I wonder what came before The Dutchman? I only know of The Atlantic Hotel under the stewardship of Martin, a Dutch hippie who ended up in Missoula and somehow in possession of The Atlantic. The property was off the town's radar even as it sat centrally on the west side of Circle Square at the roundabout of Higgins Avenue by the train depot. Missoula was in amber in the 80s in terms of development, in any case, and The Dutchman was able to create a warren of living quarters and slowly rehabilitating the place.
I discovered it through Aaron, who found his way there as a musician and student, around 1988. The hotel was not in great shape, but as each person came and went it seemed to rise to life with new art, fresh tiles, and later a shiny wood floor throughout that Aaron refinished after decades of paint, carpet, and neglect.
I am curious how The Dutchman acquired the place and why? What brought him from the Low Countries to The Rocky Mountains? Why was he so dedicated to it?
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