Showing minor signs of age, wear and handling - mostly light toning. Expected fold creases from posting. No major issues to note. Eye-catching legible writing. Overall, in good to very good condition. Will display well in your collection. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos. It measures approx. 5" x 8"

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## 1876 Centerville, Montana Territory – Handwritten Lumber Order to A. M. Holter, Helena – D. T. Houston – Door and Cornish Construction An original handwritten business letter dated March 6, 1876, from Centerville, Montana Territory, addressed to A. M. Holter of Helena, one of Montana's leading pioneer lumber merchants and manufacturers. The letter was written by D. T. Houston and contains a detailed order for finished lumber and building materials, apparently intended for the construction of a doorway and associated architectural trim. Written in dark ink on a single sheet of lined paper, the correspondence provides an interesting record of the materials, measurements, and woodworking terminology employed in Montana's territorial construction trade during the 1870s. ### Transcription The handwritten letter reads: > Centerville Meagher Co M.T. March 6/76 > > A. M. Holter > > Sir I intend sending in a day or two for the following bill of Lumber and write to you in order to have it ready. > > 200 ft 14 feet long 6 inches wide And the following for Cornish 4 boards 12 ft long 12 inches wide 4 boards 16 ft long 6 inches wide 4 boards 16 ft long 12 inches wide all good lumber and planed on one side but not grooved Two Batten Doors one inside and one outside door > > Yours &c D. T. Houston The reverse carries a contemporary filing notation: > D. T. Houston Centerville Mch 6/76 ### Historical Background – A. M. Holter Anton M. Holter (1831–1921) was one of Montana's most prominent pioneer businessmen, with extensive interests in lumber manufacturing, hardware, mining, and commercial development. Born in Norway, Holter immigrated to the United States before traveling west. He entered Montana's lumber industry in 1863, establishing an early sawmill near Virginia City to supply the rapidly expanding gold-mining settlements. Following the discovery of gold at Last Chance Gulch, Holter expanded his lumber operations into the Helena area. In 1867, he established the partnership A. M. Holter & Brother with his brother Martin, developing a substantial business supplying lumber, hardware, building materials, mining equipment, and general merchandise throughout Montana Territory. The Holter enterprise became especially important in the manufacture and distribution of finished building materials. By the late 1860s, the business was producing doors, window sash, blinds, and other architectural woodwork. The firm eventually developed into the A. M. Holter Hardware Company, incorporated in 1886, and remained a prominent Helena commercial establishment for many decades. The 1876 letter is particularly relevant because it documents a customer ordering both finished lumber and manufactured doors, directly reflecting the products supplied by Holter's established lumber and woodworking operations. ### Centerville, Meagher County, Montana Territory The letter is headed "Centerville Meagher Co M.T.", identifying the sender's location within Meagher County as it existed in 1876. This is an important geographical detail because Montana's territorial county boundaries differed considerably from those of the present day. Meagher County was established in 1867 and originally encompassed a much larger area of central Montana than it does today. During the 1870s, the region contained numerous small agricultural, mining, and transportation settlements whose residents depended upon larger commercial centers such as Helena for specialized manufactured goods. The letter illustrates how lumber and finished building materials were ordered from established suppliers and transported to outlying communities, often by wagon or freight teams. ### The Lumber Order and Construction Details The most interesting aspect of the correspondence is its unusually specific list of building materials. Houston requests 200 feet of lumber in fourteen-foot lengths, six inches wide, followed by additional boards intended for "Cornish," almost certainly a phonetic or variant spelling of cornice, the projecting architectural trim commonly used along rooflines, eaves, and the upper portions of buildings. The order specifies boards of several dimensions, including twelve-foot and sixteen-foot lengths, with widths of six and twelve inches. Houston also requests that the boards be "planed on one side but not grooved." This is a significant detail, indicating that the lumber was intended for a particular type of finish work rather than ordinary rough framing. The request for two batten doors, one inside and one outside, further suggests a building project involving both exterior and interior construction. Batten doors were commonly made from vertical wooden boards secured by horizontal crosspieces, providing a relatively simple, durable, and economical door construction. They were widely used in barns, outbuildings, workshops, and modest residential or commercial structures throughout the nineteenth century. The combination of cornice boards and batten doors suggests a practical construction project, although the letter does not identify the building or its intended use. Houston's statement that he intends to send for the lumber "in a day or two" also illustrates a common business practice of the period: customers would notify suppliers in advance so that materials could be selected, prepared, and assembled before the arrival of a wagon or freight conveyance. ### Physical Description An original handwritten letter on a single sheet of lightly lined stationery, with the correspondence occupying most of the front and a dated filing notation on the reverse. The sheet retains its original horizontal and vertical folds, scattered age toning, and irregularities along the edges, including some paper loss along the left edge. The reverse exhibits localized staining and discoloration near the lower portion of the central fold. The ink remains dark and the handwriting is generally clear and legible. Dated March 6, 1876, this correspondence provides an informative record of Montana territorial construction and commerce, documenting the purchase of finished lumber, cornice boards, and batten doors from one of Helena's most influential pioneer businesses. Particularly noteworthy are the early Meagher County location, the precise lumber specifications, and the request for specially prepared boards, all of which provide insight into nineteenth-century woodworking and building practices in Montana Territory.

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