Kemna, Herman

From ENHLDWiki

Herman Kemna first appeared in Butte in 1898 working as an architect for H.M. Patterson. He remained with that firm until 1902. In 1903 he worked independently but in 1904 joined the firm of M.D. Kern & Co. Again in 1905 he was working on his own. In 1906 he joined George Shanley. Shanley, who received his architectural training in Minnesota, came to Butte in 1904. Kemna remained with Shanley until 1910 then ran his own business until the end of his career. He is not listed in the city directories after 1923, but there is no death recorded in Silver Bow County. His wife Margaret continued to live at their home at 724 S. Main. Two sons, one an operator for the Butte Electric Railway, the other an electrician at the Curtis Substation, lived with her.

Kemna designed several fine residences, among them a bungalow for Lawrence Duggan in 1910 (31 E. Copper), a two-story brick at 739 W. Broadway, and 211 S. Jackson. He also designed several buildings in the Central Business District: The Cleveland Block at 39 E. Galena, the Thomas Block, the Daily Post building at 2 E. Galena, 126-132 S. Main, and the Phoenix Building on Park Street.

Kemna also designed the U.S. National Bank in Deer Lodge, built in 1910 on the lot of the old brewery.

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