Reno Sales Home

Reno and Lorene Sales purchased this Prairie style home circa 1910. Known as “the father of mining geology,” Reno Sales worked forty years as the Anaconda Company’s chief geologist. Early in his career, the Apex Law—a federal statute that allowed claim owners to follow mineral veins from where they surfaced (the apex) anywhere underground—resulted in hundreds of court cases. To defend Anaconda's rich ore holdings, Sales developed a geological field mapping system that became the industry standard. Lorene hosted Homer Club meetings where Butte’s elite women discussed history, literature, and current events. Meningitis claimed their first daughter’s life in 1911; they welcomed daughter Barbara in 1913. Lorene left Butte in 1926 so Barbara could attend the Castilleja School, a girls prep school in Palo Alto, California, founded by Helena’s Mary Lockey. Reno continued to work in Butte but rented the house to Harry and Polly Cochrane. Harry, Montana Power’s chief engineer, also sent his daughter to Castilleja. When Barbara Sales died in a car accident in 1934, the Cochrane family hosted her funeral at the home.

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