Helper in Carbon County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Helper Civic Auditorium

Helper Historic District

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 30, 2018

1. Helper Civic Auditorium Marker

Inscription. Built in 1937, the Helper Civic Auditorium was designed by Salt Lake City architects Carl W. Scott and George W. Welch. The building is an excellent example of Art Moderne style also known as "Streamline Moderne." The style was popular in the 1930s particularly in public buildings. The auditorium features Art Moderne elements such as the flat roof emphasized by concrete coping and coursing, smooth masonry with curved corners, glass block, and pilasters with abstracted capitals.
The Helper Civic Auditorium is part of the Utah Public Works Administration (PWA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) Buildings Thematic Nomination. The building is significant because it helps document the impact of New Deal programs in Utah during the Great Depression. The Helper Civic Auditorium was one of 226 buildings (two of which were auditoriums) constructed in Utah during the 1930s and early 1940s under the WPA and other New Deal programs. Of those 226 buildings, 130 are still standing. On a local level the construction of the building was a boost to Helper's economy by providing much needed jobs and funds through the purchase of building materials.

Erected 1997 by Division of State History. (Marker Number CR-07-723.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 39° 41.249′ N, 110° 51.264′ W. Marker is in Helper, Utah, in Carbon County. It is on South Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 South Main Street, Helper UT 84526, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Canyon Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

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: The History of Big John (a few steps from this marker); Helper Main Post Office (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Liberty Fuel - Latuda, Utah (about 400 feet away); Peerless / New Peerless (about 400 feet away); Western Springs Canyon - Rains - Mutual (about 400 feet away); Helper Senior Citizens Park (about 400 feet away); Helper's Rich History (about 400 feet away); Sweets Coal Company - Consumers - National (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helper.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 30, 2018

2. Helper Civic Auditorium Marker

Helper Civic Auditorium image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 30, 2018

3. Helper Civic Auditorium

Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2020, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 15, 2020, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.