A timeline: Making the dream come true
By the Standard Staff
The following is a timeline following the progress of the statue's creation, gleaned from the archives of The Montana Standard.
1979
Bob OBill conceived the idea of a five-foot Virgin Mary statue to thank God for his wife Joyce's recovery from a serious illness.
Joe McCarthy and Bill Dorr pushed O'Bill to have an even-bigger statue built. Later, a collaboration with Joe Roberts gets the ball rolling.
September 1981 John Mazzola commissioned to build a 90-foot statue of the Virgin Mary atop the East Ridge.
May 9, 1982 Just in time for Mothers Day, "Our Lady" model, 7-foot tall, was displayed at the Copper King Inn. Our Lady foundation later nixed Mazzola's model for a more traditional statue.
August 1982 The road to "Our Lady" site was completed. Bulldozers, loaders, and graders were used to pave the way. The work included the removal of large boulders and a number of trees.
July 1983 An eight-foot hand of Our Lady was finished. Although at first the hands were to be folded, a decision was made early on to have them face outward.
Jan. 2, 1984 The head of Our Lady statue neared completion. Measuring 16 feet high, it was made with rolled plate steel and
constructed by Leroy Lee and Ron Harris.
September 1984 Leveling work at Saddle Rock was completed. Sept, 29, 1984 A rummage and bake sale held at St. Joseph's gymnasium to help cover building costs. December 1984 Now more than half way through the project, 54 feet of the 90-foot Our Lady statue now completed. March 19, 1985 President Ronald Reagan wrote a letter to Joe Roberts calling Our Lady endeavor "a splendid expression of the faith and cooperation among the people of Butte." March 20, 1985 A disgruntled person penned a letter to Ann Landers saying that not everyone is for "Our Lady." The person, wrote, in part, "To be forced, day in and day out, to look at something one does not believe in is not
freedom." Ann Landers's response included an explanation from Montana Standard editor Bert Gaskill, who said "it was a voluntary effort, paid for by contributions." June 1985 Production halted because a family of small black birds had taken up residence on a structure support and workers did not want to disturb them. After a week, the family of birds moved on. Aug. 29, 1985 Butte native Joe Monahan of Washington, D.C., and former secretary of the Senate and retired Air Force colonel, Stan Kimmitt of Great Falls, met with National Guard head, Lt. Emmett "Mickey" Walter Jr., to request military help in getting Our Lady to the East Ridge.
Sept. 11, 1985 Workers had begun laying the 425-ton concrete base in preparation for Our Lady of the Rockies. To build the base, 1,200 sacks of concrete were needed, along with 8,000 gallons of water. Sept. 27, 1985 It was announced that the Pentagon may be asked to assist in flying "Our Lady." Oct. 29, 1985 Montana's Sen. John Melcher steps up to the plate for Our Lady. Melcher met with Secretary of the Army, John Marsh to request a military helicopter for Our Lady. Nov. 21, 1985 U.S. Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger approved the use of a military helicopter to lift Our Lady to Saddle Rock. Nov. 22, 1985 Christmas to come early for Butte residents as it is announced that Our Lady would grace the East Ridge before Dec. 25.
Dec. 8, 1985 The Nevada National Guard's helicopter crew headed to the Mining City to examine the statue and the site, the 8,500-foot Saddle Rock on Butte's East Ridge. Dec. 16, 1985 The Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter and its crew, led by Capt. Marc Comstock, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Britton, and Staff Sgt. Tom Bortner, took off near Reno, Nev. destination Butte. Dec. 17, 1985 Airlift had begun as the 88-foot skycrane helicopter headed to Roberts Rocky Mountain to begin the two trips to the East Ridge to carry a 2-ton section of skirting and the 14,800-pound section. Dec. 18, 1985 Two more sections hauled to the East Ridge. In the morning, the helicopter put a 17,000-pound section in place;
by afternoon, another piece, more than 2,000 pounds heavier than the last, was on the East Ridge. Dec. 19, 1985 Wind, or lack thereof, proved to be a problem for the National Guard crew as Our Lady's hands, with a weight of 19,000 pounds, caused the helicopter to spin uncontrollably as it tried to set it down atop the other four sections already in place. The skycrane turned back and laid the section down near the Mormon Church at 3000 Four Mile Road. Although one of the statues fingers was slightly damaged, the crew was successful in its second attempt at 4 p.m. Dec. 20, 1985 A hydraulic leak on the skycrane had put the mission on hold for the morning. By afternoon, the leak was fixed and at 3:30 p.m., thousands of Butte residents cheered as the final statue piece was put in place. Our Lady's head was decorated with an American flag, Montana flag, and a Christmas tree. A celebration was held that night at the Copper King Inn. Dec. 21, 1985 Front-page headline in The Montana Standard read, Lady: mission accomplished. Volunteer, Ed Stepan called Our Lady "an inspiration for our city." Dec. 25, 1985 The Montana Standard called Our Lady a "shining example of what can be accomplished when the people of Butte pledge themselves to a difficult task." Dec. 20, 1986 Our Lady noted first anniversary with a Butte Unity Day celebration, which included a video, prayers, readings, and a dance. Feb. 20, 1987 One of
the founders of Our Lady of the Rockies Foundation, Joe Roberts, resigned as executive director. Five other board members, Irene Humber, Betty Kissock, Jeanne Tanner, Laurien Riehl, and Bob Koprivica, also resigned. February 27, 1987 An announcement was made that the "Our Lady" gift shop would be moved to the vacant St. Mary's Church on North Main St. March 21, 1987 Grand opening of "Our Lady" gift shop held in old St. Mary's Church. March 25, 1987 "Our Lady" gift shop on North Main was forced to close temporarily due to zoning laws and failure to comply with local electrical codes. April 10, 1987 Gift shop granted a special-use permit and reopened. May 8, 1987 Our Lady of the Rockies Foundation announced the
inauguration of memorial tributes that will run daily in The Montana Standard. Aug. 14, 1987 First wedding takes place at Our Lady as Mark McClanahan wed Sheila Stacy at the base of the statue. Sept. 9, 1987 Our Lady foundation received a $174,922 bill from National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. The bill was for 17 hours and 24 minutes of aircraft time. Nov. 12, 1987 Twenty-eight yards of concrete was poured to provide a foundation for the statues interior supports. Dec. 12, 1987 Second annual "Our Lady" telethon netted $20,000 in pledges. Dec. 18, 1987 Our Lady of
the Rockies board of directors named Don Peoples as the first recipient of the foundations community service award. Aug. 9, 1988 The Eternal World Network in Birmingham, Ala., aired the 45-minute Our Lady of the Rockies video. Nov. 2, 1988 In order to make room for a chapel and museum, dynamite was used to clear trees and rocks. Dec. 20, 1990 To mark the fifth anniversary, 250 balloons were released at 434 N. Main. September 1992 Leroy Lee's book, "Our Lady Builds a Statue," hit bookstands. September 1993 Although it took approximately eight years, the Stitching Council of Butte completed a quilt with image of Our Lady. March 3, 1994 It was announced that a chapel was in the works at the base of Our Lady. June 15, 1994 Dennis Washington of Missoula donated 15 acres of East Ridge land for the chapel. Sept. 11, 1994 At the insistence of a group called "Freedom From Religion Foundation, " federal officials put a halt to the Anaconda Job Corps' assistance in building Our Lady chapel. Sept. 15, 1994 Our Lady of the Rockies Foundation accepted ruling by federal officials. Dec. 15, 1994 Lithographs of an Our Lady painting by Helena artist, Mike McFadden, were made available to the public. Dec. 3, 1995 Residents and volunteers
reflected on 10 years of Our Lady. Dec. 20, 1995 A large crowd at the Mother Lode Theater again heard Mark Staples sing a hymn, "Our Lady of the Rockies." April 1997 Joe Roberts's "Memories of Our Lady of the Rockies," was headed for the bookstores. Dec. 25. 1997 Joe and Joann Roberts received a papal blessing from Pope John Paul II. The Catholic leader had received Robert's book the previous summer. July 1, 1998 Federal and state highway officials met with Our Lady representatives to discuss the proposed tram. July 25, 1998 Doreen Briggs and Steve Kambich become the first couple to exchange marriage vows at the Our Lady of the Rockies chapel observatory. Dec.
9, 1998 Butte-Silver Bow pledged $2.6 million collateral for Our Lady tram. April 3, 1999 Bruce's Quick Lube donated 100% of money made for oil changes to tram project. Sept. 1, 1999 Gloria Clarks "Irish Madonna" to soon adorn chapel observatory. Nov. 9, 1999 In a Montana Standard article, Leroy Lee said "the Lord and the Blessed Lady guided him" during the "Our Lady" project. April 17, 2000 In a Montana Standard newspaper article, Connie Kenney, executive director of the Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, credited the "Our Lady of the Rockies project with helping Butte recover its spirit and community pride." April 25, 2001 One of the driving forces behind the Our Lady project, Joe Roberts, passed away at the
age of 80. December 2001 A gift of 40 acres on the East Ridge to serve as base for the proposed tram to the 90-foot statue of Mary was donated in memory of Richard and Esther Simon, longtime Butte residents who operated Rocky Mountain Dairy for more than 50 years. March 29, 2002 In a Montana Standard profile, Our Lady chairman, Bob Leipheimer said the proposed tram "would take the people to the statue atop the East Ridge in about seven minutes." Nov. 6, 2002 Butte-Silver Bow's examining land surveyor, Bob Everly, noted at a Butte-Silver Bow Council meeting that the "road into Reese Canyon on the East Ridge dates back to at least the early 1890s." April 1, 2003 Former Our Lady executive director, Bill Bermingham, passed away at the age of 79. Jan. 18, 2004 Following years of research, John Mihelich, a sociologist at the University of Idaho, noted that "in the case of Butte, the (Our Lady) statue was a response to both the decline of the mining industry that fueled the economy, and the spectacularly denuded landscape that mining left behind." Mihelich reportedly spent a number of years studying the relationship between the community and the statue. Mihelich presented his theories to Harvard University's Center for the Study of World Religions. "The statue is a symbol of what the people of Butte feel about themselves," Mihelich said. Jan. 20, 2005 Judge Thomas McKittrick ruled that a portion of a road requested by Our Lady of the Rockies Foundation is public. Four families living in the area disagreed and appealed the ruling. March 1, 2005 A Montana Standard article noted partnership between Our Lady foundation and Silver State Helicopters to offer chopper tours. Oct. 19, 2005 "Neighbors," Our Lady foundation continued battle for east end of State Street. Dec. 1, 2005 A Montana Supreme Court will decide case regarding State Street, whether it is a public road or not. Dec. 18, 2005 Residents of Butte note the 20th anniversary of the Our Lady statue being put atop the East Ridge. The airlift was spread over four days, with pieces flown from the Roberts shop to Saddle Rock on the East Ridge.
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