Harding Apartments

From ENHLDWiki

Located on the eastern corner of West Silver and Jackson, the Harding Building still sports four railroad-style residences. The two-story brownstone quad at 435 West Silver retains a charming porch with four mailboxes resting at various eccentric angles. A central door offers access to the dark hallway and steep stairs leading to the second-story apartments.

In maintaining the historic flavor of the quad, renovations have been limited to painting the apartments white and hanging roman blinds. Otherwise, the apartments retain their turn-of-the-century charm and continue to be uninsulated against Montana's long, cold winters. As in times past, unsuspecting renters can still boast utility bills which raise the eyebrows and empty the wallet.

Second-floor dwellers occupy the apartments where clandestine gambling events of local mobster, John Harding, were hosted. Famous for their merciless collection methods, "Harding's Goons" are rumored to have disposed of a number of clients in the back yard of 431 West Silver. Since John Harding was the nephew of the infamous Butte "Hanging Judge" Byron Harding, it is assumed that there may be some truth to these tall tales.

References

Butte CPR Historic Buildings descriptions [1]. Original text by K.A. West.