'No Greater Love' cast visits Granite Mountain Mine

Hallowed ground holds 168 souls

Editor's note: The following is written by actor John Garic, who plays North Butte Mine Manager Norman Braley in next weekend's live production of "No Greater Love." He wrote the poem (see below) that was read aloud during the cast's visit to the Granite Mountain Mine headframe. The cast had special permission for its guided tour to the fenced off mine shaft. The visit was to give the actors a sense of place, a feel for the place 100 years later, as curtain approaches, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday, June 9-10.

     Some of us got to spend some time on the hallowed ground at the headframe of and mere feet from the collar of the Granite Mountain shaft where so many perished. We could actually see the cages still hanging at the top of the shaft. It was an amazing and solemn and emotional experience. Below is the poem we read in that spot.

At the Headframe – A Reflection

Tis all of us who grieve for them

They do not grieve now
They are not gone forever -

Not really

They look upon us still

They walk in the shadow of the East Ridge

They stride upon the Great Divide

Their smile is in the big sky of a Montana summer

Their grace is in the northwesterly breeze

Their memories whisper in the grass

Their calm is in the trees

Their joy is in every pasty consumed

Their light is in the winter snow

Their tears are in the gentle spring rain

Their merriment runs in the mountain runoff
Their laughter is in the streets of Butte
Their gentleness is in the Montana wildflowers
They sigh in autumn leaves
They are not gone
Tis only we who grieve
If only we could see the splendor of the land
To which these cherished souls were called in 1917
We’d understand
If only we could hear the welcome they raised
For the familiar, loving voices who joined them –– later
We would not grieve
I think we all sense that they are okay … now
So we wipe away the tears that flow
And remember

And smile

     After serving Butte's Highlands College as dean for more than 8 years, John Garic has returned to the classroom as a full-time professor at Montana Tech. His coming performance in "No Greater Love" will be the 77th production of his theatrical avocation.