North Elevation in Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
1125 North 31 Street
North Elevation Historic District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
1. 1125 North 31 Street Marker
Inscription.
1125 North 31 Street. North Elevation Historic District. This classic example of an American Foursquare house with Prairie style details was completed by 1916 when photographer Frank Crosby was hired to capture the fashionable new North Elevation subdivision. The term Foursquare describes the house’s floorplan, which featured a central hall and four equal-size rooms on each floor. The house’s graceful curvilinear rafter tails supporting the wide overhangs and its full-width front porch are its strongest Prairie style elements. While most of the houses in the neighborhood were built with open front porches, 1125’s porch was originally screened. Tailor Frank Burns and his wife Annie, an organist, lived here a short time, followed in 1925 by pharmacist Frank V. Patterson and his wife, Minnie. Frank and Minnie lived here for twenty years and ran two locations of the Patterson Pharmacy, one in the Hart-Albin building and one on Minnesota Avenue. Frank served three terms on the Montana Board of Pharmacy, which was created by the legislature in 1905 to regulate the profession. Socially, he was active in the Knights of Columbus, while Minnie was a member of the Rebekah Lodge.
This classic example of an American Foursquare house with Prairie style details was completed by 1916 when photographer Frank Crosby was hired to capture the fashionable new North Elevation subdivision. The term Foursquare describes the house’s floorplan, which featured a central hall and four equal-size rooms on each floor. The house’s graceful curvilinear rafter tails supporting the wide overhangs and its full-width front porch are its strongest Prairie style elements. While most of the houses in the neighborhood were built with open front porches, 1125’s porch was originally screened. Tailor Frank Burns and his wife Annie, an organist, lived here a short time, followed in 1925 by pharmacist Frank V. Patterson and his wife, Minnie. Frank and Minnie lived here for twenty years and ran two locations of the Patterson Pharmacy, one in the Hart-Albin building and one on Minnesota Avenue. Frank served three terms on the Montana Board of Pharmacy, which was created by the legislature in 1905 to regulate the profession. Socially, he was active in the Knights of Columbus, while Minnie was a member of the Rebekah Lodge.
Erected by Montana Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location.
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45° 47.472′ N, 108° 31.192′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in North Elevation. Marker is on North 31st Street near 12th Avenue North, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1125 North 31st Street, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020
2. 1125 North 31 Street Residence and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
