Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

C.E. Davis Residence

Northside Residential Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

1. C.E. Davis Residence Marker

Inscription. Charles E. Davis, “expert watchmaker and jeweler,” arrived in Great Falls with his wife, Grace, in 1900. With Charles’ two brothers, the couple opened a store on bustling Central Avenue, selling jewelry, watches, cut glass, gifts, and eyeglasses. Their son, William, continued the family business, and Davis Jewelry remained a Central Avenue institution until 1983. The Davises built this two-story residence in 1902. The home’s architecture bridges the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The fish-scale shingles in the gable end evoke the Queen Anne style, but most of the home’s features reflect the cleaner lines of the Colonial Revival style, which became increasingly popular after the turn of the century. Charles and Grace raised four children, three of whom continued to live here into adulthood. In 1930, the residence, valued at $10,000, sheltered Charles and Grace, two grown sons, a teenage daughter, and a live-in servant. When Charles died at the age of seventy-seven in 1948, he was thought to be Central Avenue’s oldest active businessman. Grace remained in the family home until 1958.

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National Register Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 30.585′ N, 111° 17.562′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It is on 4th Avenue North near 9th Street North, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 817 4th Avenue North, Great Falls MT 59401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: W.K. Floweree House (within shouting distance of this marker);

C.E. Davis Residence and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

2. C.E. Davis Residence and Marker

Quigley House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); A.W. Kingsbury House (about 800 feet away); Abe and Carrie Kaufman Residence (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Ann's Cathedral (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dubbs Block (approx. ¼ mile away); Toole Residence (approx. ¼ mile away); First Methodist Church (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 25, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.