Address:
2610 - 2614 Montana Ave

Photolog:
10-6

E.U. Logan Glass and Paint, 2610 - 2614 Montana Ave



E.U. Logan Glass and Paint was housed at 2610 Montana Avenue from 1918 through the 1930s.

Legal Description:
Billings Townsite Railroad Right of Way, MRL Lease #245865

Owner:
St. Vincent de Paul
2610 Montana Ave, Billings, 59101

Historic Name:
E U Logan Glass & Paint
Current Name:
St. Vincent de Paul offices

Architect:
Unknown

Original Owner:
E U Logan Glass & Paint

Builder:
Unknown

Date Of Construcion:
ca. 1918

Original Use:
Store
Current Use:
Offices, kitchen

Physical Description:
This is a three story commercial building of brick construction that stands between Billings' Northern Pacific railroad tracks and Montana Avenue. The primary façade faces north onto Montana Avenue, the rear is outfitted with loading docks and faces the tracks.

On the north, this primary elevation is faced with white brick trimmed with dark red brick. The façade is arranged symmetrically into three bays. On the east and west, the bays extend to three panels in width; at center it is two. On the ground floor, storefront/entrances are located to each side and a fixed display window is placed at center. Large banded windows are stacked above these openings. White brick panels outlined with red brick visually separate the floors. Simple bands of red brick span the tops of window openings. The parapet is decorated with diamonds and a simply outlined panel. Red brick coping finishes the facade.

On the south, three bays once loaded out onto a raised wooden dock projecting toward the railroad tracks. Extensive brick repair has been made at the rear. Two bays are now infilled with brick. A partial awning and dock remain. On the upper floors, brickwork and fenestration is similar to that on the north.

Historical Associations:
From Billings' earliest days, warehouses were located in the area around the railroad tracks at the heart of downtown. This warehouse district grew and became denser as the town became larger and the business base expanded. By the early 20th century, there was a whole array of warehouses holding all the goods that the growing city's population demanded. The available lots in the vicinity of the tracks were filled with a wide variety of retail and wholesale businesses. During the 1910s, the railroad added to the available space in the warehouse district by leasing their property along the south side of Montana Avenue to several business houses. In the years that followed, several warehouses and retailers were added to the heart of the commercial district.

This building housed E.U. Logan Glass & Paint shop - "Dealers in All Kinds of Glass" -- from 1918 through the 1930s. Prior to that, EU Logan and Frank W Mullison based their glass shop at 3019 First Ave N. Following the glass shop, the building housed Montana Paint Manufacturing.

Integrity:
This building retains good integrity, and is an important component of the retail/warehouse area near Billings' downtown railroad tracks. The building is well-preserved, and most original design and detailing is intact readily conveying its historic associations. Although windows have been replaced, the building is a strong, clean design and is an integral component of the historic area along Montana Avenue.

Historical and Architectural Significance:
This building fits into a latter period of downtown development, within the warehouse corridor between Minnesota-Montana Avenues. Constructed after downtown had densely built up, these buildings composed a fringe to downtown, where retail, wholesale and warehouse buildings mixed together. This building is a strong element in this block of buildings, dating from the late 1910s and early 1920s.

Research Sources:
City Directories
Deed Records
Sanborn Maps for Billings, Montana 1884 - 1954

Form Completed For Downtown Billings Historic Survey By:
Chere Jiusto 406-443-2114
2064 Orofino Gulch
Helena, Mt 59601
November 1998

Other:

Photo Courtesy of Paul Whiting