Former Company Housing
In late November 2010 the Montana Environmental Custodial Trust began demolition of the former ASARCO residences on South Montana Avenue (East Helena) as part of its longterm planning, cleanup and restoration of the former ASARCO smelter property in East Helena. The demolition concluded a 10-month effort that involved: assisting former ASARCO tenants with relocating to alternate homes; performing cultural resource surveys, studies and recordation under the National Historic Preservation Act; and cleaning, securing and abating asbestos in the residences. A total of seven residences on South Montana Avenue and two farmsteads (Dartman-Merritt and Vollmer) have been demolished. Prior to razing the structures, the EPA and the METG recycled everything with reuse value in the houses, including fixtures, cabinets, appliances and other building materials. Demolition was completed by early December 2010.
The former manager’s house (photo) is being preserved for community use to be determined by a local historic preservation work group.
Recent media coverage in the Helena Independent Record can be viewed at :
http://helenair.com/news/article_d9081d16-ec90-11df-a878-001cc4c002e0.html