The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1922-12-21
PIONEERS RECALL
OLD TIME XMAS
IN EARLY DAYS ANACONDA OBJ
SERVED YULETIDE IN
FITTING STYLE
Captain William Kelley Tells of How
Butte Observed First Christmas;
Dan Roach Talks Of Christmas
Celebration of Third of a Century
Ago.

Celebration of Third Of a Centur
Ago.
Gone are the days when Anacond;
celebrated Christmas in rip-roarinl
western style, but with the annua
recurrence of the season the men wht
broke the trails into Deer Lodge val
ley, or those who helped build the
plants which have evolved into the
present mammoth smelter and who
cast their lot with and helped in the
growth of the city return in memory
to the old days. There are still a
few who wildly remember when
Commercial avenue and Front street
were the buriest thoroughfares OF
the little town emerging from a tent
city; of the brilliant light which
streamed through the windows of the
various saloons and gambling places
that lined the streets, the interiors of
which were the meeting places of
men who cared little for conventions,
and who celebrated as strong hardy
pioneers were wont to do. Fitting
across their minds in clear relief are
pictures of argonaut, smelterman,
and prospector, vieing with each
other to make each succeeding cele-
bration a marker for all future af-
fairs, and when they speak Of these
times, not a few end their recitals
with a sigh.
Anaconda Is numbered among the
places in Montana where every in
habitant was ready and willing at all
times to enter into any affair which
would tend to relieve the monotony
of the daily grind. Sometimes the
men waited for special occasions like
the Fourth of July, New Years, or
Christmas or st. Patrick's day to ex-
pend their pent-up energy, but there
were also many who did not need
any further excuse than pay day to
start on a round of the places from
which issued the white lights. Wages
were good, dependents were few, and
as a result the parties staged in the
old days were affairs to be remem-
bered. 1t would be creating a false
impression to say that a majority of
these men looked upon "wine when
It was red" until they became sodden,
but it is within the truth to say that
we're few who did not drink un-
III the spirit of good fellowship was
'ampant. Their tasks were hard and
likewise their pleasures were few and
Christmas was always the day of
he biggest celebration. The board
ng houses, of which there we're sew
,ral, at Carroll always made great
" ~ ~ -, Fo,- <ha nh vi ~ ~, n n a ~ ~ or
groaned under the weight and
of foods set out. Whiskey,
'eer and wine flowed freely, either as
.ppetizers or in place of the usual
averages provided on ordinary occa-
ions. And after the dinner a gen.
raj exodus to the favorite gathering
laces in town was the order.
And while Anaconda was cele-
in regal style, in the hills and
own the valley we're some few who
ould not get away for the big event.
4 some isolated cabin an early set
.er could be found who spent the
reater part of the day in thawing
ut a frozen strip of venison, or ban
on a side of bacon, and who
lound up with a few hours work pan
Ill LuS SduuS VI oil uuudlu0u
eek the golden particles which lur-
! them into the wilderness. There
re many who spent their first Christ
as in Montana in Anaconda, but
hers who go further back in the
,cesses of memory recall the days
hen Butte and Philipsburg had no
walls in the matter of properly cele-
the joyous season.
Captain William Kelly is one of
q men whose first Montana Christ
was celebrated in Butte. 1t was
1884, and the little mining camp
as one of the best towns in the !
Smuggling close to the foot of
hills whose constant stream OF
'es kept their furnaces belching
ere the Meaderville and the Parrot
1~elters, while out on the flat were
g beehives of the old Bell smelter {
here open roasting of ores was the
der. All three plants have long :
nee been dismantled and their /
lum" ponds and Stag piles are the
Lly remaining evidence of the glory :
at was theirs.
Butte was a rfp-roaring place In !
ose days." said the captain. "Ev-
celebrated in old-time style.
lere was plenty of money in circu- :
ton, and If it was known that any :
Q was without the mean of prop I
ly observing the day the miners
out and made up a purse for :
~. The miners union, In the days :
fore it Joined the federation, had l
fund of $250,000, which was used
care for the widows and orphans :
the men who passed on In their :
for the riches hidden in the {
nth. In those days a miner or
elterman would consider 1t a per- :
1al insult If any member of the
n1ly Of one OF the men who had .
rem the great journey was over
'ked. The big boarding houses :
.ttered over the city and up on the
| were always the scenes of the 3
eliest celebrations. And when the
of night was drawn and the !
hts flashed on In the downtown q
ton the streets became more ami p
ted than at any time within recent