Butte Water Company
From ENHLDWiki
At the turn of the last century, Butte boasted numerous sophisticated buildings that could rival any eastern city of its size. The Butte Water Company building is evidence of this trend. Because large volumes of water were extremely important to a mining town, it was only natural that its company headquarters serve practical needs as well as uphold the architectural rivalry that was common to the age.
Seemingly too grand for its original functions, the building started out as the main office of the Montana Independent Telephone Company. Designed by Montana architect George Shanley, the plaque on the front entrance explains the ornateness of the building as symbolic of the "new-found optimism of the era." The classical structure is completely occupied by the Butte Water Company although remains of the telephone company are still visible on the upper floors.
Constructed of brick and stone, the front exterior also has a two-story portico or porch supported by an order of slender Ionic columns with scroll-like ornamentation at the top. The top cornice bears the prominent name "Butte Water Co." There is a wrought iron railing on the second floor between the columns and a wrought iron balcony centrally located on the third floor.
Certain materials on the interior of a structure this ornate were in standardized use as fire prevention. Marble, oak trim, terrazzo (a flooring material of stone chips set in concrete and given a smooth surface), and wrought iron railings remain throughout the building. A large meeting room on the third floor has two skylights, and a basement in the rear of the building is used for storage.
References
Butte CPR Historic Buildings descriptions [1]. Original text by Robin Manderfeld.
