Homeowners and investment companies built almost fifty homes on Butte’s “smoke-free” northwest side in 1905. While wealthier professionals developed the more desirable south-facing lots, the north-facing lots closest to the Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railroad tracks offered workers a low-cost avenue to homeownership. Circa 1905, the Thompson Investment Company built this four-room Queen Anne cottage for just $800, and Parrot Mine blacksmith helper Frank H. Davies purchased it in 1906. Frank sold the home to John J. and Margaret Foley by 1911. John worked as Clerk of the District Court, and Margaret stayed home with sons John, Jr. and Francis. In 1915, tragedy struck when Margaret died from sepsis, and then in 1917, five-year-old Francis died from a heart infection. John and John, Jr. moved to California, and Anaconda Company hoist engineer William A. Graham and his wife Zita purchased the house in 1920. They raised their only child Betty here. After high school, Betty worked at the Montana Hardware Company and later spent forty-one years as a secretary at the Anaconda Company. She remained in residence until the early 2000s.
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Documents
| Name | Info | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| "Betty Graham Entertains For Miss O'Leary" | pdf / 330.10 kB | Download |