Volunteers think O'Rourke is worth saving

By Barbara LaBoe of The Montana Standard

Citizens for preservation and revitalization member Larry Smith sprays bleach water over floors and piles of debris, while crews clean out the O'Rourke apartment buildings Saturday morning. Smith tried to keep ahead of workers to keep dust levels to a minimum as volunteers shoveled and swept. (Derek Pruitt/The Montana Standard)

Sweeping up mounds of pigeon droppings, bird carcasses and bits of decaying plaster.

It's not the most fun way to spend a Saturday morning, but that didn't deter the dozen volunteers from Butte's Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization from sprucing up the imperiled O'Rourke

apartments building.

The building, at the corner of Alaska and Quartz streets, has received a county abatement notice, and if nothing is done it could be demolished as a public hazard. CPR officials, though, believe the historic building, built in two parts in 1892 and 1908, is worth saving. Especially with details like a marble-lined foyer and oak

wainscotting.

"Look at the craftsmanship and all of the skills that just aren't practiced anymore," said Susan Shepherd, who moved to Butte five years ago, enchanted with the historic buildings. "Once this is gone it will never be replaced."

"This was really upscale for its day," added James Rose.

And that's what led volunteers to spend Saturday cleaning out more than a decade worth of debris from the building they say could make wonderful offices or

apartments.

"It's a little bit more than I thought, but not as bad as I've seen on other jobs," said Carol Westine as she shoveled debris into a trash can. "I think we'll get most of this out today."

The plan is to make the building more presentable for prospective buyers, some of whom have already expressed interest, said Rose. The title also must be cleared — up to nine owners or lien holders are listed — but a lawyer is working on that, and Rose is optimistic it can be resolved. CPR does not own the building but is working with some owners for its preservation. And while the cleaning and addressing the abatement issues don't guarantee the building will be saved, it certainly helps its prospects.

"Structurally, it's in really good shape," Rose said, leading a tour through the various floors to old apartments with bay windows and views of Uptown Butte. Rain damage from a leaky roof has caused a few floors to buckle and ceiling plaster to fall, but those "are easily fixed," Rose said. Some stair railings are missing, but most have been piled up on one of the building's upper floors and can be replaced.

Crews will spend the next few weekends on the building, boarding up windows, patching the roof and adding a gutter to prevent further water damage to keep it as structurally sound as possible.

As for cleanliness, though, the building definitely needed the attention it was receiving. Years of broken windows have allowed pigeons free reign, and droppings as well as dead birds are present throughout. Cautious of hantavirus and dust inhalation concerns, crews wore HEPA-filter masks, and everything was sprayed down with a bleach mixture before any sweeping or shoveling commenced.

But the volunteers said they don't see the grime. Instead, they look at the embossed wall paper lining the lower half of the walls, the large windows that afford views in all directions and the hardwood floors.

"It's the after result that you think about," Westine explained. "That makes it all worthwhile."

Anyone wishing to help the cleaning and repair crew can call Rose at 782-8458.

Reporter Barbara LaBoe may be reached via e-mail at barbara.laboe@mtstandard.com