection. The original album was returned to Willma Bruns. In 2022, the photographs were processed as Willma Bruns Collection of Granite County Photographs (Mss 348). All of the original captions were maintained.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Photo taken by John Venandy, who was married to Tillie Schnepel. John was shot in John Raines saloon by Bill Queener. This photo was taken about where the Elenor Naef home was located in 1868. The story was told to Herb Abbey by his grandfather, Harry Morgan, who was raised by H. Schnepel
The Ringling House, built 1880-81, missing from view
Near the city park on Broadway; "X" shows Gus Lindsteadt's ice house. The little cabin on the left of the ice house is a Chinese home where a man lived. When the ice house team ran away, the man was angry and yelled, "One dollar fine for wrecking store." Some of the plaster fell out when the ice chunks hit
Located where the Court House now stands; Chinatown is in back of Taylor Knapp's building. The fire bell and hose drying tower is 60 feet high (12' X 12' at base). It was located where Bryan Hynes’ apartment house now stands
Leading men of the town lead the procession on West Broadway. This is not a 4th of July parade. The photograph shows the Kaiser House, which is now the VFW Hall. The pool hall was in business where the bank is now
Huffman's delivery team is in front of a store named Nig and Bird
Group of men and boys pose in front of building; store located where Taylor Knapp's building is now
Located directly east of Bowen's Service Station, this store later became Huffman's warehouse. It is now an apartment house belonging to the Salois family. Standing left to right: Allan McDonald, Joe Appel, D. M. McDonald, and Marion Durfee
Notice the lamp post in the middle of the town, Pete Winninghoff's Sweet Palace, Chris' Pool Hall, and later the laundry, where the bank now stands. The Redmen's Hall became the VFW Hall
A. S. Huffman and Company was a wine store according to Star Huffman. The grocery store was at one time where the Grady Ross Gambles store is. Next to the store was Angus Johnston's tailor shop, which later moved down the street. The Ting building was the office to the City Stables owned by John Carmichael. The next building was where the hearse was kept. Next was a restaurant and a second-hand store ran by Mike Farrington, a relative to Barney Pickett. At one time, Rupp and Greenbeck had a butcher shop. Next building was a Chinese restaurant. Next was a military shop, and at the end was a post office, which later became a jail. Buildings on top, left to right: Titus' house, Fred Gieger's home (lower white house); top house above Huffman's was McIntyre's house, then Stevens' house, and now Harris' house. Brick building above Huffman's was Sherman and Allison Morgue
Six men are sitting around a small table next to a woodburning stove
Store was operated by Peate and Buck Valiton
Left to right: Henry Dissett, Dr. W. I. Powers, George Congdon, and Pharmacist August Lindsteadt
Owned and operated by Mr. Easterly (without hat), it was located in the rear of the Crystal Saloon. This building is where the G and M Café was in 1969. Harrington's Pool Hall was also in this building at one time
Located where the Gallery is now
House on the left is where Johnny Price died
Photo taken by G.W. Miller
Located where City Park is on East Broadway, next to present Taylor Knapp Building; Henry Schnepels acquired the Silver Lake House from Billy Price in 1885. Mrs. Schnepel sold it to Josephine Greibel in 1904. Sign on side of building reads: "Hotel - P.G. Thibodeau Prop"
Pictured are Gay Neu, Mike Gannon and Carrol Huffman
Owned by M. E. Doe
Owned and operated by H. L. Fisck; located where the Baptist Church is located in 1975
1. Joe Degenhart 2. Joe Sabal 3. Jim Northey 4. Chas. Anderson 5. Walter Ballard 6. Harry Harding 7. Earl Schoonover 8. Fred Gieger 9. Irving Durfee l0. Jim Patten 11. Otto Scheller 12. Roy Neitz