HELPER, UT
December 20, 2017
On our way driving to Moab, Utah, Mary and I "discovered" Helper—a rough but picturesque historic mining and railroad town. We found lots of vintage signs and even a few ghost signs. Helper (population 2,200 / 5,800 ft elevation) was once the primary commercial hub for the coal camps of Carbon County. Helper was named for the helper engines needed to push trains up the 15-mile steep mountain grade of Price Canyon. With the arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in the early 1880s, Helper began to develop as a population center. A new depot, hotel, and other buildings were constructed. In 1897, Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay of the Wild Bunch gang stayed in Helper before they robbed the Pleasant Valley Coal Company in nearby Castle Gate. It was said that Butch Cassidy later came back to Helper for occasional visits.
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PHOTOS
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Rainbow Inn:
The Rainbow Inn was built in 1922. It was originally used as a hotel, bar, sporting house, and bordello. The Rainbow attracted immigrants who were working on the railroad, at the power plants, and in the coal mines. The Rainbow Inn closed its doors in 1987.
"Beer on Tap"
"Rainbow Inn Parking"
Strand Theater:
The Strand Theatre (490 seats) was built in 1922 and stopped showing movies after 1955. Because the Strand did not have a concession stand, moviegoers would stop in the confectionary store next to the theater entrance to buy candy and popcorn. The theater, which is now used mostly for storage, cannot be used for entertainment because it does not meet current codes. The owner of the theater stated it would cost less to build a new theater on the site than to restore the old one.
La Salle Hotel:
The La Salle Hotel stands vacant. Upstairs was the hotel–downstairs was home to various businesses. A Safeway store may have been located there prior to 1927. The first-floor facades and interior have been modified, but otherwise the building is basically unaltered.
Excessive Signage
Vintage Restored Conoco Station & Garage:
This former Conoco station was built in 1924. After being vacant for many years, the building was flawlessly restored in 2017.
Click the link below to see another beautifully restored art-deco Conoco service station:
Route 66: Tower Service Station______________________
COPYRIGHT
These photographs are the property of Leon Jackson and are protected by copyright laws. Photographs may not be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Leon Jackson. © 2017 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.
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