Huntington in Emery County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Wattis
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, July 7, 2023
1. Wattis Marker
Wattis Coal Company was organized in 1917 by W.H. Wattis, E.O. Wattis & M.S. Brownin. A surface tramway and 2.5 miles of standard gauge track was built to connect to the Utah RR at Wattis Junction. Coal first went over the tramway in March 1918 and was first shipped on the railway in April 1918. In May 1918 Wattis was sold to the Eccles family and merged with the Lion Coal Co. The new company built boarding houses and frame homes for the miners In Nov. 1919 Lion Coal Co. sold their spur to the Utab RR for $20,000 cash and free shipping at $0.15 per ton until the purchase price of $170,954.00 was met. During WWII there were about 250 miners employed. Like most coal camps in the area, the 1950's brought a sharp decline in demand for coal and Wattis ceased to exist as a town. In 1964 the mine was purchased for salvage by Mountain States Machinery of SLC. The salvage company realized that only 10% of the coal reserves had been mined and reopened the mine as Plateau Mining Co. In 1967 Plateau was sold to United Nuclear Corp., in 1980 it was sold to Getty Minerals and in 1985 it was sold Cyprus Minerals. Cyprus mined until 1999 when the property was sold to RAG American and closed. Reclamation began in Feb. of 2000 and was completed in 2003.
Dedicated July 22nd, 2017 (6022)
Matt Warner Chapter 1900
E Clampus Vitus
this page online
Erected 2017 by E Clampus Vitus Matt Warner Chapter 1900.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
Location. 39° 20.829′ N, 110° 56.558′ W. Marker is in Huntington, Utah, in Emery County. It can be reached from Mohrland Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1120 Mohrland Road, Huntington UT 84528, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mohrland (a few steps from this marker); Desert Lake-Victor (a few steps from this marker); Hiawatha (within shouting distance of this marker); Robber's Roost (within shouting distance of this marker); North Emery High School (approx. 1.8 miles away); Huntington's First Meeting House (approx. 1.8 miles away); Old Bell (approx. 1.9 miles away); Old Ranger Station (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntington.
Additional commentary.
1. Family
I'm the daughter of Edmund Orson Wattis, born Feb. 1940 in Austin, TX. My father was 3 when his father passed away in California after wrecking his car. My dad married Judith Lee Stromquist in Austin TX. They had 3 kids, Edmund Wattis, Lisa Wattis, and Paige Wattis. My dad died in 2014 at home in Marble Falls, TX.
I never have known any of Wattis Family but would very much like to hear from any and all about my Dad's family and want to meet any other living relatives. I would like to know how my dad got all his money. He lived like a king his whole life never one time telling us where he came from who his family was. Im just now reading about his impressive relatives. His grandfather, E.O was 1 of the 3 brothers that are so famous. I'm wanting to learn more about any family and to say "Hello". I'm a Wattis too, I'm 62 living in Texas. Pls feel free to get in touch to talk about our family cause I really don't know much at all. So glad I'm here.
An editor can put you in contact with Ms. Wattis Farber. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor
— Submitted October 3, 2025, by Paige Leigh Wattis Farber of Marble Falls, Texas Burnet co.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 926 times since then and 58 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on February 6, 2024, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
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