Every time I drive by, I wonder.

Longtime locals remember when 24th St West was pretty much the western edge of Billings. Sure, a few subdivisions began popping up along 32nd St West forty years ago, but until the last couple of decades, things were basically "country" a mile west from 24th Street.

Now, Shiloh Road is a major north-south thoroughfare on Billings West End as more and more former farmland becomes residential housing. Looking somewhat out of place, the old, white building is one of the smallest churches I've ever seen.

Google Street View
Google Street View
loading...

Surrounded by development, the little church remains.

With huge, popular houses of worship in the surrounding area, the tiny white chappel certainly evokes an earlier time, when Billings' population was much smaller. I'm sure it was considered "out-of-town" when it was built, likely miles from the nearest house in early downtown Billings.

Photo by Michelle Tresemer on Unsplash
Photo by Michelle Tresemer on Unsplash
loading...

Maybe it was a school?

It certainly looks like a church, but it could have been a really small, one-room schoolhouse. There is a steeple, but no religious symbology is visible on the aging little building. Any stained glass is long gone, with a few pieces of plywood on some of the windows. Others are gaping dark holes. Any church pews (or school desks) in the small structure have been removed long ago.

Photo by Mukul Wadhwa on Unsplash
Photo by Mukul Wadhwa on Unsplash
loading...

Please, not another coffee shop.

I recall reading a story a few years ago that the little church at the old Cetrone Photography Studio property was going to become a drive-through coffee shop. For the life of me, I can't find that source. When I drove by the location last week, I noticed a new business on a portion of the property. If you have any insight on the history of the building, or what it's going to become, I'd love to hear it. Shoot me an email at michael.foth@townsquaremedia.com

LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.