North Park in Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Sawyer Stores

Billings Townsite Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. Sawyer Stores Marker

Inscription. The delicious odor of roasting coffee must have added a pleasing dimension to this industrial area when Sawyer Stores, Inc. opened its plant here in 1928. The facility served as the main office of a grocery chain that operated stores in Montana and Wyoming. The brick commercial building on its prime corner featured a creamery and warehouse on the first floor and a bakery and coffee roasting equipment on the second floor. A bean mill, seed cleaner, ice plant, and a huge basement produce-and-cold-storage warehouse made this a highly diversified operation. Convenient to a railroad siding, trains could pull right up to a loading dock while a second loading dock, now the 23rd Street entrance, accommodated trucks. Sawyer Stores operated out of this location until 1963. Heavy post-and-beam construction, wood flooring, two walk-in vaults, and the still-functioning freight elevator are ample evidence of the long, useful life of this Billings landmark.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition,

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it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 45° 47.067′ N, 108° 29.932′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in North Park. It is at the intersection of Montana Avenue (Business Interstate 90) and North 23rd Street, on the left when traveling east on Montana Avenue. The marker is located on the North 23rd Street side of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2223 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 Sawyer Stores - 1928 (a few steps from this marker); The Yellowstone Garage - 1920 (within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

2. Sawyer Stores Marker

The marker in on the building below the window and to the left of the streetlight pole.

marker); The Purity Bread Company (within shouting distance of this marker); The Iron Horse Comes To Billings (within shouting distance of this marker); The People's Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); Parks for the People (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Vincent Healthcare (within shouting distance of this marker); The Flood of 1937 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.

Sawyer Stores Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

3. Sawyer Stores Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.