Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Pouder Furniture Building
Billings Townsite Historic District
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
1. Pouder Furniture Building Marker
Inscription.
Situated in the heart of the extended commercial railroad corridor that developed in the 1910s, this vernacular Western Commercial style building on its prominent corner anchors the historic district. Built circa 1916, Howard J. Pouder and his wife Nettie moved their second-hand furniture business here from a few doors down. The Pouders’ Billings Auction House operated at this location until 1929, advertising “everything for the home.” The Pouders bought, sold, and exchanged furniture, kitchen appliances, rugs, and office equipment and purchased large inventories of household goods for re-sale. The building, which wraps around North Thirtieth Street, included a two-room apartment, advertised for rent in 1920. By 1923, the upper floor housed a dance hall and by 1930, the upstairs had been converted into the Central Apartments, which included five units. Offices for the Crosby Hatchery opened onto North Thirtieth Street, and the Central Sheet Metal Works operated on the ground floor. Architecturally significant for its stunning red brick façade, the pristine upper story features segmental arched windows, simple
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brick detailing, and wonderful “ghost signs” recalling the building’s early 1930s occupants.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 45° 46.813′ N, 108° 30.438′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is on Montana Avenue near North 30th Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2923 Montana Avenue, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Yellowstone Country. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, 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: The Clark Hotel - 1928 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Indigenous Homeland (about 400 feet
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 29, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
