All it takes is one stroll down Helena’s Reeder’s Alley to know that it’s a special place. Located in the southwest corner of Montana’s capital city, this historic alley provides a glimpse of what life was like for Montanans in the past, particularly the lives of miners and the everyday people who came here looking for a better life. We’ve also recently discovered that this little stretch of land is harboring a few secrets.

These days, Reeder's Alley is a quiet, peaceful place, known for its centuries-old buildings. Some of those buildings are now home to offices and businesses.
Jesse Franzen / Google
This is the oldest intact piece of early Helena. In December of 2000, then Reeder's Alley owners Darrell and Kathy Gustin donated the properties to the Montana Heritage Commission. The team has done a wonderful job of preserving it.
You can walk through the alley and see history come alive, and it's fascinating.
Cheryl Finnie / Google
But there's one old home in particular that has more history than most places here.

Related Stories

Montana's Hotel Albert Is Also A Bar And Restaurant With An Eerie And Fascinating History

Montana's Hotel Albert Is Also A Bar And Restaurant With An Eerie And Fascinating History

 You Won't Even Recognize Montana When You Watch This Historical Footage From The 1940s

You Won't Even Recognize Montana When You Watch This Historical Footage From The 1940s

 The Gallatin History Museum Offers A Unique Glimpse Into Montana's Past

The Gallatin History Museum Offers A Unique Glimpse Into Montana's Past
Laura and George Duchesnay bought the stone house in the early 1900s. Laura loved animals, and she soon filled the home with singing yellow canaries.
Huge Hackenbush / Google
But these birds ended up having another sneakier purpose. Rumor has it that, during Prohibition, Laura would hang some of her canary cages outside the house to let people know that a new shipment of illegal liquor had arrived.
When the alley was alive with the sound of canaries singing, the locals knew it was time to party.
Annie Shulz Begel / Google
According to local legend, the birds' songs filled the stone house even years after Laura's death. In fact, a few visitors reported hearing their ghostly chirps many years later when the building became a restaurant.
While there's no proof that Laura was actually using her birds to sell her high-proof bootlegged liquor — nor is there proof of any ghost birds in the alley — evidence suggests that at least one of these things is true.
Kevin Buehler / Google
In 2008, when the stone house was being renovated, people discovered a pair of pits concealed beneath the floor. These secret compartments were just the right size for stashing illegal liquor.

Have you ever checked out Reeder’s Alley? If one single home can harbor so many secrets, we wonder what the other buildings would say if they could speak.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Montana

Featured Addresses
Reeders Alley, Helena, MT 59601, USA