A lovely Craftsman-style home has graced 1900 Wall St. since 1910. Today’s house at this prominent corner location, however, is a modern reconstruction, built after fire destroyed the original house. Replicating the original house’s historic architectural character, it stands in testament to the families that have called 1900 Wall home over more than a century of years.
Edwin M. Lamb was the first to reside at 1900 Wall, moving into the newly constructed house in 1910. Lamb had arrived at Butte in the 1890s, after obtaining a law degree in Nebraska. He quickly built a successful law practice and was elected City Attorney in 1901 and then again in 1909. He resided at 1900 Wall with his daughter until she left for college in 1914. Lamb abandoned his suburban existence on the Flats soon after that and relocated Uptown.
Martin Vivian and his wife Nettie purchased 1900 Wall in 1918. Missouri natives, the couple had come to Butte by the late 1880s where Martin secured a job with the city’s new streetcar company. The Vivians initially shared their Wall St. home with daughter Lucy and her husband Charles Amos, a successful local merchant. The death of Nettie in 1921 closely followed by Charles and Lucy’s divorce tore the family apart but not completely. Martin and his former son-in-law continued to live together until the late 1930s, when Martin retired and moved. Charles stayed at 1900 Wall until 1955.
Risto Kurilich and his wife Carman Brostrom acquired 1900 Wall as a home for their burgeoning family in 1955. Born and raised in Lead, South Dakota, Risto was the son of Yugoslavian-immigrants, while Carman was a Butte native. Risto worked as a miner for the Anaconda Company, moonlighting at times as the owner and operator of local taverns. He and Carman raised three sons and two daughters at 1900 Wall, filling the home with love and activity, including parties and holiday dinners for family and friends.
After Risto died in 1991, daughter Ristine moved back home to assist her mother. Ristine was joined by her husband Frank Hall and their children. She was a popular fitness instructor, while Frank operated an autobody and repair shop. The couple carried on the long-established traditions of hosting the family’s annual Christmas Eve celebration and weekly dinners.
On a hot August day in 2008, fire roared through and destroyed the nearly century-old house. Devastated by the loss of their longtime family home, Ristine and Frank decided to rebuild. Designed by architect James Merriam, the new house displays the same exterior form, materials and ornamental details as the original Craftsman-style home but essentially is double the size, recalled by the presence of two instead of one hipped roof dormers. An open floor plan more conducive to modern day living characterizes the interior, but important original elements are replicated such as the wood trim. Ristine and the house remain the heart of the Kurilich-Hall family at present.
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