The Connolly brothers, John T and Patrick H, opened a saddle business in Billings in 1913, offering "handmade harnesses, saddles and collars," and "repairing neatly done." They were located at 11 North 29th until the erected this building. Connolly Saddlery is still located at this site.

Historic Name:
Connolly Saddlery
Current Name:
Connolly Saddlery

Builder:
Unknown

Original Use:
saddle shop
Current Use:
saddle shop

Physical Description:
The Connolly Saddlery is located in a wide, single story building, which houses two retail spaces. The building is constructed of brick, and is rectangular in massing. The primary façade faces to the south and Montana Avenue. It has two storefronts, with separate doorways set under a decorative iron balcony at center. Newer, metal-framed glass doors access each half of the building. To either side, storefronts are each one large panel of glass with canvas awnings to cover. The upper facade is trimmed with diamonds and courses of cream brick above the storefronts and along the parapet coping. The parapet rises to a shallow point at center, above a white sign panel bearing the name of the business.

At the rear (north), the building opens onto an alley. Two separate additions have been made on each half of the building. At 2909, there is an addition of gray cinderblock with multi-pane windows. These windows have center units that open. There are two doors - a newer metal door in a wooden doorframe with transom; and a metal garage door. Behind 2911, the addition is of red cinderblock. Fenestration is composed of two large multipane windows with brick sills. A sign on the upper masonry is fading, but still legible. It reads CONNOLLY BROS/SADDLERY/NO PARKING in yellow on a black ground, with a white border stripe.

On the west elevation, the masonry has been covered in the last decade or so with stucco panels. A black and white cowboy mural adorns this side. On the interior, the store spaces are connected, and retain the historic flavor of the building.

Historical Associations:
The Connolly brothers, John T and Patrick H, opened a saddle business in Billings in 1913, offering "handmade harnesses, saddles and collars", and "repairing neatly done". They made stock saddles to order as well. The business grew up at 11 North 29th, and in 1920, the brothers purchased a 25' lot on Montana for a new building. They erected a brick building on lot 6 to house their shop at 2911 Montana. The business listed only brother Patrick from 1930 on, and in later years it became simply Connolly Saddlery.

The original Connolly building on lot 6, unfortunately, is no longer standing. It was torn down since 1980, and this larger building next door was refurbished to house the business. This building was apparently erected between 1930-32, replacing a tiny brick building which housed Charles Parsons express business during the 1920s. In 1932, Charles Diehl operated a restaurant here. By 1940, the property had sold to Carl R Francis who opened a restauarant here. In 1947 the café was called Eat-A-Bite Restaurant. By 1950, the US Bureau of Reclamation had an office here.

Historical and Architectural Significance:
Connolly Saddlery is an old and stalwart downtown business, residing at this address, but in a building next door, in the Montana Avenue corridor for almost 8 decades. It reflects the small family-run businesses that cropped up in the downtown over the years.

Connolly Saddlery is associated with the era of horse-powered transportation both within and around the city of Billings. However, the advent of automotive transportation did not result in the demise of businesses such as Connolly's, because of the important link they maintained to the ranching and agricultural communities surrounding the city. This building has only become associated directly with the Connolly business in recent years, however, it still reflects small business activity during the 1920s era in downtown Billings.