Standardville, Utah – The “Standard” for Coal Mining Camps – Legends of America
Nestled approximately five miles northwest of Helper, Utah, along the winding Spring Canyon Road, lies the haunting remnants of Standardville, a once-thriving coal mining camp. Its origins trace back to 1890, when a humble log house stood on the land, owned by S.H. Gilson. However, the true genesis of Standardville occurred in 1912, when the Standard Coal Company established its mine and settlement at the entrance of Gilson Gulch in Spring Canyon, a mere quarter-mile north of the nascent town.
A Model Town Emerges
The Standard Coal Company, backed by substantial financial resources, embarked on an ambitious development plan. Within the first year, the town and mine construction progressed rapidly. In 1913, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad extended its line westward from Storrs to Standardville, facilitating the transportation of coal. By 1914, the town, tipple, and mine facilities were complete, transforming Standardville into a model company town, meticulously planned and intended to serve as the "standard" for other mining camps to emulate.
In February 1914, the company proudly shipped its first coal, marking the beginning of a prosperous era. The mine initially produced around 200 tons of coal daily, but within a year, the output increased fivefold. By 1915, Standard Mines employed a workforce of 143 men, producing an impressive 149,453 tons of coal that year. Both the Utah Railway Company and the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad transported the coal to market, while a stage line provided daily transportation between Standardville and Helper.
A Flourishing Community
As the years passed, Standardville experienced a surge in population, transforming into a vibrant community. The town boasted a large company store, steam-heated apartments, a butcher shop, a barbershop, a hospital, a recreation hall, tennis courts, and an elementary school with four teachers and 200 students. Junior high students attended school in Latuda, while high school students traveled to Price for their education.
The State Coal Mine Inspector’s description of Standardville in 1923 paints a vivid picture of a modern, well-equipped town:
"The town of Standardville is a model mining town. A modern sewer system has been installed throughout the town. Lawns and trees have been planted where the physical conditions would permit. All houses are well-built, and many of them are modern in every respect. An apartment house, equipped with electric ranges, was built last year; also, a hotel, which affords comfortable quarters for men, has been built. A small but very well-equipped, modern hospital and an amusement hall of steel and hollow tile construction, where the best motion pictures are shown regularly, contribute to the advantages of the community."
In 1927, the Standard Coal Company proudly showcased Standardville’s complete waterworks system, electric lights, steam heat, mercantile stores, a meat market, an ice factory and refrigerating plant, a confectionary store, a soda fountain, a moving picture theatre, playgrounds, and a school.
Company pamphlets displayed photographs of the main street, lined with one, one-and-a-half, and two-story frame homes set on concrete foundations with gable and hipped roofs and clapboard siding. Commercial and public buildings were constructed with tile and covered with stucco. While supervisory personnel resided in larger, more substantial residences, the housing arrangement fostered a sense of community, with management and labor living side by side.
Challenges and Tragedy
Despite its model status, Standardville was not immune to challenges. The town experienced a long history of mining strikes, some of which turned violent. In June 1922, a mine guard was killed, and the mine superintendent and a miner were wounded by strikers attempting to halt a train carrying strikebreakers. In response, the Utah governor sent National Guard troops to the area and declared martial law in the Carbon County Coal District.
On February 6, 1930, tragedy struck when a gas explosion ripped through the mine. A pocket of carbon monoxide gas ignited, likely from sparks from a cutting machine, claiming the lives of three men in the initial explosion. Seventeen more miners succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, while three rescue workers were crushed during a cave-in. Miraculously, the remaining miners survived by barricading themselves with canvas, awaiting rescue.
Decline and Abandonment
Despite the devastating explosion, the mine and community persevered. By 1932, the mine processed over 2,000 tons of coal daily. However, financial difficulties plagued the mine in 1939, leading to a unanimous decision by the 265 miners to work for food to prevent its closure. Despite their efforts, the mine closed on April 5, 1939.
World War II brought renewed demand for coal, but the post-war era saw a decline in production as railroads transitioned to diesel engines and home heating shifted to natural gas and oil. In 1950, the Standard Coal Company mine closed, followed by the stores, school, and hospital, as miners sought opportunities elsewhere.
A Ghost Town Emerges
By the early 1970s, only two families remained in Standardville. The buildings, once symbols of prosperity, were sold to the public at a nominal fee. Many wood-frame structures were relocated to Helper and Price, while stone and tile buildings were either torn down or stripped of their roofs and interiors for lumber. The mine portals were dynamited or caved in, marking the end of an era.
Today, Standardville stands as a haunting reminder of its past. Remnants of buildings, weathered by time, dot the landscape, whispering tales of a once-thriving coal mining community that aspired to be the "standard" for others to follow. The echoes of laughter, the clang of machinery, and the camaraderie of miners have faded into the annals of history, leaving behind a ghost town that serves as a poignant testament to the rise and fall of the coal mining industry in Utah.