Love this article.. My mother is from Burre. She had so many heart wrenching stories like this article. I’m taking my sons and brother to St Pats parade in Butte next year.
Brilliant article! As a native St. Louisan, we know about pandemic reactions as well, but thanks to Dr. Max Starkloff we had a different outcome with fewer dead and a respect for the lessons found in history.
Very interesting article. I found visiting Butte a great experience. Because of my mining background I found the mine museum incredibly interesting. One sad omission in your article was that over the life of Butte 2000 miners lost their lives through accidents.
I do have to say Kathleen,, very powerful and very real is how I read your article. If your article doesn't get peoples attention, nothing will. Thank you for writing about reality and being honest, as well. Bradley Doig~
My mother was born October 11, 1918, in a tent in a wild-horse-breaking camp outside Circle, Montana (near Bonin) because someone met my grandparents on the road into town and told them to turn back on account of the flu being in town. They all survived the epidemic, and my mother died at nearly 95 years old in 2013.
Of all the places I visited in this vast state, Butte has a special place in my heart. I worked there for 4 months. The people are genuine and are the salt of the earth. The old people I met enriched my life. They have a quality scarce in many places. Optimism. Their sense of community is immeasurable.
Butte is owed a loud thank you by the world. Without the miners we would be still living in the dark.
Fabulous piece of history you shared with us. And, for that and more I thank you.
I’ve always been proud of being born and raised in Butte, and continue to learn about its amazing history! Thank you for this wonderful article! I’m looking at my beautiful framed Martha Cooney-Simonich calligraphy that reads, “All I ever needed to know, I learned in Butte, Montana.” What a great place to call home!
My great grandparents are buried in the large Protestant cemetery in the valley below Butte central. I visited the Episcopal church where Grandfather Blackiston served. I explored the underground speakeasies and jail of Butte. I stayed over night in the William Clark mansion, just two blocks up the street from the Episcopal church I mentioned. During WW1 Butte flourished as the demand for copper exceeded production. Homes were being wired for electricity and the munitions factories demanded more copper to make brass cartridges. At the time Butte was on par with San Francisco, Seattle, & Portland for importance and influence.
I have over the years looked for your name to appear on articles!! You are such a good writer! Never forget about you and was so excited to finally see your name!!!
Intelligence, insight, and the clarity of true compassionate understanding resonate in your well-chosen words. As a regional photographer, I have wandered Butte on many occasions, as well as the cemetery at nearby Anaconda, the smelter town, and noted the many markers dated 1918. Your piece conjoins today's threatening crisis with what has come before, and you make perfect sense.
my dad's Irish-Catholic family was in Butte during those terrible times. He was 3rd of 6 siblings - born in 1909 ..... I never heard of the Spanish Flu from him. I only heard of the wonderful huge busy place called Butte, as I grew up in 1940's San Francisco. Thank you, Kathleen for this well-written TRUE story !!! From- Lynda Loftus, now retired in Austin ...love & peace 2 all ....
Love this article.. My mother is from Burre. She had so many heart wrenching stories like this article. I’m taking my sons and brother to St Pats parade in Butte next year.
Brilliant article! As a native St. Louisan, we know about pandemic reactions as well, but thanks to Dr. Max Starkloff we had a different outcome with fewer dead and a respect for the lessons found in history.
Very interesting article. I found visiting Butte a great experience. Because of my mining background I found the mine museum incredibly interesting. One sad omission in your article was that over the life of Butte 2000 miners lost their lives through accidents.
Closer to 2,500, which is in this piece I linked to https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/a-once-powerful-montana-mining-town-warily-awaits-final-cleanup-of-its-toxic-past/2020/02/09/514c4220-4943-11ea-bdbf-1dfb23249293_story.html
Thanks for that Kathleen
I do have to say Kathleen,, very powerful and very real is how I read your article. If your article doesn't get peoples attention, nothing will. Thank you for writing about reality and being honest, as well. Bradley Doig~
My mother was born October 11, 1918, in a tent in a wild-horse-breaking camp outside Circle, Montana (near Bonin) because someone met my grandparents on the road into town and told them to turn back on account of the flu being in town. They all survived the epidemic, and my mother died at nearly 95 years old in 2013.
Apparently Butte was smart enough to pay attention to history so as not to repeat it. Hope all is well in the mile high city.
Of all the places I visited in this vast state, Butte has a special place in my heart. I worked there for 4 months. The people are genuine and are the salt of the earth. The old people I met enriched my life. They have a quality scarce in many places. Optimism. Their sense of community is immeasurable.
Butte is owed a loud thank you by the world. Without the miners we would be still living in the dark.
Fabulous piece of history you shared with us. And, for that and more I thank you.
There are many things wonderful and unique about Butte. But mostly it is its people. They can beat anything. You guys are the greatest.
God Bless you Butte.
I hope many can take a moment and read your piece. It is well done. Thank you.
I’ve always been proud of being born and raised in Butte, and continue to learn about its amazing history! Thank you for this wonderful article! I’m looking at my beautiful framed Martha Cooney-Simonich calligraphy that reads, “All I ever needed to know, I learned in Butte, Montana.” What a great place to call home!
My great grandparents are buried in the large Protestant cemetery in the valley below Butte central. I visited the Episcopal church where Grandfather Blackiston served. I explored the underground speakeasies and jail of Butte. I stayed over night in the William Clark mansion, just two blocks up the street from the Episcopal church I mentioned. During WW1 Butte flourished as the demand for copper exceeded production. Homes were being wired for electricity and the munitions factories demanded more copper to make brass cartridges. At the time Butte was on par with San Francisco, Seattle, & Portland for importance and influence.
I’m wondering if this is the Kathleen McLaughlin that worker at Lerner while she went to the UM?
Kim!!!
I have over the years looked for your name to appear on articles!! You are such a good writer! Never forget about you and was so excited to finally see your name!!!
So happy to hear from you! Hope you’re doing well.
Great piece, Kathleen! Is it not surprising that too often we fail to learn from the past?
My grandfather had the Spanish flu, and recovered (after a month- 1919) to work at the Rarus Mine, only to be killed in a mining accident. 😞
Intelligence, insight, and the clarity of true compassionate understanding resonate in your well-chosen words. As a regional photographer, I have wandered Butte on many occasions, as well as the cemetery at nearby Anaconda, the smelter town, and noted the many markers dated 1918. Your piece conjoins today's threatening crisis with what has come before, and you make perfect sense.
my dad's Irish-Catholic family was in Butte during those terrible times. He was 3rd of 6 siblings - born in 1909 ..... I never heard of the Spanish Flu from him. I only heard of the wonderful huge busy place called Butte, as I grew up in 1940's San Francisco. Thank you, Kathleen for this well-written TRUE story !!! From- Lynda Loftus, now retired in Austin ...love & peace 2 all ....
Really heartfelt and well-written. I fear that too many communities will have to learn what Butte already knows.