{"id":3602,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:16","latitude":45.78824920000000275877027888782322406768798828125,"longitude":-108.517254699999995182224665768444538116455078125,"title":"Reynolds/Molesworth Residence","subtitle":"North Elevation Historic District","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/89bd4e3052baccfe948d32fe06a1c3f4.jpg","address":"935 North 31st Street, Billings, MT","all_locations":[],"zoom":19,"creator":["Historic Montana"],"description":"Ward Nye, superintendent of Billings Public Schools, had this classic Craftsman style home built on speculation in 1916. It is likely he chose the design from a house plan catalog such as Sears, Roebuck &amp; Co. The home’s exposed rafter ends, prominent knee braces, and small window in the gable end match the Sears “Winona bungalow” pattern. Nye sold the home to Frank B. and Florence Reynolds in 1918. Frank, a respected lawyer, became associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court in 1921 but fell ill and died in May 1922. Thomas and Laverne Molesworth purchased the home in 1923. Thomas managed the Rowe Furniture Company and Laverne was a homemaker. Thomas, who studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago, learned the furniture business in Billings and in 1932 moved the family to Cody, Wyoming, to open the Shoshone Furniture Company. He gained fame with his distinctly Western “cowboy” furniture style, which incorporated hides, animal horns, and knotty tree trunks. Thomas&#039;s most famous commissions include Coca-Cola magnate Robert Woodruff’s TE Ranch, publishing mogul Moses Annenberg’s Ranch A, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s den.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"private","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/cbe78223-fdcb-42ab-8ec9-a199eac18e21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more about the North Elevation Historic District.</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/89bd4e3052baccfe948d32fe06a1c3f4.jpg":{"id":6277,"mime-type":"image/png","title":"Reynolds/Molesworth Home","description":"Northern corner of façade | unknown | Owner photo","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/89bd4e3052baccfe948d32fe06a1c3f4.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9f5265b847d44b1bd76ffaff0516cc35.jpg":{"id":6273,"mime-type":"image/png","title":"Reynolds/Molesworth Home","description":"Front view of façade | Google Street View | January 2022","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9f5265b847d44b1bd76ffaff0516cc35.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/f566158ae2ffd19ed04631d2f81cc41d.pdf":{"id":6275,"mime-type":"application/pdf","title":"F.B Reynolds Seeks Justiceship","description":"Newspaper clipping | <a href=\"https://www.newspapers.com/image/415382348/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">newspapers.com</a> | August 15, 1920 | The Billings Gazette","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f566158ae2ffd19ed04631d2f81cc41d.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/1257d442090d48518fa99d26fe55c71d.pdf":{"id":6276,"mime-type":"application/pdf","title":"Wild West Furniture","description":"Newspaper clipping | <a href=\"https://www.newspapers.com/image/410567122/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">newspapers.com</a> | August 18, 1989 | The Billings Gazette","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1257d442090d48518fa99d26fe55c71d.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/3f8d733c268aae2e3b010b2527a84046.pdf":{"id":6385,"mime-type":"application/pdf","title":"Montana Historic Property Record for 935 N. 31st St., Billings, MT","description":"An inventory record containing a building description, history, and significance of the property. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT. | 2015 | Western Heritage Center, Billings, MT","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/3f8d733c268aae2e3b010b2527a84046.jpg"}}}