Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Sawyer Stores
Billings Townsite Historic District
By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
1. Sawyer Stores Marker
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
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.
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Location. 45° 47.067′ N, 108° 29.932′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. Marker 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.
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 marker); The Purity Bread Company (within shouting distance of this marker); The Flood of 1937 (within shouting distance of this marker); Teddy Roosevelt Visits the Depot - 1918 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Billings Brewery - Opened in 1899 (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Cheyenne Tribe (within shouting distance of this marker); How Billings Got Its News (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.
By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
3. Sawyer Stores Building
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 3, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
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