James Edmond O'Connell (1896-1972)
J.E. "Eddy" O'Connell (1926)
In the 1st half of the 20th century J.E. "Eddy" O'Connell singularly made "Eddy's Bread" a household word. He came to Helena in 1906 at the age of 20 to be a waiter at the Broadwater Hotel. On May 1, 1910 he and Eddy Galvaston (former chef at Helena's historic Grandon Hotel) opened "Eddy's Cafe". Over the next few years the business expanded to include a hotel and bakery. In 1919 O'Connell purchased the bakery from his partner and focused his attention on making good bread for a good price and in the process established a legacy of bakeries and distribution centers throughout the northwest.
