Murray in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Murray Smelting

Photographed by Andrew Johnson, September 25, 2018

1. Murray Smelting Marker

Inscription. Gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc were found at Alta, Park City, and Tintic in the years 1864 to 1869. Since no smelting was done in the state or the surrounding area, smelters had to be built. Billy Morgan built the first smelter at 5189 South State Street on American Hill in 1869. The Woodhall brothers built the first furnace on State Street by Big Cottonwood Creek June 1870. In 1871 the Germania Refinery & Wasatch Smelter were erected west of State Street on opposite sides of Little Cottonwood creek. The Hanauer Smelter was built in 1872. The Horn Silver Smelter at 200 West 4800 South and the Highland Boy Plant 800 West Bullion came on stream 1880·1886. American Smelting and Refining Company took over the Germania plant operations and later built a plant at 5200 South State St. which began operations in 1902.

Smelting and ore refining grew from 8 tons to thousands of tons of ore per day. The need for smelting eventually decreased and in November 1950, the great smelting operation at Murray faded into history. Smelting in Murray had directly employed 10,000 people and, indirectly thousands more. Many of these people were pioneers who settled in the Murray community prior to the coming of the railroad.

Erected by Murray Chapter Utah Sons of the Pioneers. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 40° 39.372′ N, 111° 52.662′ W. Marker is in Murray, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It can be reached from 5300 South, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salt Lake City UT 84107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the

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Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pony Express Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mahonri Moriancumer Cahoon (approx. 0.4 miles away); South Cottonwood Temple Granite Rest Camp (approx. 0.6 miles away); 205 East Vine Street (approx. 0.6 miles away); South Cottonwood (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Old Rock Granary (approx. 0.7 miles away); South Cottonwood Campground (approx. 0.7 miles away); John P. Cahoon House (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murray.

Murray Smelting Marker Inscription image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Johnson, September 25, 2018

2. Murray Smelting Marker Inscription

Photographed by Andrew Johnson, September 25, 2018

3. Murray Smelting Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2018, by Andrew Johnson of Salt Lake City, Utah. This page has been viewed 838 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2018, by Andrew Johnson of Salt Lake City, Utah. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.