This is a blogpost I wrote 2 years ago for our uptownbutteworks blog
The cutting torches were fired up. 2/3 of the chippy hoist at the Mountain Con was destroyed. The primary drive axle at the double-drum hoist was severed and all copper motor components taken. The ore bin at the Kelley Mine was partially dismantled. In the wake of the mine closure in the early 80's, Butte was being raped and robbed of its visible mining history.
John T. Shea, a retired ACM Ropeman (ironworker) that worked at mines all over the Butte hill, watched out his kitchen window as the Mountain Con was being ransacked. The headframes were next. The rallying cry was then sounded by John:
"You might cut down one headframe," he declared, "but you'll be hanging from the next."
As the local Historic Preservation Officer whose job it was to preserve resources, this destruction made me physically ill. I marched into the Mountain Con yard and, blood boiling, demanded proof of permission for this "salvage." They had none. A pile of molten, smoking metal lay beneath the severed 18" axle.
Without the passion of the residents of Butte and their willingness to fight for the history of their town, we would have nary a headframe gracing the hill. Perhaps only the Orphan Girl at the WMM. We would have no Original Mineyard for festivals and weddings, no intact Anselmo Mineyard. No Mountain Con towering over a beautiful park.
The main problem was that the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was being ignored by those in control (BSB). Because not only was Butte historic, it was a National Historic Landmark that required even more Federal compliance than usual. This continues to be an issue to this very day.
Perseverance equals preservation. For 20 years I did my job as a BSB employee, which was insisting on governmental following of Federal regulation while up against politicos and their self-serving desires.
In the end that perseverance cost me my job, but it made preservation of our resources happen. Was it worth it? Yes. Every second. Because when I look up at the Butte Hill, I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for a job well done. 5/2014
The resources that we have in Butte, that are now so beloved, almost did not survive. People have to understand that this is what VISION is. The process of saving resources and slowly turning them into parks and trails and venues takes years of planning and finding money. Those were, and remain my strengths. I am proud because Butte would not be the place it is without my hard work and perseverance in the face of a lot of negative adversity.
John T. Shea, a retired ACM Ropeman (ironworker) that worked at mines all over the Butte hill, watched out his kitchen window as the Mountain Con was being ransacked. The headframes were next. The rallying cry was then sounded by John:
"You might cut down one headframe," he declared, "but you'll be hanging from the next."
As the local Historic Preservation Officer whose job it was to preserve resources, this destruction made me physically ill. I marched into the Mountain Con yard and, blood boiling, demanded proof of permission for this "salvage." They had none. A pile of molten, smoking metal lay beneath the severed 18" axle.
Without the passion of the residents of Butte and their willingness to fight for the history of their town, we would have nary a headframe gracing the hill. Perhaps only the Orphan Girl at the WMM. We would have no Original Mineyard for festivals and weddings, no intact Anselmo Mineyard. No Mountain Con towering over a beautiful park.
The main problem was that the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was being ignored by those in control (BSB). Because not only was Butte historic, it was a National Historic Landmark that required even more Federal compliance than usual. This continues to be an issue to this very day.
Perseverance equals preservation. For 20 years I did my job as a BSB employee, which was insisting on governmental following of Federal regulation while up against politicos and their self-serving desires.
In the end that perseverance cost me my job, but it made preservation of our resources happen. Was it worth it? Yes. Every second. Because when I look up at the Butte Hill, I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for a job well done. 5/2014
The resources that we have in Butte, that are now so beloved, almost did not survive. People have to understand that this is what VISION is. The process of saving resources and slowly turning them into parks and trails and venues takes years of planning and finding money. Those were, and remain my strengths. I am proud because Butte would not be the place it is without my hard work and perseverance in the face of a lot of negative adversity.
Hello! I wanted to let you know that there are two LPFMs in Montana that have labor history and information as part of their focus. KBMF LP - Butte America Radio: http://www.butteamericaradio.org has as part of its mission labor history and information, as does KFGM LP - Missoula Community Radio: http://missoulacommunityradio.org.
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