CONRAD — The Conrad Library is a historical site, but its brick façade on the front has its own local ties as well. The bricks came from a nearby quarry near Valier, and after 109 years of being here in town, it's time they receive a makeover.
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Tiffany Christensen, the Library Director for the Conrad Public Library said, “We are lucky enough that we get to have our library be housed in a historic building.”
Christensen grew up going to this library. Now, as the library director, she gets to help take care of it.
Christensen said, “Very historic parts of our building are now over a century old, and they need they need preservation, they need preserving.”
Thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Montana History, the Conrad Library’s front brick façade will be tuckpointed.
Christensen said, “The grout between the bricks is crumbling and the bricks are falling out.”
For the Foundation for Montana History, this is just one of nine history projects being funded across the state in 2025.
Zach Coe, Program Director for the Foundation for Montana History, said, “They had their ducks in a row and they, it was clear they were very passionate about this project and there were some great people working with it. So it really just kind of checked all the boxes.”
Coe said this year marks the foundation awarding at least one grant to each county in the state; he noted, “This year I think will forever hold a really special place in our foundation's own history.”
And the foundation hopes to continue preserving the history of the Treasure State, one grant at a time.
Brooke Linton, Communications and Development Director for the Foundation for Montana History, said, “Every county has a story, every county has history. So you don't have to have a certain number of people living in the county in order for it to be important.”
The library does not have an exact date for when this project will be getting underway, as they are still looking for a mason that specializes in historic buildings, but they hope to have it completed by the end of the next fiscal year.
Other recent grants by the Foundation for Montana History:
-Treasure County 89ers, “Yucca Theatre Pillar Dome Repair,” Hysham, $10,000: The Treasure County 89ers will prevent further water damage in the historic Yucca. Theatre by sealing cracks to the exterior, wall repairs, and painting the entire entry.
-Powder River Historical Society, “Reynolds Fight Exhibit Upgrade,” Broadus, $7,500: The Powder River Historical Society will create an updated exhibit displaying a 3-D print of the monument that commemorates the famous Reynolds Battle from 1876.
-McCone County Library, “Oral Histories,” Circle, $9,000: The McCone County Library will interview and transcribe stories from community members in Circle, Montana and the surrounding area.
-The Heritage and Cultural Foundation, “Steve Fork Cemetery,” Sand Springs, $10,000: The Heritage and Cultural Foundation of Garfield County will build a fence around the historic Steve’s Fork Cemetery to better preserve the monuments.
-McCone County Museum, “Pioneer Buildings & Artifacts signage,” Circle, $5,000: The McCone County Museum will create several signs that interpret outdoor exhibits featured at the museum.
-Wolf Point Area Museum, “Interior Paint Project,” Wolf Point, $10,000: The Wolf Point Area Museum will insulate and paint the interior of their museum to better display exhibits for the public.
-The Conrad Public Library, “Tuckpointing of Historic Brick Façade,” Conrad, $10,000: The Conrad Public Library will hire a contractor to tuckpoint and preserve the brick façade of the historic building.
-City of Shelby, “Roxy Theater Repair,” Shelby, $10,000: The city of Shelby will use funding to help repair and restore the historic Roxy Theater. The space will eventually become a community venue.
-Carter County Geological Society, “Educator’s Guide to Eastern Montana Museums,” Ekalaka, $10,000: The Carter County Geological Society will create a series of teacher guides to Eastern Montana museums. This work will make museum spaces accessible to teachers and students’ year round.
-Ninepipes Museum, “Voices that Shaped the Ninepipes Museum,” Charlo, $10,000: Ninepipes Museum will develop and implement a multi-year educational program that shares the unique history contained within their collection.
You can read more at the Foundation for Montana History website.
