The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-03
DEMAND OF THE TIMES
The Old Surprenant Home to Be
Replaced by q Business Block.
AN ANACONDA LANDMARK
Many Pleasant Memories Recalled While
the Process of Transformation Is
Being Carried On-One of the
City's Pioneer Families.

One of the Oldest houses in Anaconda
is being torn down to be replaced by a
large business building. Since Joe v.
Surprenant built the log house, nearly
Is years ago, on the corner of Oak and
Park avenue. conditions have greatly
changed in this city. When the house
was erected it stood alone in that part
of town. Park avenue was then called
Second street and beautiful stream of
water ran down in front of the yard.
A large stream also coursed down First
street, now Commercial avenue. Since
then, however. increased facilities at
the smelter have pressed into service
all the available water of Warm
Springs creek, and the streams that
once watered these streets are now
turned into the mammoth fiume that
leads to the big works across the
creek.
Mr.. Surprenant's family was among
the first to locate IN Anaconda in 1883.
He built log house for his family and
used to do blacksmithing in a building
that now stands in the rear of w. G.
Haynes livery stable. Following the
rapid growth of the town Mr. Surpre-
nant added to his residence. He built
a large two-story frame adjoining the
log house and weather boarded the en-
tire structure. Later when things be-
gan to boom little more Mr.. Surpre-
nant decorated his residence with a
porch and picket fence around his front
yard. Then he was right in it and was
rapidly growing with the town, both in
corpulence and affiuence.
This old land mark will always be
remembered as having been the home
of hundreds of hungry men. Mrs. Sur
prenants tables have delighted many
epicures. 1t was in this house that
many tempting feasts have been en-
yxyh Ia CT cd
Mrs. Surprenant's delicious ice cream
will recall many happy days. The
guests of this charming hostess will
always nourish a pleasant memory of
the delightful hours spent under the old
roof that is now being reduced to kind
ling wood by the demolishing hand of
the house razer. There are to-day men
in every quarter of the globe and Alas
ka who have at some time in the past
partaken of the good things that Mrs.
Surprenant always had on her tables.
1t was in this house that the pioneer
young folks met and organized the first
society club in Anaconda. Here is
where the first dramatic organization
of local talent rehearsed "Pinafore."
above the Clouds" and other plays,
musical and melo dramatic The young
folks that made Mrs Surprenant's home
their rendezvous put in motion the ia
nous Lowland club. which is to-day at
tIie iiSdu VI Tic 1871 VI SoCldi tfltSi~
tanners of the state. The two charming
Misses Surprenant lent valuable assist
ance in the fostering and upbuilding of
social life in the young city. The re-
moval of this old house of pleasant
memories. while it is admitted that the
times demand it, will be the cause of
regret. especially of those who have
lived in the city since the Surprenants
came here.
Last fall Mrs. Surprenant sold the
property to Charles Flood of this city
and, with her daughter, Miss Dorothy.
removed to Butte. After she left the
Misses Gleason rented the house and
continued to conduct 1t as a private
boarding house until recently. when
Mr.. Flood began tearing the building
down preparatory to the erection of a
magnificent brick and stone business
house.