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Today, the smokestack is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
and has also been established as a state park.
With the exception of a recent decade-long hiatus, Anacondans have
celebrated their smelting history with an annual parade filled with children
centered activities and family-focused events for well over a century.
It all began aer a group of 500 men assembled in March of 1901 to
organize the smeltermen's union.
"e union guys started the Smeltermen's Day parade shortly aer they
formed," Margie says. "at day was totally for the kids. It was a whole day
of absolute fun."
e unions recognized that if the workers and their families were
nourished and happy and had fun events planned out for them to enjoy, the
entire city pulled together as one, she adds.
"e classic story everyone knows is how kids would get done with the
parade and copper king Marcus Daly would give each of them a silver
dollar," notes Adam Vauthier, director of the Anaconda Local Development
Corporation. "Back in the 1920s, that was a lot of money!"
Margie says the smeltermen's union continued the tradition year aer
year, to include giving out a staggering $3,000 worth of silver dollars to the
children in 1957 alone.
"Men in suits were at tables and gave one to each kid," she fondly recalls.
"If you were in the parade, you got one. We're all in our 60s and 70s now."
No parade is complete without the Shriners.
Music and dancing take centerstage
at this summer celebration.
