Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Anaconda Road

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

1. Anaconda Road Marker

Inscription. Copper Is King
Future Copper King Marcus Daly acquired his first property in the area in 1880, a silver mine near the top of Butte Hill called Anaconda. Although the Anaconda was purchased as a silver mine, Daly soon discovered rich veins of copper. During the 1880s and 1890s, copper became a tremendous commodity as the country and world began to electrify. Daly bought out smaller mining interests on the Butte Hill that surrounded the Anaconda. Under Daly's leadership, and back-breaking labor of his miners, Butte would become a leading copper producer in the world.

Faith and Education
As the population and the number of families grew, homes and boarding houses were built along the Anaconda Road and in Dublin Gulch. The need for schools and churches became essential. With deep religious faith, people of the Anaconda Road soon grew to love St. Mary's Parish. From these early beginnings, a great neighborhood with a rich history developed The people from the neighborhood still display the traits inherited from this who came before. Such is the legacy of St. Mary's neighborhoods.

An Opportunity
The world demand for copper required a demand for miners in Butte. As the Anaconda Mine and Butte Hill developed and flourished,

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the Cornish, Welsh, Italian, Norwegian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian and especially Irish came seeking opportunity. Possessing traits necessary for the development of family and community - integrity, honesty, perseverance, strong morality, and an impeccable work ethic, many of these immigrants found their American dream. The miners, with lunch buckets under their arms, walked up the road to the Anaconda, Neversweat, High Ore, Diamond, Badger, and later the Kelley mines. They worked 8- or 10-hour shifts in the bowels of the earth in often dangerous conditions so they and their families could have a better life.

Erected by St. Mary's Neighborhoods. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 46° 0.984′ N, 112° 31.984′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. Marker is at the intersection of Anaconda Road and East Copper Street, on the left when traveling east on Anaconda Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Anaconda Road, Butte MT 59701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Corby Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Duggan Residence (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Lynching of Frank Little

Anaconda Road Marker (detail) Diagram of St. Mary's Neighborhoods image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer

2. Anaconda Road Marker (detail) Diagram of St. Mary's Neighborhoods

(about 500 feet away); Butte (about 700 feet away); Butte's Underground Mines (about 700 feet away); St. Mary's Church (about 800 feet away); From The Ashes (about 800 feet away); The Napton (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Butte.

Also see . . . Anaconda Road Massacre of 1920 -- We Never Forget, The Labor Martyrs Project. The picket lines were sent out and by Tuesday evening, as they say in Butte, “the hill was clean.” The hoisting of ore ceased. The strike was called on Sunday, April 18, by Local 800 Metal Mine Workers Industrial Union of the Industrial Workers of the World, at two meetings attended by over 2,500 miners. For several weeks miners had been leaving Butte by the dozens, dissatisfied with the contract and bonus system instituted by the mining companies. (Submitted on November 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

3. Anaconda Road Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 169 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.