Since copper crashed in the 1980s, the mining town of Butte struggled to find a footing — and a new identity. The top official at the time, Chief Executive Don Peoples, called a press conference to uplift and define the spirit of Butte in the face of this hardship.
He talked about Butte as the “Can-Do City.” In the midst of the town’s economic collapse, the rally cry was minted. This “can-do” attitude is still a defining characteristic of Butte, reflecting its resilience and ability to overcome challenges.
Last July, 5518 received a text from Dave Dunmire, with a photo of a sign and a message about how it may be a good design for a shirt to carry and a positive message to promote through the shop.
From Dave, “a little background on the sign. It dates back to the early 90’s and was on the fence on the first base dugout at Scown Field. I had to confirm this with my sister that it was my grandfather’s work. It was.”
This spirit helped people envision a brighter future for themselves back then, and can still be heard on the streets today.
Many thanks to Dave for passing on the design inspiration. Visit shop5518.com to purchase the Can-Do City shirt.
