This single-story, red brick, commercial one-part block building was originally owned by John Milon, George Gigoumakis, and Steve Zoulakis. The building was at one time an O.P. Skaggs meat and grocery store operated by Barney Hyde. Mr. Hyde was also . . . — — Map (db m148217) HM
This one-story red brick commercial building was built in 1927 by Helper Securities.
Five business storefronts completed the whole of this larger building. The northernmost portion at 167 South Main Street was occupied by the Success Meat and . . . — — Map (db m148211) HM
Erected in 1918, by inmates of The Utah State Penitentiary. This monument honors Simon Bamberger, Governor of Utah from 1917 through 1920. Under a state law passed in 1911 permitting prisoners to work on State roads, the prisoners participated in . . . — — Map (db m148288) HM
The Barboglio Building was built in 1907 by Joe Barboglio. The building housed the Tika Tavern with a hotel upstairs. Mrs. Barboglio ran the hotel and washed the linen by hand in the Price River. In 1910, in an effort to help other businessmen, the . . . — — Map (db m148209) HM
This caboose was built in 1918 by the Mt. Vernon Car Company for the Utah Railway Company. It was refurbished in 1958 at which time the steel siding was added. Caboose N°. 55 traveled the route from Provo to Mohrland from 1918 to 1975. That's 57 . . . — — Map (db m279226) HM
The mine was opened in 1916 by George Diamanti as Hardscrabble Coal Company which was operated by Utah Fuel. By 1963 after numerous name and ownership changes, the mine was owned and operated as Carbon Fuel Company.
On December 16, 1963 at . . . — — Map (db m265333) HM
The Carbon Hotel was built in the early 1900's. It was first owned by C.A. Bartolino. The building was used as a hotel, bar, cafe and sporting house throughout the years. Due to the large number of single male immigrants into the local mines, the . . . — — Map (db m100991) HM
This monument is dedicated to the Carbon Plant, located SE of this site, the fourth coal-fired facility built by Utah Power. Construction on the $26 million plant began the summer of 1953, in cooperation with the International Brotherhood of . . . — — Map (db m148289) HM
Coal was discovered in Price Canyon near Castle Gate in 1888, and the Pleasant Valley Coal Co. immediately opened the Castle Gate No. 1 Mine. The Wasatch Store was built in 1890 and served the camps of Castle Gate and Willow Creek as the "Company . . . — — Map (db m265665) HM
At 8:30 a.m., March 8, 1924, an explosion occurred in the Castle Gate No. 2 Mine, located about one half mile to the southeast of this site, instantly killing 171 miners. Rescue teams were rushed to Castle Gate from the surrounding mines. Wearing . . . — — Map (db m148291) HM
This two-story, stucco, commercial building was constructed in 1922 and originally owned by Charles A. Bertolino. The main level interior was divided to allow for two separate businesses. The north side housed the Athens Restaurant, which was . . . — — Map (db m279227) HM
In 1885 Alfred Grames took up residence at Oak Springs Bench at the head of Gordon Creek, which was later to become Coal City.
In August of 1921 George Storres filed a petition to establish a townsite and to develop coal properties. The town . . . — — Map (db m291465) HM
When coal mining started in the Bookcliffs and Wasatch Plateau back in the late 1800s, many miners from different ethnic groups from America and countries from around the world came to Carbon County to mine the coal to provide for their families, . . . — — Map (db m279052) HM
The continuous miner cuts and conveys coal from the mine to a waiting shuttlecar that is parked underneath the miners all section. When eight tons of coal have been loaded onto the shuttlecar, the operator changes seats and drives the shuttlecar to . . . — — Map (db m279049) HM
The coal was dynamited at the face of the mine. A waiting loader was used to gather and scoop coal from the mine floor onto it's conveyor, then filling at
shuttlecar. The shuttlecar transported the coal to one of fourteen five-tone coal cars, on . . . — — Map (db m279057) HM
Utah Railway was created in 1912 to provide improved service to the coal mines of western Carbon and Emery counties. Tracks from Hiawatha to the Utah Railway junction near Martin were completed in Oct. 1914. A steel girder bridge 135 ft. high, 634 . . . — — Map (db m148206) HM
(1) Coal must be broken away from the face of the coal seam.
1. In the early mines picks were used to break the coal away from the face.
2. Then holes were drilled in the face and dynamite was tamped into the hole and detonated (1900-1950).
3. . . . — — Map (db m278801) HM
In the early years of World War II, the United States Government determined that it was necessary to locate strategic defense industries in locations that would not be subject to immediate attack in the event the Japanese invaded the West Coast of . . . — — Map (db m279065) HM
Heiner was located on the mountain at the mouth of Panther Canyon
and on the main line of the D & RG Western Railroad, approximately
halfway between Helper and Castle Gate at an elevation of 6,023 feet.
In 1911, Frank Cameron, a prominent . . . — — Map (db m291472) HM
This valley was originally settled in 1881 by Teancum Pratt. The original Pratt Survey still predominates on maps of this area. He sold land to the Rio Grande Western Railroad for a right of way. By the fall of 1887 the railroad had built 27 frame . . . — — Map (db m148214) HM
This one-story red brick flat roof building was built as the Helper City Hall in 1927. This building has classical "tin" cornices, columns and pediment. The project architect was Walter E. Ware of Salt Lake City.
The City Hall has been a center . . . — — Map (db m148212) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m148221) HM
This hotel was built in 1913-14 for the Helper Real Estate and Investment Co. Formed by people of many different ethnic groups, including Assyrian, Italian, and Jewish, this company reflected the diverse nature of Helper's population. A favorite of . . . — — Map (db m148122) HM
The Helper Main Post Office, built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), is significant for its association with the federal government's New Deal public arts programs. As one of only three Utah post offices that contain public art, it . . . — — Map (db m148220) HM
The mining town of Helper has been the backdrop to independent films and television shows over the years looking to capture the small town feel of the historic and restored downtown. The Book Cliffs mountain range offset by the railroad that passes . . . — — Map (db m279228) HM
This one-story red brick commercial block was built by Helper Securities in 1927 and contained seven businesses. The northern section originally housed the J.C. Penney store managed by M.P. Street. Just south, the Safeway store was operated during . . . — — Map (db m278789) HM
In 1973 local Girl Scout Cadette Troop 555, consisting of 39 girls ages 12-15, envisioned a place for Helper Senior Citizens to rest and enjoy their day.
The girls noticed a vacant lot on Main Street that was an eyesore littered with old cars . . . — — Map (db m278769) HM
Helper was first settled in 1881 by Teancum Pratt and his plural wives. He then settled into what he described as "a lonely wilderness" where he sought to escape the "hunters, trappers and bachelors and raveheads in the area of his previous farm . . . — — Map (db m278785) HM
From Past
Settled in 1881, immigrants came from all over the world in search of a better life working in the mines or on the railroads, creating a cultural tapestry unlike any other in Utah. By the 1920s, at least 27 languages could be heard . . . — — Map (db m279067) HM
Historic Helper Main Street
Helper Main Street these were some of the
first wooden buildings on Helper Main Street. They
were either replaced or burned in the fire of 1919.
All of the other buildings mentioned in this . . . — — Map (db m279069) HM
Big John was an original idea, born from the creativity and enthusiasm of Helper citizens, the Mayor and the City Council. In February of 1964, many of the movers and shakers of Helper decided the city needed a civic attraction. On February 27, . . . — — Map (db m277796) HM
Once the coal was blasted, pit cars or mine cars were loaded using the Joy loader. The loading machine replaced hand loading (the shovel). This machine was last used at Carbon Fuel Co Number 3 mine near Helper Utah. — — Map (db m279054) HM
Latuda saw its first residents in 1914 when prospectors found coal in the area. The Liberty Fuel Mine opened in 1917 when Frank Latuda and Charles Picco bought the property and moved the portal closer to the canyon floor. Twenty homes were built . . . — — Map (db m265662) HM
Matt Warner was born Willard E. Christiansen in Ephraim, Utah. He left home at the age of 14 after a fight in which he thought he killed the town bully. He took the name Matt Warner, became a cattle rustler, bank robber and rode with Butch Cassidy . . . — — Map (db m101029) HM
This track mounted shovel called a mucking machine was to the hard rock mines as the 'Joy loader" was to the coal mines. When the rock face was blasted "the mucker", operated by air, was used to load the loose blasted rock (muck) into mine cars. . . . — — Map (db m279062) HM
Peerless
Peerless, just 3 miles west of Helper, was the first mine developed in the Spring Canyon District. The property was purchased in 1916 by brothers William and Charles Sweet. They developed the coal operation including a gravity . . . — — Map (db m265875) HM
Near this site stood the Pleasant Valley Coal Company office and store.
On April 21, 1897, in of of the most daring daylight robberies, Butch Cassidy, Elsa Lay, and Bob Meeks robbed paymaster E.L. Carpenter and made off with over $8000.00 in . . . — — Map (db m148293) HM
Pleasant Valley Junction about 1/2 mile So. of this site, began in the early 1880's when the Rio Grande R.R. extended the main line from Tucker over the summit into Carbon County. A round house was built and a branch line extended to the Pleasant . . . — — Map (db m148616) HM
The Rainbow Inn is located at 305 N Mains St, Helper, Utah and was built in 1922. Originally owned by Lena Fodero, the building was used as a hotel, bar, and sporting house. It was known for the bordello on the upper floor. The railroad which . . . — — Map (db m106558) HM
The area around the rock formation known as Castle Gate was originally settled as Bear Canyon.
In 1913 Frank Cameron opened a small mine operation and the town was renamed Cameron.
In 1917 Cameron sold the mine to Henry Rolapp and the . . . — — Map (db m265335) HM
The Catholic Mission Church was built at Castle Gate, Utah in 1898. It burned down in 1907. Catholics then worshipped in Helper at the Railroad Non-Denominational Chapel which was erected by the railroad in 1899.
On this location in 1914 the . . . — — Map (db m291488) HM
This two-story brick commercial building was constructed in 1929. The varied shades of tan bricks are unusual in the historic district. In the early 1930s, the right side of the building was occupied by the "Smart Shop" owned by N.A. Neilson, and . . . — — Map (db m148208) HM
The town of Spring Canyon, or Storrs as it was
originally called, was the site of the first coal mine
in Spring Canyon. A small mine was worked in
Sowbelly Gulch by Teancum Pratt beginning
about 1895, then in 1912 "Uncle" Jesse . . . — — Map (db m291471) HM
Frederic Sweet founded the town of Standardville in 1911. For 4 years everyone lived in tents. By 1914 railroad sidings were in place and 200 tons of coal a day were mined.
By 1917 the town had become a well planned community setting the . . . — — Map (db m291473) HM
This gazebo was constructed during WW1 in the coal-mining town of Standardville, Utah near the company store. This was an era when most small towns had their own bands and other forms of local entertainment. The bandstand, as it was affectionately . . . — — Map (db m278786) HM
Attached to "jackpipes" (vertical posts anchored between the mine roof & floor), the shortwall was used to undercut the coal prior to blasting. This machine was last used in the O'Connor Mine near Clear Creek, Utah. — — Map (db m279063) HM
Sweets Coal Company
In 1928 Will Sweet discovered coal in a small canyon northeast of National. Sweets was the smallest of the mines in the Gordon Creek area. It was a tent city for almost 10 years with a population of close to 200 people. . . . — — Map (db m291467) HM
Around 1891 after the D & R G W Railroad replaced the narrow gauge, with standard gauge track, the division point was consolidated in Helper. At this time a 15 stall roundhouse, a new depot and other accommodations were built. In 1919 the division . . . — — Map (db m148207) HM
The name Carbon County appropriately suggests the importance of carbon products to the economy and history of this area.
The first commercial development of coal occurred in this vicinity in the 1870's and soon out distanced production in other . . . — — Map (db m148292) HM
Western Springs Canyon
Mutual and Rains were not the only mines in the extreme western end of Spring Canyon. There was the Little Standard mine (1925-1945) operated by the Standard Coal Company and three small family operated mines, the Day, . . . — — Map (db m265879) HM
On July 31, 2000, at approximately 11:48 p.m. an explosion and fire rocked the Willow Creek Mine taking the lives of Shane Stansfield and Cory Jordon Nielson and sending 8 other miners to the hospital. The explosion marked the end of a short and . . . — — Map (db m148290) HM
Due to Utah's high unemployment rate during the Depression (63% in 1933), federal recovery programs were extensive in the state. Virtually every public building constructed in Carbon County during the 30's was built by one of these agencies. . . . — — Map (db m265342) HM
