St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church

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This text was taken from the Butte CPR Historic Buildings page. Please expand and edit it.

The brick and stone building at 101 S. Idaho was built in 1899-1900 as the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. Although some alterations have taken place, the building retains the basic integrity of a church. Architect William White included details such as Gothic lancet windows, stained glass, Romanesque arches and wooden tracery which are still evident. Missing today from the original design are a large steeple with bell tower and a smaller, hip-roof turret on the northeast and southeast corners respectively.

The building is historically significant not only for its architectural elements but also as the site of momentous events in Butte history. In the early years of the 20th century much of the world's copper came from the Butte mines. As mining production increased, the city grew and along with that came unrest and strained relations between miners and their corporate bosses at the Anaconda Company.

The Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) also known as "Wobblies" began using the former church for meetings around 1917. By the next year a leading socialist reformer and political leader, William F. Dunne, with support from Burton K. Wheeler and other lawyers, was using the building to publish the Butte Daily Bulletin. The paper, a successful publication which gave voice to the interests of labor, was begun to counteract the local press owned by the Anaconda Company.

In September 1918 the paper published a call for strike by the I.W.W. Within hours after publication, the building was raided by Butte police, Anaconda Co. gunmen and U.S. Army troops commanded by Major Omar Bradley. Men were arrested and items were seized including galley type and the subscriber list. Despite this upset the paper continued to operate into the 1920s.

In contrast to sensational events of the past at 101 S. Idaho, recent affairs have been quiet, with the building being home to a funeral chapel and finally a bridal shop. At present it is not in use, but renovation is in progress to save the building. CPR applauds the efforts of Bob Baide, who plans to keep the fixtures and stained glass to preserve the historical integrity of this important building.