Filed Under Butte

Tony's Tin Shop

Butte National Historic Landmark District

Swiss-born Antone Canonica pioneered the tin business in Butte, opening his first shop in 1898. In 1915, he constructed the ground floor of this building, moving his business and family residence here. By 1920, Canonica had completed the second story and named the building after his wife, Myra, as the elaborate nameplate attests. From 1926 to 1929, the Canonicas leased a portion of the upper story to Mrs. Mary Owen. During Prohibition, federal law closed red light districts across the nation and these activities scattered to rooming houses and hotels. Mary’s “furnished rooms” was probably a guise for prostitution. In 1927, Mary’s husband was with a female companion in the Grady Block when he died suddenly. Officials investigated his death as possible “moonshine” poisoning. After this rather shady business venture, the Canonicas were the building’s sole occupants and their six children grew up in the neighborhood. Canonica died in 1948; Myra kept house here until her death in 1955. A son, known as Butte’s legendary “Tony the Trader,” owned the vacant building for nearly four decades.

Images

Tony's Tin Shop
Tony's Tin Shop Facade Source: Montana Historical Society Creator: Bryan Baldwin Date: August 8, 2022
Tony's Tin Shop
Tony's Tin Shop Tony's Tin Shop (PAc 91-51 B4 RollMaM07 F33). Front to side view of the building, facing east to southeast on South Arizona Avenue near the intersection of South Arizona and East Galena Street. B&W. Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office from the Photograph Archives at the Montana Historical Society Creator: Mary Murphy Date: 1984

Location

108 South Arizona Street, Butte, Montana | Private

Metadata

The Montana National Register Sign Program, “Tony's Tin Shop,” Historic Montana, accessed March 28, 2024, https://historicmt.org/items/show/1863.