Page 55 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 42

Later, the Hedges added significant improvements for further
comfort and appearance. In July, 1886, the boiler and complete
apparatus for steam heat was installed.158 Between September 19
and 23, 1889, an eight-foot concrete sidewalk on the Hedges property
was laid bordering Broadway and Rodney Streets.159 This remained
the family home until after Cornelius’s death on April 29, 1907,
and it is still standing on the northwest corner of the intersection of
Broadway and Rodney Streets (320 Rodney Street).160

This home remained in Toby’s possession for several years after
his mother’s death in 1912, although Toby never married. Sometime
in the 1920’s, it was sold to a family who abused it quite badly. In
the early 1930’s it was purchased by the Crumm family, and the
interior and the Broadway Street entrance was radically remodeled
for use as a funeral home. During the severe Helena earthquake of
1935, the brick veneer was so seriously damaged that it had to be
removed for safety. Due to lack of funds the owners then covered
the exterior with Ruberoid shingles instead of brick. Only a small
portion of the 1878 brick veneer remains, and that on the small
buggy house adjacent to the residence. The building was later used
as an apartment house managed by Mrs. Harold L. Benson, sister
of the owner. The foregoing material was obtained in an informal
interview with the then owner, Mrs. Crumm of Laurel, Montana.
The interview was held at Helena on July 16, 1963. Today, it is once
again a private residence.

Judge Hedges not only moved into a new home in the fall of
1878, but also new offices. Henry Parchen, a prominent early Helena
Druggist and Grand Treasurer of the Montana Grand Lodge, A. F. &
A. M., built a new building that fall. When it was completed in mid-
November, Judge Hedges rented the second floor for his courtroom
and law offices.161 His offices remained there until early December of
1885, when he moved into offices in the newly completed Masonic
Temple at the corner of Broadway and Jackson. While Hedges had
his offices in other buildings, a portion of the rent was borne by
the Grand Lodge because he, as Grand Secretary, conducted the
business of the Grand Lodge from his law offices. However, the new
office with an adjoining room for use as the Grand Lodge Library
was provided rent free by the Trustees of the Masonic Temple.