Parmly Billings Library
This card was mailed to Mr. F.D. Miller, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Whoever expected to be in Jamestown, N.D. that night also wrote on the back of the card:
Worked on a ranch here 8 days.
The card was published by Chapple Drug Co., Billings, Mont. It was postmarked Billings, 05 Aug 1907
November 18th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
I really like the old photos and postcards on your blog. It is hard to imagine that the postcard was sent almost a hundred years ago. I am glad someone had the foresight to hang onto it through the years so we can enjoy it today.
November 18th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
I’ll bet most folks pass by the Western Heritage Center and have no idea A) that it was once the City Library, or B) who the heck Parmly Billings was. For the record, in case there’s anybody who doesn’t know reading this, Parmly Billings was a son of Fredrick Billings, the former president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The son actually spent time in the city that was named after his father (Pops never set foot in the town), and when he died at a very young age (22 or 23, I think), his parents donated the money (and the NP the land) for a community library, which the building served as until the late 1960s, when the Library moved to an old hardware warehouse on North Broadway where it resides to this day.
I’m sure Moos — being a history buff like I am — has been to the WHC many times when she’s been in Billings (and had the time to do so — which may mean she didn’t go there all that often, no that I think of it). For those of you who’ve never been (especially those who are following this blog from faraway lands and/or planets) and enjoy history, by all means go. It’s at the corner of Montana Avenue and North 29th Street in the heart of downtown, and you can’t beat the admission price — free.
November 18th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
I want to go visit that library! Love your new look!
November 18th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Ohhhh…a new place to visit next time I’m home. Thanks to Kirk and Sheba for the address. There are great buildings in Montana, I need to see a few more. Thanks for sharing!
November 20th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Many fond memories of the old library. I visited often as a child; the children’s section was in the basement, on the west end of the building. We wanted to go into the tower, but the librarians wouldn’t allow it.
November 21st, 2006 at 12:20 pm
[…] I was in Billings yesterday when I realized that I was nearing this building. I parked right in front. Now, that is something that someone familiar with driving in NYC can appreciate. With the history lesson from the post on the postcard, I thought that a recent photograph was in order. I wasn’t able to shoot from the same vantage point as the 1907 photographer, but except for the stairs - the building looks the same. I still haven’t found the time to actually go in the building. There are more photos on my flickr stream. […]