A Season of Giving – 1953

A Season of Giving – Christmas 1953

The community of Butte has always been generous in spirit, especially around the holidays. A quick scan of The Montana Standard in December 1953 listed many organizations that supported needy children and families.
The Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots, founded in 1947 and expanded nationally in 1948, partnered with the Butte Professional Women’s Club to collect and distribute new toys to Butte’s less fortunate children. The Anaconda Mining Company employees collected toys for the children living at the Montana Children’s Home in Twin Bridges and sponsored a Christmas party attended by Santa himself. The Butte Miner’s Union provided food baskets to its families in need, and meal tickets to single men.

On Christmas Eve, Butte’s Ground Observation Corps posted themselves atop the Finlen hotel and reported an early visit from Santa Claus to the mining city.

Photo #05799: Anaconda Copper Mining Company employees Thelma Kinney and John O’Conner wrapping gifts. Circa 1965

Photo #05800k: One of 11 photos of the children at the Twin Bridges Orphan’s home receiving presents at Christmas from Santa provided by Anaconda Company employees. Undated

Photo #06846: Image of men filling and organizing Christmas baskets for the Miner’s; Union. December 22, 1953. The man on the left in the overalls is John “Jip” Harrington. He was treasurer of the Miner’s Union. The overalls were his “signature look” until his death in 1985.

Photo #00957: Finlen Hotel on West Broadway Street, Butte, MT about 1950

Images from the World Museum of Mining Photo Archives and may not be reproduced without permission. All Rights Reserved. Please contact the World Museum of Mining to order copies of these or any images in our collection – 406-723-7211 or buttewmm@gmail.com.