The memorial honors the 58 victims who died as a result of the Kenyon-Connell Warehouse explosion.
Butte Historical Memorials (BHM) was organized in 2015 with the goal of creating a memorial for the victims of the Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895. Shortly after forming as a 501c3, the board was able to enlist the talents of local artist Martha U. Cooney-Simonich to capture six figures that best represented the 58 victims of the Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895. It was decided to erect the memorial at the current Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department Station #1. The board raised close to $200,000 to have Montana sculptor Jim Dolan create the six figures: “Fateful Call Box 72”, Fire Chief Angus Cameron, Jim the Fire Horse, the youngest victim at 12 years old, E.G. Fraser, the oldest victim, at 56 years old, Edwin “Two Bear” Robins, and “Dilis” the fireman’s loyal dog.
The six figures were all chosen for specific reasons and for best representing all the victims of the Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895. “Fateful Call Box 72” was chosen to represent the beginning of the end, from where the alarm was sounded alerting the firemen of the fire within the Kenyon-Connell Warehouse. Fire Chief Angus Cameron was chosen to represent the 13 firemen whose lives were lost that night. Jim the Fire Horse was chosen to represent the three other horses who died that night. Edwin “Two Bear” Robins was chosen as he was the oldest victim to die, while E.G. Fraser was chosen as he was the youngest victim. Dilis, the dog, was chosen to represent the heartache for all the survivors that mourned the victims of the Butte Warehouse Explosion of 1895.
