BUTTE — Within the walls of the old Butte Fire Department is a wealth of information ranging from historical texts, legal documents, newspapers, photographs, and even small objects like a delicate brass crown that was used in ceremonial practices of the Pythian sisters, a paternal organization that was present in Butte in the 20th century.
“There are stories in every place and it’s kind of fun because we’re finding these stories all the time,” says Aubrey Jaap, the director of the Butte-Silver Bow Archives.
Jaap is standing at her desk, sifting through a set of business letters from one of Butte’s famous Copper Kings. She has a staff of six and an army of volunteers who help organize, catalog, and generally celebrate the rich history that seems to trickle into the facility on a regular basis.
The letters are between a mining company in another town and William Clark, a …