Aunt Julia's

Updated: August 21, 2020

Aunt Julia's was built on the site of the Leviathan Hall, which was built in 1863, and torn down in 1868. The Leviathan Hall was appropriately named because of its enormous size 28 by 100 feet this was a large building, which hosted many events.

One of these events occurred on January 2, 1865, at Virginia City, in then Montana Territory. Con Orem, (138 lbs.) blacksmith, fought 185 rounds with Hugh O'Neil, (190 lbs.) miner, in a fight that lasted over five and a half-hours for a $1,000 side bet. The referee called it a draw. For time and rounds it is the American record for bare knuckles.

The other famous event that occurred in Leviathan Hall was when the flour was taken for storage during the famous "Flour Riot" in April of 1865. The flour supply in the isolated town dropped dangerously low.

By 1875 the Leviathan Hall was gone and the site was occupied by a small one-story building. The present-day log house was built by Julius Kohl in about 1875 and was used as a carpenter shop and house. Kohl lived here until around 1920. The house was then rented for several years. "Aunt" Julia Elledge, daughter of Lucien Romey, a Virginia City pioneer, lived here until the mid 1950's.

Special acknowledgements to: John D. Ellingsen, John N. DeHass, Tony Dalich, and Ken Sievert, Tom Cook and Ellen Baumler of the Montana Historical Society.

Updated: August 21, 2020