Old Missoula

Higgins Block Sold – 1901 – Fayette Harrington and Sam Dinsmore Purchasers

Fayette Harrington and Sam Dinsmore Purchasers

Purchase Price is $70,000 – Rumor That Another Bank Will Soon Be Opened in the City.

A deed covering one of the largest realty transfers ever made in Missoula was yesterday filed with the county clerk and recorder, when Sam Dinsmore and Fayette Harrington placed an instrument for record of the conveyance of the Higgins block and office building, and four lots on which the property stands from R. M. Cobban and wife. The purchase price given was $70,000 and the transfer cancelled internal revenue stamps of $70.

The purchase price of the property shows a decided activity in the price of Missoula real estate. The building was purchased a year ago by Messrs. Cobban and Dinsmore from the Higgins estate for $55,000. Since that time improvements in excess of $10,000 have been made, which placed the building among the best appointed in the city. The new purchase price shows an advance in the rating of city property that is entirely a healthy one.

Mr. Harrington, who is now the owner jointly with Mr. Dinsmore is cashier of the Silver Bow County bank of Butte. His acquiring the property gives rise to the theory that the bank so long projected for the building was now an established fact. When seen on that feature of the transfer last night Samuel Dinsmore said such an institution would eventually be installed, but no details were as yet arranged.

The above article appeared in The Missoulian on January 19, 1901.

Sam Dinsmore was a well-known Missoula area developer. He developed Orchard Homes along with R. M. Cobban. On the other hand, Fayette Harrington was a little-known Montana pioneer, who lived in Missoula from 1907 until his death in 1924. Before moving to Missoula Harrington had been a Butte banker and investor. In Missoula he became involved in real estate and brokerage businesses. His wife’s obituary states he was involved with Dinsmore in developing Orchard Homes. He was one of the original Alder Gulch pioneers, having arrived there in September of 1864. He lived in that area until 1889 when he moved to Butte, Mt. He was a member of two early Montana Legislative assemblies and was involved in mining and several other businesses in Madison County. Both he and his wife, Helen, were buried in Missoula. She was the former Miss Mollie Walker of Butte.

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