St. Patrick Cemetery in Butte needs water and representatives of the Diocese of Helena, Butte-Silver Bow Water Co. and the Butte division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians met recently to discuss prospects for providing it.

Rainfall is the only water at the diocesan cemetery, which was established before 1900.

“The construction of a new sprinkling system is critical to providing the upgrade that we want to provide,” said Msgr. Kevin O’Neill, V.G. “In the past three years, with the help of the Butte Hibernians, we have invested in the construction of a new fence at St. Patrick’s and also fixed the front entrance to the facility. But until we install a sprinkling system, our hopes for upgrading the area will not be complete.”

Bishop George Leo Thomas appointed Msgr. O’Neill to work with the Hibernians on resolving concerns about the cemetery.

Leaks and other problems led to a shutdown of its sprinkling system in 1971. Officials working for Butte-Silver Bow, the consolidated city and county government, say a wastewater treatment facility expected to begin operating in 2014 could figure into the cemetery’s water solution. “When it is complete, the cemetery project is a perfect place to use the effluent water discharge,” said Rick Larson of the Butte-Silver Bow Water Division. He said the treated wastewater would be “almost like drinking water,” but under state regulations it can be used only for industrial purposes, such as sprinkling.

Larson said that with the potential for 1 million gallons a day becoming available once the treatment plant is operating, the treated water could be used at St. Patrick and at two cemeteries next to it, and there still would be some for other uses.

The Diocese of Helena is looking into an option that involves tapping into the Silver Lake water line, located next to the effluent line behind the cemetery, but because of legal issues, that water may not be available.

“At this point, we are exploring every option to get water into the cemetery,” said Msgr. O’Neill. “We are working with city officials to put an agreement in place to use the effluent water when it becomes available. However, it is important we also look at the option of the Silver Lake water.”

Besides the matter of water, concerns at St. Patrick Cemetery include equipment storage and overall security, concerns that diocesan representatives are working to address.

A fence recently was installed around three-fourths of the cemetery, with one-fourth left open while the consideration of water supply was ongoing. With the water issue now clarifying, it’s time to add to the fence, said Resurrection Cemetery Association, which oversees diocesan cemetery operations.

“We hope to put a new fence in the back section of the cemetery by this fall,” said Scott Fitzpatrick, association director. “We are frustrated by the vandalism we’ve experienced at St. Patrick’s, and hopefully the new fence will seal the property and make it more secure. There are also plans to add a storage unit to the complex this year so we can store equipment to maintain the cemetery.” The Hibernians spearheaded a cleanup of St. Patrick Cemetery and say signs of progress there are encouraging.

“Bishop George Thomas indicated he wanted to make St. Patrick’s a first-class cemetery again,” said Pat Kearney, past president of the Hibernians in Butte and chairman of the cleanup. “The diocese has really stepped up to solve the problem. We realize it might be some time before water will flow inside St. Patrick’s Cemetery, but at least now we have a timeline. People simply have to be patient. It’s going to take time.”


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 8, August 20, 2010.