Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-12-17

Butte's early days, a half CEN
fury ago or more, furnished proof
that in every pioneer community,
however crude the envirOns, a
social set democratic but relatively
select and exclusive, is sure TO be
/ evolved. Almost at its beginning,
when tOdays metropolis was a
camp, Butte had its social coterie,
with boundaries fairly well de-
fined. This may sound incredible
to the unenlightened; a fact that
Il would be sad If it were not so
ridiculous, is that there were
great many people at the turn of
the century who. in their darkness,
fancy that Butte of today is the
abode of Semi-savageS who live in
wigwams
The truth is that Butte always has
had it's social world made up Of genial
cultivated people, a community which,
like a Well-Ordered family moved along
in congenial and helpful association.
AS early as 1868 q dancing club was
reality in Butte, the parties being
held in a small hall on upper Main
street All the miners in town attended.
They did not appear IN gum boots, re-
ports to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Church socials, spelling matches and
surprise parties made up the sum total
of social pastimes. Those were the days
that today so many of the pioneer men
and women of Butte take delight in
recalling-the sociability was so gen.
uine, the hospitality unbounded, the
friendship true and lasting.
First Prominent Wedding
The first prominent wedding that
ever took place in Butte was that OF
Miss Alice Miekeljohn, sister of Mrs.
John Noyes, who married the late Jere-
OF 1877 the PUpTlf
being solemnized in Loeber's hall. That
edifice was used as a church, theater,
for dances, receptions and church
festivals.
This wedding was followed with a
large reception at the home Of Mrs.
John Noyes. The house was protusely
trimmed with golden rod, sunflowerS,
mountain ferns and evergreen, while
banquet lamps covered with pretty
homemade shades produced as beauti-
full an effect as the myriad incan-
descents of today.
This was the first wedding where
there were any attendants. The next
large wedding was that of Miss GuSsie
Evans and J. Ross Clark, which fol-
lowed in the next year. Both couples
were married by Rev. M. N. Gilbert OF
the Episcopal church, who was after
wards made a bishop.
Butte was a good SHOW town" in
those days. Travelling companies would
play full houses every night for six
weeks. Among those who were wont to
delight the play lovers were Al Saw
telle, Nellie Boyd and little Katie Put
nam. There were no box parties, but
a whole row Of hard pine benches would
be reserved for jolly people IN the
young set.
Home Always Open
NFrc TOl1T1 NOUnc UQc the first bride
to be married in the town. Being q
girl of Is, she was married at the
home of her parents, the house stand
ing on the spot where the First Ma
tional bank now is between Broadway
and Granite on the west side of Main,
about four doors from Broadway. The
Moves home was always open to the
society of the city.
Mrs. T. M. Lowry, as Miss Mollie
Pierce, was one of the dashing young
girls of the little town 25 years ago.
Her pretty daughters are now holding
a leading place in the social life of the
city. The Pierce home at 1.-THE Hump"
about Is miles from the city, was, in
the early days, a rendezvous Tor the
younger set; many merry dances were
given there. Mrs. w. w. Dixon was
later '70s. She introduced to Butte So
ciety her cousin, Miss Marie Renouard,
charming st. Louis debutante who in
1887 married Benjamin Thayer
Mrs. Joseph Clark was also one Of
the pioneer women OF the city and
entertained in gracious manner. Mrs.
o. B. Whitford was known as one Of
the pioneer hostesses. Miss Gussie
Evans, who married j. r. Clark, was
one of the bellies in the 70s. Miss
Alice Caplice was a beautiful debut
tante. With her father, John Caplice,
she lived in apartments in the Caplice
block. Miss Caplice gave the first cos
tune dance ever given in the city, the
ladies copying the Kate Green cos
tunes.
Miss Belle Forbis, now Mrs. M. B.
of Spokane, was queen Of
among unmarried ladies in
the 70s. Miss ForbiS introduced the !
custom of entertaining at dainty
breakfasts and southern teas in Butte. |
One breakfast she gave has passed
into social history. 1t was a winter
event The decorations were made by
Ory,cfcfoI of Nrxycf q l.