"Remembering Columbia Gardens" (1999)

[@christinawebb6663]

I remember in winter was great too. Nice sliding areas.

[@bethstenslie3423]

Hi, this is Beth LaVelle. Most of my favorite grade school memories are from there. I always had a little money to play games and for me it was always"fishing". My siblings ans I still have little kid prizes from there. If I had the money I've always thought, how wonderful to give Columbia gardens back to Butte.

[@brianmcnary9997]

Thank you for producing this. One of my last memories of Columbia Gardens was around 1970-1971. There was a tall, slender man underneath the rollercoaster with a contraption he called a "metal detector." I watched him find many coins that evening and then dig them out. The odd things we remember.

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

You know a place has gained mythical status when none of the people interviewed could think of it without smiling.

[@blowncoverage_22]

or crying over the loss ....

[@mattanthony7225]

This is a great film. Thank you for putting in the time to make this happen.

[@JosephKulik2016]

This wonderful park is just a tiny example of how beautiful life once was all around America. I grew up in the 1950's & 1960's in Western Massachusetts near an old industrial city named Holyoke. We had our version of Columbia Gardens back there, back then called Mountain Park. Like Columbia Gardens, Mountain Park was more like a hometown country fair than it was an amusement park by today's standards. It made me very sad a few years ago when I found a couple of YT videos of Mountain Park in more recent times, abandoned and left empty with the wreckage of its once glorious past. I moved to San Francisco in 1969, and I've been to several California "theme parks" over the years, including Disneyland, and Universal Studios in LA, but in my heart none of them compared to the innocence and simplicity of the the Mountain Park of my youth. I'm certain, after having seen this video, that many oldsters like me have similar fond memories like those of Columbia Gardens. Oh, woe is us !!! What has happened to America since those times ? Where has our innocence and our naive honesty gone ? How much have all the modern technological gizmos of the Digital Age really improved our lives when you reflect back on earlier times when everyone was so happy and even grateful in those simpler times ? For whose ultimate benefit is all this Progress that has been jammed down our throats over these intervening decades ? It certainly wasn't for the benefit of those kids back then in places like Columbia Gardens and Mountain Park. They were quite happy on their colorful merrry-go-round and their wooden roller coaster. ... [e-mail]

[@d.rodrickeamon6133]

I grew up in the Drives. Anyone from Butte knows where that is. As kids, my brothers and sisters went with our parents and--sometimes--we boys just walked (hiked the last bit) up there. In the sixties, it was like walking into another world penned by Ray Bradbury when he went into his "small town kids' magic" short-story mode. As a teen, a group of us snuck in and I kissed my then girlfriend (who became my first wife) for the first time in the exciting darkness. My last trip was 3 days before the ACM closed it for the last time. I have a picture somewhere of my oldest (she was about 3 at the time) daughter peeking out of the Doll House. She was on the carousel when the "band" broke, so it was the last time the merry-go-round ran (I may have just remembered it this way... it was too long ago, and there's no way to verify this). Ray Bradbury would have loved it, and more likely than not would have written a lovely story about a boy or girl and their moment of magic there.

[@d.rodrickeamon6133]

@@CosmosFlow Kennedy was a great place to fly .49cc powered model airplanes (in circles, with two wires, not the RC planes of today)... lots of open space for baseball or tag football.

[@carolynblom2804]

I grew up in Butte, my great memories were of the Columbia Gardens. Our family get together, our pastie dinners.

[@bethstenslie3423]

IF ANYONE VISITS OR LIVES IN BUTTE, IF YOU WANT A TRUE PORKCHOP SANDWICH, THE FREEWAY AND M-N-M HAVE GREAT ONE. PORK CHOP JOHNS HAVE GONE A LITTLE COMERCIAL. (SORRY TONY!" LOVE U

[@Bill-cv1xu]

@@bethstenslie3423 The M&M bar recently burned down.

[@judd_s5643]

I grew up in Butte and have many wonderful memories of Columbia Gardens.

[@Cheryl-ke4pp]

WOW! Native Montana woman here who grew up going there. Memories...bitter sweet. Thanks for the video.

[@douglarson574]

The game has to have the game for

[@Cheryl-ke4pp]

@@douglarson574 ?

[@montanafrank1923]

This sure brings backs some great childhood memories. I grew up in Butte in the fifties and sixties. Wensdays were free.

[@juliemead7366]

My grandparents lived in Butte Montana, and it was awesome! ♥️🙂🌼🦋💖

[@rj2220]

loved going with grandma and grandpa. the glider swing and roller coaster Born in Butte.

[@VintageSlots]

I used to ride my motorcycle through the hills to get up there. After they closed down in 1973 I remember one day when I rode up there and say the roller coaster just a bunch of sticks. It looks like they blew it up with dynamite. That is when it really hit home that the Gardens were gone forever. A very sad day for me. I must have been like 14 at the time.

[@mariekatherine5238]

I remember going here in about 1956, on a family vacation. We stopped to visit a Navy buddy of Dad’s and his family. There was a girl about my age, nine, named Marjorie, twin boys about two years old whose names I don’t recall, and a much older teen boy. He didn’t go with us because he had a job, a car, and a girlfriend, so he wasn’t around much. The mother went by Aunt Betty. I remember the popcorn, and getting cotton candy, a real treat, and the cowboy swings, and carousel swings.

[@franniezoots4253]

This is beautiful. What a piece of Heaven!! And so many memories!!

[@wolson9]

😊I grew up in Butte/Walkerville and visited Columbia Gardens often. We used to catch the bus in front of the old Rialto next to the Board of Trade. What most people don't know are the wild strawberries that used grow above the Gardens. They were the best tasting and sweetest strawberries I ever tasted.

[@melmacqueen]

I lived in Columbia Gardens (the adjacent suburb) till I was 9. I always wanted to go back. I did go back briefly to film a TV movie "Return to Lonesome Dove", but the place had burned down by then, and my old home along with all the other C.G. homes were gone. Now, I only return in my dreams.

[@lexy1729]

Looks like a magical place. I would love to have visited. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@maggiemcdougal8223]

I used to go there when I was little, and then the hole got bigger......but loved that place!

[@blowncoverage_22]

"and then the hole got bigger .. classic Butte epitath

[@BlazinNSoul]

From the Columbia Gardens to the Broadwater Hotel & Natatorium in Helena. Small town America had many teasures. That many people could have never even dreamed of. To think Montana had such jewels is really quite extraordinary and quite sad at the same time. Both the Broadwater Hotel and the Columbia Gardens were destroyed by greed. I would have given my left arm to see such places today. Of which there are few from the turn of the century. But thankfully Butte Montana has been able to preserve some of that history. As I found out after visiting there this past summer. What an amazing town as I could spend an entire week there. As an outsider I can see why they called this the richest Hill on Earth. Butte was like a time capsule and what a wonderful time capsule it is. It's just too bad that some of it was destroyed by greed. :/

[@AFHProvider]

After the gardens burnt down it was quite a loss for us in Butte. We ended up buying the grass sod from there and transplaneted it to our house out at the nine mile. The grass is still growing out there to this day.

[@tundrawomansays5067]

This must have been paradise for everyone regardless of age! I sure miss the old pin ball machines-can’t find them anywhere anymore. Sigh.

[@charlesmeyer354]

Hi I lived next to the CG from 1941 till 1953. Mostly I hiked up the east ridge rather than play in the park. But I went thru that round about every school day to catch the bus - to Harrison School. Sorry to hear that it is gone. Charles Meyer.

[@MsDANelson]

I grew up there. My parents had a home on Gardens Drive. Such a pity that it is gone.

[@jimfield3347]

Diane Nelson i grew up there too, 6 west drive.

[@MsDANelson]

I was at 44 Gardens Drive. Is Patty Field your sister? We used to be play mates back in the day.

[@marianmarek45]

I lived there in the 1950's-early 1960's The smell of the DogWood brings me back to the Park.

[@marianmarek45]

We lived at 2915 Nettie Street

[@jaycethree6622]

@@MsDANelson I have a grandmother last name field. Know any cadigans?

[@rocknrollnichole1071]

Such a beautiful, simple time. I live no where near Butte. I’m to young (40) to ever know about this place. I’m still nostalgic for wanting to have grown up with this.

[@jurgenkuhlmann9194]

At 53:00 ff.: By setting the whole place on fire, the "Anaconda Co." just lived up to its namesake!

[@AmandaDuckhead-lc8rl]

I had fun going there on weekends for rides n picnic.Rode evry ride every chance I got.The 🚎 trolley would take us there every weekend..Amanda Kittson Blackfeet 54yrs 😢

[@Dave94526]

Lovely video.

[@acgillespie]

*Oh God. How I miss the United States of America. What a shame the American people let it slip away*

[@freewill1114]

I can't watch this too often; it's bad for my soul.

[@roseslacenlaughter7513]

I remember the electric shocker too! My uncle Bobby, who was about ten and I was around five, told me to come with him and hold his hand. Then he put the coin in and the shock went through him, to me. I had no idea how he did it and it scared the crap out of me but I was scared of any gumball machine after that because it looked like a gumball machine.

[@roseslacenlaughter7513]

Oh, and the umbrella swing. Timing was everything letting go and running as apposed to letting go and stumbling to the ground. haha Memories....

[@murphy13295]

47:00 Ted Beach 47:18 . What a great memory to have . That part of his interview was a high point I bet . You can see him just light up inside .

[@jurgenkuhlmann9194]

This reminds me of these large leisure facilities we now have across Germany; this place looks a bit like a downsized "Phantasialand", "Europapark Rust", and the like.

[@suechumrau7901]

dad would put us three (we were very young) and him in the roller coaster car and give the man one silver dollar and the bar would come down to hold us in and dad would also put his leg across us and we would be off. that was a great ride.

[@calthmlikiseethm704]

They lit it on fire... not an accident

[@ayalove6285]

Why did they light it on fire.

[@brianmcnary9997]

@@ayalove6285 The Anaconda Company closed it because they wanted to mine it. The easiest way to avoid all of the conflict with Butte citizens was to simply burn it. Power to the park had been shut off for 2 months. That was how the AC always did business.

[@farmcentralohio]

@@brianmcnary9997 Mining built Butte and Anaconda, people need to remember that.

[@liezelbickle9430]

Thank you for sharing it's story with me.🫠🥲🥹💔

[@suechumrau7901]

my family was from anaconda, we would go to columbia gardens as kids. i remember the roller coaster was our favorite my dad, two brothers and me could all fit in one car seat, dad would hand the man a silver dollar and get a quarter back. It was thrilling to say the least. it was a special park.

[@Leadingedgebutte]

hey all... I transfered all the footage in this show. Oh how I wish I could add more.

[@jazzridez]

Thanks so much for the fun you had editing this. We all love it.

[@Chrisholmes1976]

My mom always talked about the Columbia gardens I wish I was around when its heyday but unfortunately I was born in 76 three years after the disaster all I remember of butte is a giant hole call the berkeley pit what a shame

[@blowncoverage_22]

On my first visit to Butte) I remember the impressive and detailed architecture of the original downtown buildings, and wondered at what this "copper wall street" must have been like, in it's heyday ...

[@BDKamerra]

I never got to experience anything like this. I don't think anyone of my peergroup got to experience anything like this.

[@karenlasslett5731]

I love the guy who said, William Clark only built the Gardens to become a U.S. Senator. Really? I can think of a lot worse things people have done to become a U.S. Senator. I just wonder if that guy ever smiles. Just an observation.

[@patriley9449]

This place flourished in an America that is no more. It has been martyred and exists in memory, films and books for all to see what we used to be. There were other places like this in other areas of the country and they have sadly gone as well. We have lost much more than these beautiful gathering places. We have lost our collective souls. Hatred, division and greed are now the hallmarks of much of the country and the world. These modern problems can only be solved when God has had enough and comes to straighten out the sad mess we have allowed to happen to the world.

[@blowncoverage_22]

Pacific Ocean Park POP, The Pike, and others gobbled up by the happiest place on earth .. disney33

[@Ultramarine37]

My great great great grandpa died in Columbia gardens while on patrol got shot three times without a chance to draw his weapon

[@Bill-cv1xu]

What's the back story?

[@murphy13295]

28:26 back when " personal responsibility " was more instinctual .

[@TruthMuse]

Is there anyway to get the music at the end of the documentary, The Ballad of Willie and Millie? I've done all kinds of searches with no luck.

[@TruthMuse]

Thanks, Jenessa! Is it a CD?

[@patrickbjorndal895]

Dublin Gulch does a great version also.

[@wisdomhanninen1691]

The pit is now a remembrance of the the Columbia Gardens

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

That was great. Kinda obvious how that fire started..... doesn't take a smart guy to figure that out. Sad thing very sad😢😢😢

[@mr.bubbles4508]

I wish some rich person would move in and rebuild Columbia Gardens

[@TimFuller]

Pity this, as well as so many other fabulous public works of my youth that have gone the way of this one. With more wealth in our current era and more billionaires than even the gold and silver rush produced I am forced to note their pitiful lack of public benevolence. #honestMessiah

[@northrider8628]

Licorice ice cream is the first thing I thought of when i saw this video 🤠

[@OneSon744]

Love black ice cream.

[@mitchelljermaine]

Who are the 3 people who disliked this?

[@zs9372]

Know all the mcdougall family from butte,. great history

[@chrisbassett8996]

i want to go there

[@d.rodrickeamon6133]

I want to go back there...

[@raymxslappedyall3660]

showing these mean more now cuz as a human race we may never be able to get close to each other again,not for years anyway

[@r.d.pelzman]

O God how I remember it was haven on earth!! But ACM wood not let us keep it thay burned it down

[@bj.reo87]

It's go everyone we still have the pit😂

[@maryhartman8851]

We should never have allowed them to destroy this park ! What were we thinking ? The anaconda company needed to rebuild this but they got off Scott free !

[@Vinac3855]

It burnt down

[@wadecartwright4277]

mary hartman absolutely

[@brianmcnary9997]

That comment of yours Mary- was exactly why they torched it.

[@freedaspeak1]

A Bad0 it was set intentionally so the anaconda could take the land and expand. Read up . This town had bad cops who torched the uptown, and torched the gardens. The anaconda company were not concerned for this town or the people, they destroyed half the town and took away 68 acres of Buttes pride

[@constitutionalUSA]

I would bet a hundred buck the mining corp burned it down to get it out of the way

[@kyutamajin4484]

A new carousel is coming.

[@raymxslappedyall3660]

and nothing but whites

[@drearperry8727]

@@farmcentralohio I agree, that we should be in Africa. But idk if there were no blacks there bc I only learned about this place through my dreams. A white man smugly asked if I used to work there. He's definitely a freemason.

[@jazzridez]

I lived in Butte America in 1982 and 83, Until you've lived uptown Butte you haven't lived. The M & M club was the place and Johns pork chop sandwiches can not be beaten.