Crystal Ice & Fuel Company, Listed!

The 1920 Crystal Ice & Fuel Company building hosted several important businesses in downtown Billings over its history. In addition to Crystal Ice and Fuel, these enterprises included the Great Northern Seed Company, Farmers Union Co-operative Creamery (a business that occupied the building for 22 years), Seven-Up and Coca-Cola bottling companies, Western Newspaper Union. The building embodies the Western Commercial style of architecture popular at the time—straight-forward with minimal flair style that proved pleasing yet functional.

YELLOWSTONE COUNTY,

Crystal Ice & Fuel Company, 19 North 22nd Street, Billings, SG100010218, LISTED, 4/15/2024

Crystal Ice & Fuel Company

The 1920 Crystal Ice & Fuel Company, Billings, is designed in the Western Commercial style, a straight-forward architecture with minimal flair commonly applied to early twentieth century industrial buildings.

Though it was built as an ice and coal operation, the building has proven its versatility over the last century as home to the Great Northern Seed Company, the Farmers Union Co-operative Creamery, Seven-Up and Coca-Cola bottling companies, and the Western Newspaper Union.

The building exterior has a collection of marginally readable ghost signs, that nomination author Dr. Tim Urbaniak researched using historic photos and computer imaging technology. The property’s owner is restoring some of the signs at risk of being lost.