SigMT

32 | SignatureMT It all started in 2011 when Jon, a builder, and his brother, Jeff, who holds a Master's degree in Architecture, were looking for what opportunities might be available in North Dakota. Driving from their homes in Kalispell and Baleground, Washington, they stopped in Glasgow, Montana, to look at a vacated grain elevator. While there, they learned that the Glasgow Hotel on Main Street was for sale by a bank that had it in foreclosure. e Glasgow Hotel was built by Sydney Rundle in 1917 when Montana was booming. e building became Glasgow's largest hotel that also included multiple commercial spaces. At different times a pool hall, bowling alley, restaurant, bar, drug store, newspaper office, woman's clothing store, shoe store, and barber shop leased space in the building. e rooms and suites were located on the second and third floor. Aer seeing the hotel's fantastic possibilities, Jon and Jeff talked with the bank that had taken over ownership of the building. e bank wanted cash that the Johnston brothers didn't have. Aer much brainstorming, they ended up leasing the building for 18 months while making improvements. During that time they found three private investors. With that backing, the Independence Bank in Glasgow stepped in and offered to carry the loan. e first bank was paid off in April 2014. e Johnstons took full possession and named the hotel, Rundle Suites. From 2012 to 2015 Jon and Jeff commuted weekly to work on the Rundle and to keep the hotel operating aer it opened for business June 2013 by contracting with Burlington Northern Santa Fe for crews to stay in the third- floor suites. eir mother, Joanne, and several other family members were a huge help in the initial stages of third-floor renovations and played a great role in keeping Rundle Suites open for business. Jon and Rebekka's goal was to bring life back to a rich historical building as a modern but boutique-style hotel. In 2015 they, with their family of seven children, moved into the hotel to do "what we felt had to be done and give it all we had," said Jon. "It takes dreaming to overcome this kind of work that involved blood, sweat and tears. We have knocked out an unbelievable amount of lath and plaster. It has been several years of very long days of continually pushing ourselves toward our goal, and now it's approximately 70 percent completed." Each room is custom designed to meet the enjoyment of guests seeking different amenities. "We have 20 standard rooms and nine large suites ready to be reserved. Our goal is 56 units," said Rebekka. The Johnstons tastefully use an original brick wall as decor in one of the bedrooms. This room is decorated in muted tones and has wonderful windows for viewing beyond the hotel. Popular "barn door" to the bathroom gives a guest room a spacious feeling

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