Boosters aiming to goose Anaconda’s sagging fortunes 35 years ago tried converting lemons into lemonade.
That happened in 1990. It came nearly 10 years after shutdown of the community’s lifeblood copper smelter and seven years after the smelter and vicinity were listed as a federal Superfund site.
The Anaconda Chamber of Commerce adopted a new brand: “Anaconda — The Super Fun City.”
Anaconda artist Bob Vine designed a banner. At least 23 were skillfully printed by Ralph Schmidt and Ross Evans and then displayed along Park Street.
As it turned out, relentless winds sweeping off the Anaconda Range tattered the banners after just a few months and they all came down. Few grieved.
Alexis Krueger, a native of Anaconda, purchased Anaconda Outdoor in late December. She’s a believer in building community through outdoors activities.
Duncan Adams, The Montana Standard