Original article
This house was built in 1912, by Dr. Hugh Altnow, who lived in the home from 1912 to 1924. The mail-order home came pre-cut and was shipped to Bingenheimer Mercantile Company.
The home is a classic Arts-and-Crafts bungalow design, a one-and-a-half story dwelling. It features built-in china cabinets and bookcases, box-beam ceilings, and original light fixtures. A particular feature of this home is that all the hardware matches, from the drawer pulls to the doorknobs. The foundation is very unique; it is made of prairie stone. The wide eaves of the home are typical bungalow design. In the front yard of the home, the original hitching posts from the original wood Saint Joseph Church are on display.
Dr. Altnow would eventually decide to specialize his practice toward children’s diseases and moved to the Twin Cities. He would also eventually go on to start the Henniepin County Clinic in Minneapolis, MN. In 1924, Altnow sold the home to Dr. Cecil Smith. For 25 years Doctor Smith served as local physician for the Northern Pacific Railroad, as well as school physician for the State Industrial School (now know as the Youth Correctional Center). Dr. Smith was also founder of the Custer Health District. The home was occupied by the Smith family from 1924 until the death of Dr. Smith’s wife, Winifred, in 1976.
The home was purchased by Bob and Gloria Feickert who lived in it until 1988. Bob and Gloria were employees of the Bismarck Tribune. Gloria also worked for Dr. Smith when she was in high school.
The photo is the Smith family residence in early 1940’s.
Copy-edited article
Dr. Hugh Altnow built this house in 1912 and lived there until 1924. The mail-order house arrived precut and was shipped through the Bingenheimer Mercantile Company.
The one-and-a-half-story dwelling is a classic Arts and Crafts bungalow. It retains built-in china cabinets and bookcases, box-beam ceilings, original light fixtures, and matching hardware from drawer pulls to doorknobs. Its distinctive foundation is made of prairie stone, while the wide eaves are typical of bungalow design. Hitching posts from the original wooden St. Joseph Church are displayed in the front yard.
Altnow eventually specialized in children's diseases and moved to the Twin Cities, where he helped establish the Hennepin County Clinic in Minneapolis. In 1924, he sold the house to Dr. Cecil Smith. Smith served for 25 years as the Northern Pacific Railroad's local physician and as physician for the State Industrial School, now the Youth Correctional Center. He also founded the Custer Health District.
The Smith family occupied the house from 1924 until the death of Smith's wife, Winifred, in 1976. Bob and Gloria Feickert later purchased it and lived there until 1988. Both worked for the Bismarck Tribune, and Gloria had worked for Dr. Smith while attending high school.