The Eighth Ave Store in Helena, Montana

THE EIGHTH AVE STORE

The above picture is Eighth Ave Store building in Helena, Montana. This western style false-front building was originally a grocey owned by the Walter Dorsey Family, one of the first black families to operate a business in Helena. We know that Walter and Alma Dorsey moved this store and the house behind it onto the lot about 1903 and combined the two buildings. From the 19th Century architecture and building construction used, we also suspect the buildings had been salvaged from Canton, when the first dam across the Missouri at the Old Ferry Crossing was being constructed that eventually submurged the remainder of the old stage crossing town.
We do know that this building was operated as a neighborhood grocery by the Dorsey family from 1904 until the depression era. Walter Dorsey had died from a heart attack shortly after opening the store.
In 1933 the Gloege Family acquired the business from a local Saving and Loan and continued to live and operate the grocery in the building from 1933 until 1961 when national chain stores finally moved into the community, forcing the local neighborhood stores to close.
After the grocery closed this building had been a paint contractor's warehouse for about four years.
Then The Wise Penny Consignment Store was started here in 1961 by Ms Kellner and Ms George.
The Wise Penny franchise changed hands in 2007 to Gerda Anderson, who operated it until her death in 2002.
Now, mostly because of wishes of Ms Anderson's relatives, also city zoning restrictions and rules, this store is being re-opened as the Eighth Avenue Trading Company; a consignment and internet auction service; by the present owner, Robert Clarkson, but he hopes to offer more art and collectable objects, instead of expanding his photography studio as had originally been his lifelong dream.
In 1973 the building was partially remodeled and upgraded for the media assignment and portrait photography studio, business and retail store selling Magic Items and Theatrical Make-up.
There is an old carriage house, or small barn, in back of the building, used for storage of the Magic Show's Illusions.
In 2001-2002 the house was vacated and the building was completely remodled. The house became the Sleepy Senator, a luxury furnished town house operating as a Bed and Breakfast Suite..

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