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Grass Creek Coal Mines, Summit County

This page was last updated on April 13, 2025.

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Overview

(The following narrative incorporates the history of the coal mines in Grass Creek Canyon, and the railroad that served them.)

Coal was a badly needed resource as a source of home fuel for Utah's growing population, and to fuel its rapidly growing economy, to fuel the fires of the territory's growing mining, smelting, and manufacturing industries. In 1854, the Territorial Legislature offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who discovered a source of coal within 40 miles of Salt Lake City.

January 14, 1854
The following comes from the January 19, 1854 issue of the Deseret News.

Daniel Wells had been working a coal mine in Grass Creek canyon north of Coalville since its discovery by S. W. Taylor in 1856. The Wells & Taylor mine, later known as the "Church Mine," missed the $1,000 reward by just five miles.

Several mines opened in the Grass Creek and Chalk Creek areas after the mid 1850s. These were all small mines worked with small hand tools, and the coal was shipped by wagon to local markets and farther to Salt Lake City and Ogden, until Union Pacific arrived at Echo in late 1868. Then the wagon-haul was shorter - from the mines to Echo, about 6.5 miles.

The mines in the Grass Creek area were:

• Church Mine -> Grass Creek Coal Co. -> Union Fuel -> Grass Creek Fuel Co. (worked by leasers until the 1940s)
• Cullen Mine -> Grass Creek Coal Co. (closed in 1899)
• Union Pacific Mine -> abandoned in 1888 -> Rees-Grass Creek Mine (worked by leasers until the 1940s)

An 1871 business directory lists a "Grass Canon Coal Co." among businesses in Coalville. (Langley, Henry G. 1871. Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1871-73)

"Fletcher's Coal Mine", in Grass Creek Canyon, mortgaged in 1872. (Summit County Recorder Abstracts Book 1, p.288)

From a 1989 history of Summit County comes the following.

(At the time that the coal mines were being developed in Grass Creek in the 1850s and 1860s, Daniel H. Wells was the church's Superintendent of Public Works, as well as Brigham Young's Second Counselor. He also held the office of President of the Territorial Legislature Council.)

Railroad Service

January 13, 1870
The first coal from Coalville arrived in Salt Lake City by rail. Two car loads of coal from the Wasatch Coal company at Coalville arrived in Salt Lake City, consigned to F. A. Mitchell. The coal was shipped on the Utah Central the entire distance from Echo on Union Pacific, using the trackage rights that were part of the September 1869 grading contract settlement between Union Pacific and Brigham Young. ("The Year Of 1870", Our Pioneer Heritage, Volume 14, 1971, page 44)

Coal from the Church Mine was shipped by wagon to Echo, where it was transferred to rail cars, and moved by the Utah Central railroad west to Ogden, making use of the Utah Central trackage rights over UP's line between Echo and Ogden. In an early attempt to get low-cost transportation for coal so badly needed in Salt Lake City, church leaders in Coalville, Echo, Ogden and Salt Lake City organized the Coalville & Echo Railroad. (Organization of Coalville & Echo Railroad in Deseret Evening News, October 26, 1869, cited in Reeder, p.321.)

The stated purpose of the Coalville & Echo company was to build a rail line between the coal mines and a connection with Union Pacific at Echo. In addition, the Coalville & Echo company was organized for the general benefit of the residents of the upper Weber Valley. Because building a railroad requires great amounts of cash, something not readily available in the territory at that time, members of the local LDS congregations were called on to furnish their cooperative labor to complete the actual construction of the line. They were able to complete the grading and the laying of ties, but the rails were not laid because rails required cash. The settlement of the Mormon grading contracts had included rails and hardware, but there hadn't been sufficient materials after completion of the Utah Central to Salt Lake City, to complete the line between Coalville and Echo. Progress had been rapid, at least until all that was needed was rails. Labor for grading had been readily available, as was timber and labor for the laying of ties; but the iron rails required cash, something that the region simply did not have.

Work lay dormant for another year until private investors became interested and organized the Summit County Railroad, incorporated on November 29, 1871 by investors in Summit County and Salt Lake City, to build a three-foot gauge rail line from Echo to the Park City mines. The company took over the uncompleted grade of the Coalville & Echo Railroad between those two towns in exchange for stock in the new company. (Deseret Evening News, April 7, 1873; Salt Lake Herald, March 28, 1873; Salt Lake Herald, August 17, 1873; UP corporate history; 44 Val Rep 196; Reeder, pp. 325-329)

Repair work on the old C&E grade, dormant since the autumn of 1869, began in the spring of 1872 and by mid August the work was completed. Track materials were delivered in early 1873 and the laying of the rails began in March. The last rail was laid into Coalville by early April 1873. In July 1874 the original Coalville & Echo roadbed and grade was formally purchased.

On April 6, 1873 the narrow gauge Summit County Railroad was completed between Echo and Coalville. The first day of regular operation was May 14, 1873, with earnings first recorded and the line officially opened on July 1, 1873. The Summit County line received their first locomotive in late April 1873; a locomotive named "Weber" that had its first day of operation on April 28th.

After the narrow gauge Summit County Railroad was completed between Echo and Coalville in 1873, the coal was loaded at Coalville, with a spur being completed directly to the larger mines on the Coalville side. The difference of narrow gauge vs. standard gauge was handled, according to a December 1874 article in Engineering & Mining Journal, by using the same cars to ship the coal, with a change of truck and wheel assemblies taking place at Echo.

By the mid 1870s, Union Pacific was exploring potential coal mines in the Grass Creek area, taking possession of some of the church-owned properties as early as 1876, since they were located on railroad-owned land-grant land. As noted in the history of the railroad's coal company, the prospects of larger, more active coal mines in the area had the railroad sending men into what they called Grass Creek (or Grass Valley), where they opened the first large commercial mine in 1880.

In May 1880, under Union Pacific ownership, the previously narrow gauge Summit County railroad between Echo and Coalville was changed from narrow gauge to standard gauge. At the same time, the railroad was extended south to Park City, thereby giving the coal mines more market by selling to the mines and mills in the Park City mining district. The road was completed to Park City in December 1880.

In 1880, as the Summit County Railroad was being converted from narrow gauge to standard gauge, and about six months before the standard gauge line was completed into Park City, the railroad built a standard gauge spur up Grass Creek Canyon to reach a coal mine owned by the LDS church. The operation of the Grass Creek Branch was turned over to the Echo & Park City when that company purchased the property of the Summit County Railroad in 1881. The Echo & Park City railroad was controlled by Union Pacific, which had also controlled the narrow gauge Summit County railroad since about 1874. It was also in 1880 that Union Pacific began development of its own coal mine in Grass Creek, about 3/4 mile down-canyon from the so-called Church Mine.

At the Grass Creek mine, which had shipped 29,131 tons of coal to outside markets, the coal vein was 10 feet thick. (Charles A. Ashburner, "Coal Production In Utah, 1886," AIME Transactions, Volume 16, 1887-1888, page 356)

During the 1880s Utah's attempts at statehood were blocked by many individuals and special interest groups, and their zealous anti-Mormon activities. This anti-Mormon zeal reached its peak in 1887 with the passage of the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which allowed the federal government to confiscate the financial assets of the LDS church. The assets of the church included the coal mine and coal lands located in Grass Creek Canyon. With the coal mine closed, the traffic for the branch line disappeared, and with the loss of the coal traffic from the now closed coal mine, and to allow the use of the rails elsewhere, the Echo & Park City abandoned and removed the four-mile Grass Creek Branch in 1887.

The Grass Creek coal mine laid idle for several years awaiting a decision by the federal courts concerning the ownership of church assets. In anticipation of a positive decision, seven years later on September 19, 1894 the church organized the Grass Creek Terminal Railway to construct a branch from the Echo & Park City mainline up Grass Creek canyon to the "old Church coal mine". The company's organizers were actually prominent Mormon businessmen who held the property as trustees for the church's interests.

The new company built 2.87 miles of new railroad line on the grade and alignment of the original Grass Creek branch that had been torn up in 1887, along with an additional 2.7 miles of new construction, making the new branch just over 5-1/2 miles in length. The reopened coal mine (known as the Cullen mine), and the newly built railroad branch (known as the Grass Creek Terminal Railway) that served the mine, were owned by the church trustees. The new branch was constructed in 1895-1896 by Union Pacific construction forces and upon completion, it was operated by the Echo & Park City company as their Grass Creek Branch. Operation of the branch was by Union Pacific after UP's formal purchase of Echo & Park City company in 1899.

1887
Echo & Park City abandoned and removed the track of the 3.94-mile Grass Creek Branch, up Grass Creek canyon to the Church Coal Mine. (UP corporate history)

(The Grass Creek Branch was removed because the church-owned coal mine that it served was closed after being confiscated by the federal government, in the government's anti-polygamy moves against the LDS church under provisions of the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887.)

September 22, 1888
"The rumor that the Grass Creek coal mines are to be re-opened to supply the Central Pacific demand is now confirmed, and soon the branch track will be relaid and active work pushed at the mines." (Park Record, Park City, September 22, 1888)

September 18, 1894
"The surveyors went to work today, laying out the route from the mines down the canyon. It is stated by the engineer that a grade of two per cent can be made." (Deseret News, September 18, 1894)

(This suggests that in 1887, when the Union Pacific pulled up its rails previously laid in 1880 in Grass Creek Canyon, that the right of way was also abandoned. The abandoned grade likely became a much appreciated wagon road, which explains why a new route had to be surveyed in 1894.)

September 19, 1894
The Grass Creek Terminal Railway was incorporated to construct a branch from the Echo & Park City line, about three miles north of Coalville, to the Grass Creek coal mine located in Grass Creek canyon. The company built 2.87 miles of line on the grade and alignment of Echo & Park City's original Grass Creek branch, along with an additional 2.7 miles of new construction. The entire 5.59-mile line was owned by private individuals who were also leaders of the LDS church, which owned the coal mine. The line was constructed in 1895-1896 by Union Pacific forces and upon completion it was operated by the E&PC, and later by the Union Pacific, as the Grass Creek Branch. (UP corporate history)

October 26, 1895
"A railroad is being built from Coalville to the Grass Creek coal mines. It will be standard gauge and six miles long and connect with the Union Pacific." (Park Record, Park City, October 26, 1895)

In 1895 the church decided to build from the now standard gauge Echo & Park City Railroad, at the mouth of Grass Creek Canyon up to the Cullen mine, some two miles east of the abandoned U. P. mines. It was to take charge of this Cullen mine that I was appointed superintendent, February 1st, 1896, which position I held until the fall of 1899, when I accepted a position at Hanna, Wyoming. (J. E. Petit, 1947)

November 22, 1897
The Grass Creek Terminal extended its line an additional 3/4 of a mile to reach the Old Church mine. "The makes the Terminal road 6 miles long, 5-1/4 miles having been completed two years ago. This extension is a highly important one and will result a large increase of business for the Grass Creek Coal company. Heretofore the output of the mine has been hauled to the railroad by wagon and that under extreme difficulty and only at sated times of the year. Now the cars will run direct to the mouth of the mine and be loaded by modern methods. A 600-foot tunnel has just been finished. It shows the great possibilities of the mine and leads to a newly discovered body of coal averaging from fourteen to eighteen feet in width. This coal is of a very superior quality and will be on the Salt Lake market in a very few days. The output of the mine will be one hundred tons daily with a capacity for five times that amount." (Deseret News, November 22, 1897; Salt Lake Herald, November 23, 1897)

March 26, 1898
During March 1898, a Union Pacific railroad lawyer had traveled the entire distance between Omaha and Salt Lake City, filing a corrected mortgage and corrected deeds with the county recorders of the 25 counties that Union Pacific passes through. The mortgage was between the Grass Creek Terminal Railroad and Zion Savings Bank & Trust of Salt Lake City. Union Pacific was involved because the Grass Creek Terminal Railroad had purchased the Grass Creek Branch of the Echo & Park City Railroad, which was controlled by Union Pacific. The mortgage and deeds were originally dated July 1, 1896, which indicates that the new line in Grass Creek had been completed by that date. The Grass Creek company had issued 50 bonds with a value in 20 years (1916) of $1,000 each. "The bonds are secured by first mortgage on the company's line of railway extending from the mouth of Grass Creek canyon, in Summit county to the mines, a distance of about six miles, together with all the rolling stock, buildings, etc." (Salt Lake Herald, March 26, 1898)

In July 1907, Ogden industrialist David Eccles purchased the 1,040 acres of coal lands that comprised the Grass Creek coal mine and organized the Grass Creek Coal Company of Utah. The reorganized company was purchased in December 1907 by Eccles' own newly incorporated Union Fuel Company.

Eccles needed the coal to supply fuel for the sugar factories of his Amalgamated Sugar Company located in Logan and Ogden. The new company took ownership of the previous Grass Creek Coal Company that was organized in late 1896 to manage the church owned coal mine in Grass Creek Canyon. Eccles' purchase of the Grass Creek coal lands also included the Grass Creek Terminal Railway. The Coalville area was still a regular supplier of marketable coal and by early 1910 the coal mines in the Coalville area, in addition to Eccles' Union Fuel company, included the Weber Coal Company near Coalville, and the Rees Grass Creek Company also in Grass Creek. Later research found that Eccles "purchase" was actually a lease of the church-owned land and railroad.

Ownership of the Grass Creek coal mine and railroad passed from the LDS Church and its trustees, to the church-owned Zion Securities in June 1922. The Grass Creek Coal Company was actually owner of only part of the coal lands, and leased the remainder of its operation from the church, and later Zion Securities. By the 1920s the railroad branch was in need of major repairs and upgrading, so in 1923 Union Pacific purchased the branch from Zion Securities for the sum of $10.00, agreeing to relay the line with heavier rail and maintain it in operable condition.

During the mid 1920s, coal traffic from the Grass Creek mine averaged about 3-5 carloads of coal per week, with the mine shipping 207 cars during 1927, and 335 cars during 1928. In 1929 Zion Securities leased the Grass Creek mine to the Grass Creek Fuel Company of Coalville, who also operated the Weber mine in Chalk Creek canyon above Coalville. The new operators shipped 210 cars of coal in 1929 and 353 cars in 1930, showing that coal production remained relatively constant during the late 1920s.

In 1930 the mining engineers decided that the Grass Creek mine had reached the end of its productive life, and the mine operators made the decision to shut down the mine, which had been in continuous production since the mid 1890s. In 1931 the mine shipped 243 cars, even though actual production had stopped. The coal being mined was coming from the removal of the mine's supporting pillars. The most common method of coal mining in effect at that time, prior to today's longwall techniques, was to form a room within the coal seam, leaving large pillars about twenty feet square to support the mine roof. The coal being shipped from the Grass Creek mine was coming from the removal of these pillars, also known as "retreat mining." As the coal pillars were removed, wooden supports were placed to support the roof, with the weight over a period of days soon overcoming the strength of the wooden supports, and the mine roof was allowed to collapse. There was sufficient coal in the pillars to allow the mine to continue to ship large amounts of coal for approximately the next four years.

In the first ten months of 1932 the mine shipped 130 cars, with the mine shut down between March and June. In June they began shipping coal to the Union Portland Cement plant at Devil's Slide, located on UP's Weber Canyon mainline. The cement plant at Devil's Slide was in heavy production to furnish cement for the construction of Boulder Dam.

Union Pacific applied to abandon the Grass Creek Branch in August 1932 but the Interstate Commerce Commission denied the application because UP requested that the abandonment not become effective for a full year. Union Pacific wanted the unusual effective date to allow the mine to furnish all of the coal needed for the cement plant. The mine remained in limited production for several more years and Union Pacific decided to delay its abandonment efforts.

In June 1939 Union Pacific applied again to the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon the branch, but on August 1st the ICC dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction. UP had been operating the branch as a spur from within the operational limits of the yard at Coalville, three miles south of where the Grass Creek Branch left the Park City Branch's main track. UP was using a locomotive to push two or three empties up to the mine and returning to Coalville with the loaded cars,all within the so-called "yard limits" of Coalville.

The Grass Creek mine was finally shut down in the winter of 1938. One of the major customers for the mining company for most of the mine's life had been the Ogden Union Railway & Depot Company, with a large part of its production being used to heat the Ogden Union Station. By the late 1930s the OUR&D was getting their coal from other sources, usually coal from Union Pacific mines in Wyoming.

Only one carload of coal was shipped in 1936; 11 cars were shipped in 1937, three cars in 1938, and none were shipped in 1939. In June 1940 the Utah State Public Utilities Commission approved Union Pacific's request to abandon the Grass Creek Branch. By early April 1941 UP had completed the removal of all of the rails and improvements on the 5.75 mile branch.

Maps

Grass Creek Branch and Weber Mine Spur -- A Google map of Union Pacific's Grass Creek Branch, and the Weber Mine Spur at Coalville.

Grass Creek Branch -- Portions of a Union Pacific map of the Grass Creek Branch in 1922.

Summary By Others

The following comes from "The Resources And Attractions Territory Of Utah. Prepared By The Utah Board Of Trade," published in 1879.

The following comes from "Contributions To Economic Geology, 1905," USGS Bulletin 285, 1906, page 287.

The following excerpts come from the book, "Union Pacific Coal Company", Chapter VIII, published in 1940.

The following comes from "The Company Town: A Passing Phase of Utah's Industrial Development" By James B. Allen, in Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 34, Number 2, page 137.

The following comes from "A History of Summit County." No publishing data.

Church Mine (1860s-1940s)

The Church site corresponds exactly to the Old Church Mine on Wegemann's map and fits his description of one quarter mile southeast of the Union Fuel mine. This site may also contain any of a number of mines associated with the Church. (Utah Abandoned Mines Project, 1986)

The so-called "Church Mine" site was located on a slope above Grass Creek, in Grass Creek Valley north of Coalville, in the SW-1/4 of Section 18, T3N, R6E. The Church mine site was 5.5 miles up Grass Valley Canyon. An opening was found by the Utah Abandoned Mines Project in 1986, about 1000 feet south of the known location of the later Union Fuel mine. Later research found that this was the original opening of the original Church Mine and was later used as the exhaust fan portal for the Union Fuel company's mine.

The "Church Mine" site consisted of a mine portal, subsidence, and a small dump.

The Church Mine site (later used as the Union Fuel exhaust fan portal) has also been identified as the "Thomas Slope," presumably the opening worked by Gomer Thomas. A nearby mine portal has been identified as the Wilde Slope, presumably named after William S. Wilde. (Utah Abandoned Mines Project, 1986)

(William Wilde, Coalville, died in December 1885 at age 82.)

1871
The "Wells and Taylor Coal Mine" had been located in Grass Creek since 1856. Property surveyed by the county surveyor in 1871, commencing from the SE corner of Section 13, T3N, R5E, 80 rods north, 320 rods east, 80 rods south, 320 rods west to beginning, formerly known as "Church Coal Mine". Discovery rights by S. W. Taylor, occupied and worked by Daniel H. Wells. (Summit County Old Records, Book D, p.187; Summit County Abstracts, Book 1, p.289)

(A "rod" equals 16.5 feet; 80 rods = 1,320 feet = 1/4 mile; 320 rods = 5,280 feet = one mile = one side of one section. One section is a square one mile on each side.)

(The above description describes the S-1/2 of Section 18, the location of the main coal mine in Grass Creek, also known as the Church mine and later as the Union Fuel mine.)

October 9, 1872
John Robinson, William Hudson, and Samuel Fletcher, all of Coalville, mortgage to James T. Little, for $1,500.00, the "Fletcher Coal Mine" in Grass Creek. Also included was the coal mine of Robinson and Company, situated in Spring Hollow, with three openings, 2 miles north of Coalville, on land containing 160 acres. Canceled on 15 July 1878, by order of S. P. Hoyt. (Summit County Old Records, Book C, p.101)

(Samuel Fletcher moved to Rock Springs with his two sons after his wife and a third son died in October 1881.)

By early 1874, S. W. Taylor was leasing the "Old Church" mine from Joseph A. Young. (Deseret News, January 7, 1874) (This is also the first mention of the either the "Church Mine" or the "Old Church Mine" in available online newspapers.)

(Joseph A. Young died in August 1875.)

By late 1874, the "Old Church" mine was being worked by the LDS Bishops of Coalville, Hennefer and Unionville, solely for the benefit of local residents. (Women's Exponent, December 15, 1874; Unionville is today known as Hoytsville, about 2-1/2 miles south of Coalville)

September 18, 1874
Stephen W. Taylor sells property known as "Wells and Taylor, and Church Coal Mines" to Angus W. Cannon. Property is 80 by 320 rods, beginning from SE corner of Section 13, T3N, R5E. (Summit County Abstracts, Book 1, p.289; Summit County Old Records, Book D, p.302)

(This was the same property that was surveyed in 1871)

March 29, 1880
Daniel H. Wells sells to Angus M. Cannon the coal lands known as "the Old Church Coal mine", located in Sections 18 and 19, T3N, R6E. Purchase price was $8,100.00. (Summit County Abstracts, Book 1, p.205, Summit County Old Records, Book K, p.292)

May 17, 1894
Angus M. Cannon sells to William W. Cluff the following coal lands located in Sections 18 and 19, T3N, R6E. Purchase price was $15,000.00. (Summit County Warranty Deed Record, Book D, p.60)

August 8, 1894
William W. Cluff sells to George Q. Cannon the coal lands located in Sections 18 and 19, R3N, R6E. Purchase price was $15,000.00. (Summit County Warranty Deed Record, Book D, p.60)

(Continues after 1894 as the Grass Creek Coal Co. mine.)

(Continues after 1907 as the Union Fuel Co. mine)

(Continues after 1917 as the Grass Creek Fuel Co. mine)

Union Pacific Mine (1880-1887)

In the summer of 1880 the Union Pacific Railroad sent a crew of men under David G. Thomas to develop the coal on its properties. The mine began producing in 1881 under superintendent James Tisdale, who also directed the construction of a small company town. Gomer Thomas, and later his brother Tom (neither kin to David G. Thomas), succeeded Tisdale as superintendent. The Union Pacific ran two mines in Sections 23 and 24 (T3N, R5E). However, plagued by water in the mines and heaving clay floors, the railroad abandoned them in 1887 and salvaged buildings and machinery. The No. 2 Mine continued to be operated under lease to Gomer Thomas. (History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940)

This Grass Creek coal was too light in volume for locomotive use, as the cinders and sparks from the locomotives burned up all vegetation and crops in Echo and Weber Canyon. This coal was then sold for stationary boilers and domestic use for which it was adapted, being a good grade of lignite coal. This mine and railroad were abandoned about 1887 or 1888.

The Union Pacific No. 1 Mine was located very near the center of Section 24, about 3/4 mile down-canyon from the larger Grass Creek mine (or Church mine, later known as the Union Fuel mine). However, the 1915 map included in Wegemann's USGS bulletin shows the mine on the north-south center line of Section 24, but closer to the boundary with Section 23 to the west, putting the Union Pacific mine a few hundred feet farther down-canyon. This location is identified in the 1989 Utah Abandoned Mines Project report as the "Tuttle Site," which was likely and simply the name of the most recent leaser of the Union Pacific mine.

• The following eight parcels are currently identified with a "UP" suffix, indicating the site of the Union Pacific mine
• NW-1/4, SW-1/4, SE-1/4 of NW-1/4, Section 24
• NW-1/4 of SW-1/4, Section 24
• SE-1/4 of Section 23 (original Union Pacific land grant section)

A history of the Union Pacific coal mines, published in 1940, states that the mine in Grass Creek was developed on a railroad section by a crew under David G. Thomas, who was sent there by the Coal Department of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1880. The company abandoned the No. 1 Mine in 1887, and its No. 2 Mine was leased to others for operation. The No. 1 Mine was abandoned due to excessive water, heaving clay floors, and high costs.

Coal production of the Union Pacific mine was as follows:

1881	40,608 tons
1882	63,895
1883	47,219
1884	35,548
1885	50,613
1886	29,131
1887	4,946
Total	271,960

Ads in newspapers during March 1885 make note of "Coal from the celebrated Grass Creek mines."

When the Union Pacific Railroad came to Grass Creek in 1880 to develop its coal resource, it constructed a small town for its workers. James Tisdale oversaw the construction of the town of Grass Creek, which consisted of about forty houses and a schoolhouse. Buildings and machinery were removed when the mine was abandoned. (History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940)

(Research suggests that this town for workers was at the mouth of Bear Hollow, in the NW-1/4 of the NE-1/4 of Section 26.)

The Utah Abandoned Mines Project found a map of the underground mine workings that showed that the main entry and slope were in T3N, R5E, Section 26, about 1,000 feet northeast of a prominent sandstone ledge formed by the caprock. In 1986 this portal was caved and completely hidden by large boulders fallen from the ledge. The map shows seven mains running northeast and southwest from the slope. The main portal is labeled "Old Opening." A fault had limited the westward extent of the mine.

The Union Pacific mine workings were extensive. The mine had seven lift entries extending 2000 feet in one direction and 1400 feet in the other. The mine produced 271,960 tons in its seven year life, most of which was used by the railroad, but some went to other markets. The coal was of good quality, but the water and heaving floors in the mine drove up production costs and made it uneconomical. In its last five years the mine was losing 40 cents on every ton produced, a large fraction of the $1.84 to $2.93 cost per ton of coal on the railroad car. (History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940)

April 2, 1880
Union Pacific owned "more than one-third" of the stock in the Summit County railroad. A special meeting of all stockholders was to be held on April 28th at the Union Pacific offices at Echo to vote on a change to the articles of incorporation to allow a branch to be built eastward up Grass Creek Canyon "to a point at or near the last or upper coal mine, a distance of about seven miles." Also to make Park City the southern terminus of the railroad. (Deseret News, April 2, 1880)

January 1, 1883
"Three miles down Weber River from Coalville, a branch road leaves the Echo & Park City Railroad, and runs up Grass Creek three miles, on a very heavy grade to the Grass Creek mines. The vein is ten feet thick. and dips to the north at an angle of 36 degrees. The incline shaft or tunnel has reached a depth of 800 feet, from which levels are run every 200 feet. These levels have extended a distance of 1200 feet on one side and 1400 feet on the other. The manner of mining is the same as already described. Good machinery is used. Over 120 men are employed, the product being about 250 tons per day. This coal is of good quality and compact, and yet the loss in screening amounts to about 30 per cent. This is dumped along the road, and there re-screened by people, who pay 75 cents per wagon-load for what they haul away, which amounts to forty or fifty loads daily. The mine is the property of the Union Pacific. All these coal-seams underlie sandstone, the principal rock of the district." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1883)

1891
Based on a reported $736 royalty at 75 cents per ton, Gomer Thomas produced 981 tons in 1891 from the mine he leased from the Union Pacific Railroad. Ventilation in the mines was natural. (History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940)

May 21, 1891
UPRR sells to Union Pacific Coal Company 200 acres in Sections 24 and 26, T3N, R5E. (Summit County Miscellaneous Records, Book H, p.528)

In 1896, the Thomas mine, once worked by Gomer Thomas & Sons under lease from Union Pacific, was practically idle. (Utah Coal Mine Inspector Report, 1896)

In their heyday from 1890 to 1920 the mines employed 50-125 miners (Table 1), and adding families and supporting services makes this a reasonable estimate. Most of the residents were Scotch, English, or Welsh. There were several Chinese working for the Union Pacific in the early 1880s, but these all left in the wake of racial tensions following the Chinese Riot in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1885. There was one organized religious group, an LDS church that met in the schoolhouse. (History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940)

In 1940 there was a small amount of coal was still being produced from two openings of the former Union Pacific mine. (History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940)

Cullen Mine (1873-1899)

(In Section 24)

The Cullen and Spriggs mine had its start as the Williams Mine, which was opened in 1873 and operated intermittently on a small scale for a number of years. A year later, in 1874, it was acquired by Matthew Cullen and Henry Spriggs. Located near the head of Grass Creek it was known as the Cullen Mine. (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

The "Old Williams Mine" straddled the section line about 1300 feet west of the Church Mine site. The Williams Mine was small, consisting of nine rooms on either side of a single slope. The total extent of the underground workings was an area less than 225 feet square. (Utah Abandoned Mines Project, 1986)

(By early 1870, Matthew Cullen was active in the development of silver mines in the Beaver Mountains in central Utah. By the early 1880s he was part owner of the famous Horn Silver mine at Frisco.)

1887
"The Cullen mine was opened about nine years ago [1887] and a year later [1888] became the property of Matthew Cullen and Henry Spriggs. Three years ago [1893] these parties sold to the Grass Greek Coal company. It is situated at the end of the Grass Creek Terminal Railway, near the head of Grass Creek. Railway connection was made in the fall of 1895." (Utah Coal Mine Inspector Report, 1896, page 27)

Around 1892-1893 Cullen and Spriggs sold the Cullen Mine to the Grass Creek Coal Company, which was also operating the Church mine. Rail connection to the Grass Creek mines was made in 1895 by the Grass Creek Terminal Railway. By 1896 the Cullen was working two additional openings, the Old Church and the Lower Church. Coal from the former was hauled by wagon to the Cullen for loading into rail cars. There were four openings being worked near the Cullen mine, including the Old Church, the Barber, the Stallings, and the New Tunnel.

(The Cullen mine was closed in 1899)

(After 1893, see Grass Creek Coal Company)

Rees-Grass Creek Mine (1907-1915)

(In Section 24)

The Rees-Grass Creek Mine Site was located along Grass Creek in Grass Valley Canyon north of Coalville, in the NE 1/4 of Section 24, T3N, R5E.

The Rees Grass Creek mine was on Section 24, on private land adjacent to the Union Pacific mine, which was in Section 23, on railroad land.

By 1986, the Rees-Grass Creek mine site consisted of three collapsed mine portals, coal refuse, and a small amount of wooden debris.

The Rees-Grass Creek mine is listed in Doelling as being in the SW-1/4 of the NE-1/4 of Section 24 and maps show the mine symbol in the center of the NE-1/4 Section 24 on the current USGS map. Wegemann has a "coal prospect/abandoned mine" symbol on his map at this location. The 1986 report of the Utah Abandoned Mines Project reported that this was the approximate location of the Rees-Grass Creek site.

First mention of the Rees Mine is in the 1907 State Mine Inspector's Report. The mine was operated by the Rees-Grass Creek Coal Company (M.W. Taylor, president; M.C. Taylor, secretary; Thomas Rees/Reese in charge) on land in Section 24 (T3N, R5E) leased from the Union Pacific Coal Company. Lack of track delayed the shipping of coal and kept production a low 275 tons in 1907. That year the mine employed six men, two horses, and had one boiler. The following year the mine employed five men, producing 100 tons/day. The coal was sold to markets in Logan and Park City. The State Mine Inspector reports that considerable development work was done in 1909, and by 1910 the mine employment had jumped to 52 men. The mine worked an eight foot coal seam dipping 28 degrees. A slope ran on the dip with entries running east and west. Two boilers were used to power hoists and pumps, but ventilation was natural. (Harrington; Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

1910
"The Rees-Grass Creek Coal Company, located in Grass Creek Canyon, Summit county, is operated on a lease from the Union Pacific Coal Company, with Thomas Rees as superintendent. The mine is opened by a slope run on the pitch of the coal, which averages 28 degrees, entries running east and west. The power is supplied for hoisting and pumping from a battery of two boilers, aggregating 140 h. p. The mine is ventilated by natural ventilation." (Utah Coal Mine Inspector's Report, 1910)

February 4, 1910
"The Rees-Grass Creek Coal Company is developing a mine one mile west of the Union Fuel Company on lease from the Union Pacific Coal Company. The output is about one hundred tons per day. The market for the Weber region coal is mainly Park City, and the cement plant located at Devil's Slide." (Coalville Times, February 4, 1910)

1914
"Owing to the Union Pacific Railroad Company not granting more than an annual lease the leasing company has decided not to develop the mine further, and after the available pillars have been extracted the mine will close." (Utah Coal Mine Inspector's Report, 1914)

The Rees Mine was idle part of 1915. In a report the State Mine Inspector was critical of the poor condition of the mine and stated that he might advise it to close if conditions were not improved. It was working six men at the time (though a table in the same report lists 32 men working). (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

Tuttle Site

(In Section 24)

The "Tuttle site" was one of the so-called small wagon mines in Grass Creek, not served by the railroad. It was across the canyon from the Union Pacific mine and worked the same coal seam that was much thinner at this location.

The location of the Tuttle site matches Wegemann's map location and section quarter-quarter description nearly exactly (SW-1/4 of the NW-1/4 of Section 24, T3N, R5E), and the site fits his description of the mine's geology. The 1880 date is consistent with the start of the Union Pacific mines.

Later research found that the Tuttle site was the Union Pacific No. 2 mine in later years, which was leased to others after the Union Pacific pulled out of Grass Creek in 1887.

(No reference has been found in available online newspapers that mentions anybody named Tuttle in relation to a coal mine in Grass Creek.)

Grass Creek Coal Co. (1894-1907)

(Before 1893, see the Cullen mine)

September 13, 1894
"The property of the corporation consists of the north half of the northeast 1/4 and the southwest 1/4 of the northeast 1/4 of section 24, township 3 north, range 5 east of Salt Lake meridian, the same being known as the Cullen Springs [sic:Spriggs] coal mine, situated in Grass Creek, together with the boiler, engine, hoisting machinery, chutes, screens, weigh scales, pump, piping, tracking, blacksmith shop, with all the tools thereunto belonging, dwelling house and all other improvements situated on said premises, whether mentioned herein or not." (Salt Lake Herald, September 13, 1894)

(The corporation, known as "The Utah Company," was a newly organized large holding and "blanket" company that was to hold and control the Grass Creek Coal Company and its coal mine, the Grass Creek Terminal Railroad, the Salt Lake & Los Angeles Railroad, the Pioneer Electric company, and the Saltair resort, as well as other investment and development companies. The incorporators and directors were all in the the leadership of the LDS church, including Wilford Woodruff, George Cannon, Joseph F. Smith and James Jack. The corporation was organized in September 1894, and after each of the subsidiaries were organized and standing on their own, was disincorporated in January 1897 as being "too unwieldy and impracticable.")

(The coal property of the unnamed holding company consisted of the Cullen Spriggs coal mine (120 acres), and additional 300 acres in Section 26)

Corporate officers of the Grass Creek Coal Company were: Joseph F. Smith, president; W.M. Cluff, vice president; and Arthur Winters, secretary and treasurer. The company was based in Salt Lake City. (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

September 19, 1894
The Grass Creek Terminal Railway was incorporated to construct a branch from the Echo & Park City line, about three miles north of Coalville, to the Grass Creek coal mine located in Grass Creek canyon. The company built 2.87 miles of line on the grade and alignment of Echo & Park City's original Grass Creek branch, along with an additional 2.7 miles of new construction. The entire 5.59-mile line was owned by private individuals who were also leaders of the LDS church, which owned the coal mine. The line was constructed in 1895-1896 by Union Pacific forces and upon completion it was operated by the E&PC, and later by the Union Pacific, as the Grass Creek Branch. (UP corporate history)

(The "abandoned Union Pacific mines" were in the SW-1/4 of Section 23)

September 26, 1895
"The Old Church Mine in Grass Creek furnishes the best Weber Coal known. The mine is now in shape to supply all teams from a distance cheap. The Grass Creek Coal is worth twenty-five per cent more than any other Weber Coal. To those who come a long distance, stabling is provided at the Cullen mine free. - W. W. Cluff, Agent." (Deseret News, September 26, 1895)

By November 1895, the Grass Creek Coal company had a retail coal sales yard in Salt Lake City, located at Third West and Third South. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 27, 1895)

In 1896, the Grass Creek Coal Co. was operating the Cullen mine, the Williams mine, and the Old Church mine. (Utah Coal Mine Inspector Report, 1896)

1896
"The Cullen mine was opened about nine years ago [1887] and a year later [1888] became the property of Matthew Cullen and Henry Spriggs. Three years ago [1893] these parties sold to the Grass Greek Coal company. It is situated at the end of the Grass Creek Terminal Railway, near the head of Grass Creek. Railway connection was made in the fall of 1895." (Utah Coal Mine Inspector Report, 1896, page 27)

1896
"There are two other openings near the Cullen, belonging to the same company. These are known as the Lower Church Mine and the Old Church Mine." The former is worked by contractors and produces about 20 tons a day. The output of the latter, amounting to about 30 tons a day, is hauled by wagons and loaded at the Cullen. (Utah Coal Mine Inspector Report, 1896, page 28)

In 1896, the Grass Creek Coal Co. was operating the Cullen mine, the William mine, and the Old Church mine.

February 1, 1896
John Petit took charge of the Cullen mine [two miles east of the abandoned Union Pacific mine] after being appointed superintendent on February 1, 1896. He held the position until the fall of 1899, when he accepted a position at Hanna, Wyoming. (J. E. Petit, 1947)

February 19, 1896
The Grass Creek Coal company was "composed in a great measure of the same men who are in the Saltair Beach company and the Pioneer Electric Power company." (Salt Lake Herald, February 19, 1896)

June 3, 1896
The Grass Creek Coal company stuck a coal vein, nine feet thick, of the best bituminous coal discovered so far in all of the history of the Grass Creek camp. (Salt Lake Herald, June 3, 1896)

October 1, 1896
The Grass Creek Coal Company filed its articles of incorporation with the Salt Lake County Clerk. Officers and directors of the new company included George Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and James Jack. The property description was as follows:

• N-1/2 of NE-1/4 and SW1/4 of NE-1/4 and the NE-1/4 of the NW-1/4, all of Section 24 T3N R5E (Cullen/Williams mine)
• the same being known as the Cullen Spriggs coal mine in Grass Creek, together with boiler, engine, hoisting machinery, chutes, screws, weigh scales, pump, piping, tracking, blacksmith shop, dwelling house and all improvements.
• W-1/2 of Section 26, T3N, R5E, containing 320 acres (Grass Creek township)
• 1/2 interest in the S-1/2 of the SE-1/4 and the SE-1/4 of the SW-1/4 and Lot 4 of Section 18 (Church mine)
• N-1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 19, T3N R6E (Church mine)
• Plus 500 acres of coal lands
• (Deseret News, October 1, 1896, "today"; Intermountain Mining Review, October 8, 1896)

October 2, 1896
George Q. Cannon sells to the Grass Creek Coal Company the coal lands located in Sections 18 and 19, T3N, R6E, and in Sections 24 and 26, T3N, R5E, the land in Section 24 being known as the Cullen Spriggs Coal Mine, with improvements. (Summit County Quit Claim Deed Record, Book B, p.423)

By 1897 the former Union Pacific Coal Company mines were being worked by the Grass Creek Coal Company.

1897
The Grass Creek mines in the 1890s were relatively small operations. The Cullen was the largest, employing twelve men in 1897. The Church and Thomas mines employed fewer than six men. The Cullen had a capacity of 50 tons/day, while the Old Church mine could produce over 30 tons/day, and the Lower Church, Stallings, and Barber openings had 20 tons/day capacities. 1896 production for the Cullen was 10,925 tons. In 1897 the Cullen and Church combined production was 8,200 tons. (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

October 1, 1897
"The new tunnel of the old Church mine now being opened by the Grass Creek Coal company will be completed and in condition to take out a large quantity of coal by the time the railroads reaches it." [in about 30 days] (Salt Lake Herald, October 1, 1897)

November 22, 1897
"The new strike of coal in the new tunnel of the old Church mine in Grass creek is an excellent one. The vein is about 13 feet in thickness and is very hard, being superior to any other vein in this section, even better than that of the old Church mine fame. It is now only a matter of a few days until they will be in shape to ship by rail direct from the mine, as the new railroad extension is about completed." (Salt Lake Herald, November 22, 1897)

Starting around 1898 the Grass Creek Coal Company made major capital improvements to the mines in Grass Creek. Active ventilation in the form of a fan and a 6-inch pipe was installed in 1898, and an airway was driven to the Old Church portal.

Production at the mine increased after 1898, jumping from 9,138 tons in 1898 to 37,573 tons in 1904. From 1899 to 1906 the company employed 20 to 78 men, generally around 50, and around ten horses. Mine superintendents during this period of expansion were W.L. Hansen (1899-1903), Andrew Adamson (1904), and John E. Pettit (1904-1906). (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

In 1899 the mine added a set of shaking screens and ten mining cars as well as adding three miner's cottages, a lodging house, and schoolhouse to the company town. In the following years additional fans and boilers were put in place. (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

The Grass Creek Coal Company made improvements to the company town in 1899, adding three more houses for miners, a large boardinghouse, and another schoolhouse. (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

January 1, 1899
"Most of the 1898 work was in the way of developing the coal seam by running a 700-foot tunnel through the base of the hill to cut the vein considerably below the old workings. Thirty men were employed from April to September to make the new opening to the seam, which is thirteen to fourteen feet wide. The present force is double that working during the summer and other additions will be made as the company's business increases. The present supply is insufficient to meet the demand. Park City is the chief consumer for this coal. As there is a vast store of coal, when sufficient ground is opened, all demands can be readily met." (Salt Lake Herald, January 1, 1899)

The cause of closing down the Cullen Mine in 1899 was the massive sand rock roof settling on the soft clay floor which always held more or less water, causing the clay floor to force itself down this 18 per cent grade. This was the main cause of closing all Grass Creek mine openings to the dip. (J. E. Petit, 1947)

December 24, 1899
"The Grass Creek Coal company paid off today, with the largest monthly payroll in the history of the company. The amount distributed among the workmen aggregated about $3,000, the output of the mine for the month being the heaviest by far of all months' shipments since the company began operating the mine. There are now in the neighborhood of seventy-five men and boys employed by the company. Grass Creek is now quite a thriving little village, having recently been organized into a branch of the Coalville ward. A neat little school house has been erected." (Salt Lake Herald, December 24, 1899)

(Because of the moisture content in the clay floor, it tended to slowly "flow" down the 18 per cent slope of the coal seam, closing the space that had been opened by removal of the coal seam.)

September 9, 1903
Grass Creek Coal Company (Summit County Recorder, Index To Lands, Book 4, p.287)

October 9, 1903
"The Grass Creek Coal company is putting in a new 60 horse power portable boiler to furnish steam for the pump on the new slope." (Coalville Times, October 9, 1903)

(After 1907, see the Union Fuel Company, below)

Union Fuel Company (1907-1917)

(This was the original "Old Church mine" in Section 18; later it was the Culllen-Spriggs mine)

The Union Fuel Mine was located along Grass Creek in Grass Valley Canyon north of Coalville, in the SW-1/4 of Section 18, T3N, R6E. The Union Fuel mine site was 5.5 miles up Grass Valley Canyon.

The Union Fuel Mine consisted of a mine portal adjacent to the access road, five portals on the main site, coal refuse piles covering approximately six acres, subsidence pits, structural remains of buildings, and miscellaneous debris.

The Union Fuel company's mine incorporated the earlier Church Mine workings. In turn, the Grass Creek Fuel Co. mine encompassed the Union Fuel and Church mine workings. The Church mine workings were north and east of the area identified as "Old Abandoned Workings" and as the "Old Church Mine." The Church mine site was really an exhaust fan portal. The actual entry was about 600 feet to the southeast. Workings at the Church mine later became the Union Fuel and Grass Creek Fuel No. 1 Mine. Workings extending underground northwest of the Union Fuel mine were the Union Fuel and Grass Creek Fuel No. 2 Mine. (Utah Abandoned Mines Project, 1986)

In 1907 the Grass Creek Coal Company sold the mine to the Union Fuel Company of Ogden, Utah. Backers of the Union Fuel Company included David Eccles, Judge Rolapp, and M.S. Browning. The new owners intended to increase production to 600 tons/day and market much of the coal to sugar factories. P.C. Kettle became the mine manager. In 1907-1908 the Union Fuel Company spent $20,000 on a new tipple, shaker screens, boilers, engine, and equipment, but only reached half of the 600 tons/day output targeted. Kettle continued as manager, and William S. Wilde, who had been foreman for a number of years before, became superintendent. Later superintendents were Frank Irwin (1909), Gibson (1910), and D.R. Roberts (1915). (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

July 1907
David Eccles purchased the 1,040 acres of coal lands that comprised the Grass Creek coal mine and organized a new company known as the Grass Creek Coal Company of Utah. (Salt Lake Mining Review, November 15, 1907, p. 38; Arrington, Leonard J., David Eccles, Pioneer Western Industrialist, 1975, p. 122)

July 1, 1907
The coal lands of the Grass Creek coal mine, comprising of 1,000 acres, and the Grass Creek Terminal Railroad were sold to a group of Denver and Pennsylvania capitalists, represented by three local businessmen, for a sum between $250,000 and $300,000. The group planned on spending an additional $1 million to make needed improvements to both the coal mien and the railroad. The coal mine had been driven to a depth of 700 feet, from which rooms had been extended in all directions. Coal from the mine was used heavily in the local Summit and Morgan counties, as well as in Park City, Salt Lake City and Ogden. The coal made excellent steam coal, and splendid domestic range fuel. It was not a good coking coal. It tended to break up into "slack" when exposed to the open air for any length of time. It was the first coal mine in Utah, but was not worked extensively until about 10 of 15 years ago when it began to be shipped on a large scale. (Deseret News, July 1, 1907; Salt Lake Herald, July 2, 1907; Salt Lake Mining Review, July 15, 1907)

November 30, 1907
"The articles of incorporation of the Union Fuel company, one of the coal companies organized by the Eccles interests of which mention was made some time ago, were filed here yesterday. The company has a capital stock of $250,000, divided into $100 shares. David Eccles is president; M. S. Browning, vice president; H. H. Rolapp, secretary and treasurer, and these, with John Pingree and P. Kittle compose the board of directors. The property owned by this company is located near Coalville, Utah." (Salt Lake Herald, December 1, 1907, "yesterday")

December 25, 1907
The Grass Creek Coal Company was "absorbed" by the Union Fuel Company. (Daily Utah State Journal, December 25, 1907)

March 6, 1908
Grass Creek Coal Company sells to Union Fuel Company the coal lands located in Sections 18 and 19, T3N, R6E, and in Sections 24 and 26, T3N, R5E. Included in sale was the Grass Creek Terminal Railway. (Summit County Warranty Deeds, Book I, p.298)

January 30, 1910
By early 1910 the coal mines in the Coalville area included the Weber Coal Company, the Union Fuel Company, and the Rees Grass Creek Company. (Salt Lake Mining Review, January 30, 1910, p. 29)

December 17, 1910
The Union Fuel company was shipping 200 tons per day; the Rees-Grass Creek company was shipping 100 tons; and Gomer Thomas was shipping 50 tons. (Deseret News, December 17, 1910)

June 12, 1915
The following ad was published in the June 12, 1915 issue of the Park Record newspaper.

The Union Fuel Company had two mines in 1910. The No. 2 Mine was opened by a 1400-foot-long slope on the 26 degree dip of the coal seam, with entries running east and west. Ventilation was provided by a Crawford fan powered by five boilers yielding 480 horsepower. Steam driven pumps removed water from the mine. (Utah State Coal Mine Inspector Reports)

(The dip of the coal seam is the downward slope of the coal seam, away from the mine opening, or portal. The entry in a mine is the horizontal tunnel from which the coal was removed and moved to the surface portal. Entries were also called the strike and were also used for ventilation. The surface portal and the entries within the mine are connected by an adit, which is the main entry to a mine; an adit is a blind opening into a mountain, with the portal being the only entrance.)

The Union Fuel and Rees-Grass Creek mines ranked ninth and tenth in the state in production in 1909, producing 1.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively, of the state's 2,322,209 ton output. (Harrinqton, D. "Utah as a coal producing state." Salt Lake Mining Review, March 15, 1910)

September 7, 1916
UP leased 5.698 miles of trackage from Grass Creek Junction to Grass Creek, Utah, plus 0.403 mile of yard and side tracks, for an indefinite period from September 7, 1916. UP to pay all expenses and receive all revenues. (44 ICC Val. 135; UP ICC Valuation Docket 1060, done July 30, 1982)

Grass Creek Fuel Company Mine (1917-1940s)

(In Section 19)

(This was a later opening by John E. Petit, of the original Church mine, located up-slope to access later workings of the same coal seam.)

The Grass Creek Fuel Company Mine was located on a slope above Grass Creek in Grass Valley Canyon north of Coalville, in the NE-1/4 of Section 19, T3N, R6E.

By 1986, the Grass Creek Fuel Co. mine consisted of two collapsed mine portals, an air shaft, a coal waste dump, and some minor debris.

The Grass Creek Fuel company's mine site was a further 1000 feet south of the Union Fuel (old Church) mine. A tramway had been built between the two openings. The Grass Creek Fuel company's mine portal was about 1400 feet farther southeast upgrade, at the south end of the tramway. The shaft of the Grass Creek Fuel company mine was about 800 feet northeast of the end of the tramway.

Until the close of 1916, there were four coal mines in operation at Coalville. Two mines closed (Union Fuel in Grass Creek, and the Chappell Brothers' Chalk Creek mine, leaving the Weber Coal Company's Wasatch mine east of Coalville, and the Superior Fuel Company's mine one mile south of Coalville as the only two coal mines operating in Summit County. (Salt Lake Mining Review, January 15, 1918)

March 23, 1917
With the change of administration at the state level, with Simon Bamberger becoming governor, and J. E. Petit being replaced as the state coal mine inspector "by a democrat," Petit had taken a lease of the coal lands of the "old church mine" owned by Union Fuel Company. Peteit had previously announced that he would come to Carbon County, but the Grass Creek mine was only four miles from his home in Coalville. (Sun Advocate, March 23, 1917)

April 11, 1917
"J. E. Pettit formerly state coal mine inspector, has been appointed superintendent and general manager of the Grass Creek Fuel company, which has been reorganized, and in which Mr. Pettit is financially interested. The company has operated a mine for many years in the Coalville district." (Deseret News, April 11, 1917)

July 12, 1917
The Grass Creek Fuel Company filed its articles of incorporation. Organizers were J. E. Petit, Frank Pingree and Etna Petit, all of Coalville; J. H. Roberts of Grass Creek, W. A. Shepard of Salt Lake City, D. H. Pape of Ogden, and W. W. Evans of Park City. The purpose of the corporation was to operate the coal properties of the Union Fuel Company, near Coalville. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 13, 1917, "yesterday")

In 1917 the Grass Creek Fuel Company started operating, over the Union Fuel Mine. The company had its office in the town of Grass Creek and marketed coal under the trade name of "Grass Creek." Frank Pingree was president of the company and J.H. Roberts was vice president and superintendent. Mine operations were run by electricity by 1925. The mine worked a coal seam 5 to 11 feet high that dipped about 20 degrees. Widespread faulting in the area led to a 1924 assessment that the mine would probably not expand beyond its current size. (Utah Industrial Commission. Annual and Biennial Reports)

Other buildings present included a company store, horse barns, and corrals. The schoolhouse doubled as a church and social hall. Others have identified one remaining foundation as being the general mercantile and post office. Most sources and the current USGS topographic map place the Grass Creek townsite at the head of Grass Valley Canyon (T3N, R6E, Section 18). It is worth noting, however, that the oldest USGS map and a map by Wegemann put the town at the mouth of the canyon (T3N, R5E, Section 32) and also show several buildings in Grass Valley Canyon at Bear Hollow (T3N, R5E, Section 26).

Electricity was installed at the Grass Creek mine in October 1917, when Moloney Electric Company installed two 100 kVA transformers that would convert 11,400 volts to 220 and 110 volts for use at the mine. (Salt Lake Mining Review, October 15, 1917)

November 9, 1917
"Utah Power Co. has just completed an eight-mile extension of power line from Coalville to serve the Weber Coal Company, the Grass Creek Fuel Company and Chappel Bros. mines." (Beaver County News, November 9, 1917)

By December 1917, the Grass Creek Fuel company was shipping 125 tons daily, while the Weber Coal company across the ridge south in Coalville was shipping 100 tons daily. (Salt Lake Herald, December 17, 1917)

January 15, 1918
An ad for the Grass Creek Fuel Company, in the January 15, 1918 issue of the Salt Lake Mining Review.

June 16, 1922
Heber J. Grant, as Trustee in Trust for LDS Church, sells by quit claim deed to Zion Securities, in the amount of $1.00, the coal lands in Grass Creek canyon, described as follows:

• S-1/2 Section 18
• N-1/2 of NE-1/4 Section 19
• SW-1/4 of NE-1/4, NE-1/4 of NW-1/4 Section 24 (Union Pacific mine; then Rees-Grass Creek; then Tuttle)
• W-1/2 Section 26
• S-1/2 of SW-1/4 Section 8
• including Grass Creek Terminal Railway, which begins at center of east line of Section 8, T3N, R6E
• (Summit County Quit Claim Deeds, Book E, p.266)

August 22, 1923
Zion Securities warranty deeds to Union Pacific Railroad the right of way and track of the Grass Creek Branch, plus 8.78 acres in SW-1/4 Section 18 and NW-1/4, Section 19, including coal tipple. Purchase price was $10.00. Heber J. Grant is president of Zion Securities. (Summit County Warranty Deeds, Book N, p.81)

(This indicates that the active mining was at the Grass Creek Fuel Company's mine at the upper end of Grass Creek, in Sections 18 and 19, at the confluence of the two streams that come together to form Grass Creek.)

September 30, 1924
Union Pacific completed the purchase of the Grass Creek Branch, and commenced rehabilitation of the track and right-of-way. The purchase was authorized by UP's upper management in New York City using the company's "authority for expenditure" process. (Union Pacific AFE 66, 1923)

December 1929
Union Pacific completed the relocation of its Park City and Grass Creek branches, making way for the new Echo dam and reservoir. The dam itself was completed to within 42 feet of its final height. (Morgan County News, January 23, 1930)

November 16, 1932
During the hearings for abandonment of its Grass Creek Branch before the Utah Public Utilities Commission, being conducted for the federal Interstate Commerce Commission, Union Pacific representatives testified that 207 carloads had been shipped on the branch in 1927; 353 carloads in 1930; 243 carloads in 1931; and 130 during the first eight months of 1932. (Deseret News, November 16, 1932)

December 7, 1932
Union Pacific applied to the federal Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon its Grass Creek Branch in Summit County, Utah. The application was denied.

The following comes from ICC Finance 9608. Decided and denied on December 7, 1932 (189 ICC 195-196):

August 28, 1933
Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints quit claim deeded to Zion Securities the property in Sections 18, 19, 24, 26, 8. (Summit County Quit Claim Deeds, Book F, p.383)

January 26, 1934
Zion Securities agrees to sell to Grass Creek Coal Company the property in Sections 18, 19, 24, 26, 8 for $10,000.00. Grass Creek Coal Company owes Zion Securities $7,428.15 in payment for lease that has been in effect for some time. Upon payment of all back taxes, Zion Securities agrees to give Grass Creek Coal Company a receipt for the back lease payments, in effect writing off the money owed from the lease in return for Grass Creek Coal Company's paying the back taxes owed by Zion Securities. The purchase price of $10,000.00 will be paid by Grass Creek Coal Company in monthly payments of not less than $100.00. The payments will be made up of royalties from the coal that Grass Creek has mined from the coal mine, at the rate of 5 cents for each ton of slack or fine coal removed, and 10 cents for each ton of lump or nut coal removed. The royalties are figured on production average of 18 months. J. H. Roberts was Vice President of the Grass Creek Coal Company. In 1972, the land was still in the hands of the heirs to the J. H. Roberts estate, Andrew J. and Helen R. Motzel, Ogden, Utah. (Summit County Miscellaneous Records, Book U, p.176)

September 30, 1937
The Grass Creek Fuel company's mine in Grass Creek had been closed since September 1, 1934 due to a strike. The Utah Trade Commission was considering providing a loan to re-open the mine to provide work for unemployed miners. The strike was due to wages matching those of miners in Carbon and Emery counties, but the Summit County mines could not pay wages competitive to the mines in those counties. The coal from the Summit County mines was lower in BTUs, and therefore the mines were not able to obtain the same high prices as mines in other counties. (Morgan County News, September 30, 1937; October 15, 1937)

March 24, 1939
The Grass Creek Fuel Company obtained a lease on the Wasatch mine of the former Weber Coal company, located directly east of Coalville. The mine had been closed and inactive since 1934. The lease was taken for the Grass Creek Fuel company to fulfill a new three-year contract with Union Portland Cement in Devils Slide. Coal from the Wasatch mine was needed because it had a high enough BTU rating that matched the specifications of the cement company. Shipments would begin as soon as Union Pacific put its spur into operating condition. (Morgan County News, March 24, 1939)

August 1, 1939
Union Pacific applied to the federal Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon the Grass Creek Branch in Summit County, Utah. The application was denied. (ICC Finance Docket 12140; denied on August 1, 1939 for lack of jurisdiction; 233 ICC 639-640)

The following comes from ICC Finance Docket 12140; decided and denied on August 1, 1939 (233 ICC 639-640):

June 15, 1940
Union Pacific applied to the Utah Public Utilities Commission to abandon the Grass Creek Branch in Summit County, Utah.

The following comes from Utah PUC Case 2381, Union Pacific Railroad.

April 2, 1941
Union Pacific completed removal of the 5.75-mile Grass Creek Branch. (Work Order 8737; Public Service Commission of Utah, case 2381, approved June 15, 1940)

May 29, 1942
Tools, supplies, machinery, trade fixtures, and implements of the Grass Creek Fuel Company were sold at an auction conducted on May 29, 1942 by the Summit County Auditor. The property being sold was already in the hands of Summit County for non-payment of taxes. (Park Record, May 14, 1942)

1944
The mines in Grass Creek probably closed in the early 1940s. A 1944 listing of Utah coal mines shows only one Summit County coal mine, the Weber Mine, a mine not located in Grass Creek that was also run by the Grass Creek Fuel Company. No Grass Creek area mines are on a similar 1946 list. (Utah Industrial Commission. Annual and Biennial Reports)

July 14, 1944
John H. Roberts, of Coalville, age 68, passed away on July 14, 1944. He had been manager of the Grass Creek Fuel company since 1915, and "for several years manager of the Weber Coal Co. at Coalville." (Ogden Standard Examiner, July 14, 1944, "today")

December 14, 1944
The Grass Creek Fuel Company, with all of its assets at the Grass Creek mine, was listed on the state delinquent tax rolls. (Park Record, December 14, 1944)

May 25, 1948
The property of the Grass Creek Fuel Company, held in the name of Zions Securities, was to be sold at an auction by Summit County on May 25, 1948. Included in the sale was 160 acres in Section 24, T3N, R5E; 160 acres in Section 18, T3N, R6E; and 80 acres in Section 19, T3N, R6E. (Park Record, May 6, 1948)

Grass Creek Coal Production

Coal production and labor force figures for selected years at mines in the Grass Creek district.

Year	Production (tons)	Avg. No. Employed	Mine
1881	40,608		Union Pacific Mine
1882	63,895		Union Pacific Mine
1883	47,219		Union Pacific Mine
1884	35,548		Union Pacific Mine
1885	50,613		Union Pacific Mine
1886	29,131		Union Pacific Mine
1887	4,946		Union Pacific Mine
1891	981		Union Pacific #2 (Gomer Thomas lease)
1896	10,925	6+	Cullen/Grass Creek Coal Co.
1897	8,200	12	Cullen, Church/Grass Creek Coal Co.
1898	9,138	10-25	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1899	20,400	40	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1900	32,360	20-46	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1901	28,488	55	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1902		50	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1903	35,250	44-78	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1904	37,573	54	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1905	40,561	52	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1906	28,564	45	Grass Creek Coal Co.
1907	32,025	70	Grass Creek Coal Co.
	275	6	Rees-Grass Creek
1908	46,255	75	Union Fuel Co.
	8,308	5	Rees-Grass Creek
1909	44,727	70	Union Fuel Co.
	17,171	24	Rees-Grass Creek
1910	58,900	75	Union Fuel Co.
	26,351	52	Rees-Grass Creek
1915	32,557	45	Union Fuel Co.
	17,440	32	Rees-Grass Creek
1916	44,390	32	Union Fuel Co.
1919	32,146	29	Grass Creek Fuel Co.
1920	23,892	30	Grass-Creek Fuel Co.
1921	27,314	38	Grass Creek Fuel Co.
1922	32,675	28	Grass Creek Fuel Co.
1923	20,983		Grass Creek Fuel Co.
1924-25	19,000	28	Grass Creek Fuel Co. (July - June)
1925-26	18,519	28	Grass Creek Fuel Co. (July - June)

Documents

1932 Proposed Abandonment, Testimony

1932 Proposed Abandonment, Return To Questionnaire

1939 Final Abandonment, Approved August 1, 1939 (ICC Reports)

Summit County Land Plats (Present Day)

Section 23, 24 and 26 -- Link to present-day Summit County land plat interactive map; note the "UP" suffix on the tax ID numbers. This was the location of the original Union Pacific mine.

More Information

(Read the history of the Grass Creek coal mine; from a 1986 report prepared by the Utah Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program)

Sources

(In addition to those cited below, portions of this history have been taken from two reports completed by the Utah Abandoned Mines Project in 1986 and 1989.)

Carr, Stephen L. 1972. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns. Western Epics: Salt Lake City 166 pages

Coalville Literary Club. 1959. Coalville, Utah: Centennial Souvenir, 1859-1959. 40 pages

Doelling, H.H. 1972. Eastern and Northern Utah Coal Fields. UGMS Monograph Series No. 2

Froiseth, B.A.M. 1878. Froiseth's New Sectional and Mineral Map of Utah. Published by B.A.M. Froiseth, Salt Lake City, scale: 1 inch = 8 miles (reproduction)

Harrinqton, D. 1910. Utah as a coal producing state. Salt Lake Mining Review, March 15, 1910

Langley, Henry G. 1871. Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1871-73. Henry G. Langley: San Francisco (photocopy at Utah State Historical Society Library)

State of Utah, Industrial Commission. Annual and Biennial Reports: 1921, 1922-24, 1925, 1928-1930, 1942-44, 1944-46

State of Utah, State Mine Inspector. Annual Reports: 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1909, 1910, 1915, 1916

Union Pacific Coal Company. 1940. History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines 1868-1940. Colonial Press: Omaha 265 pages (Online copy at HathiTrust)

U.S. Geological Survey. 1903. Coalville, Utah-Wyo. Quadrangle topographic map, scale 1:125,000 (reprinted 1944)

U.S. Geological Survey. 1967. Turner Hollow, Utah Quadrangle topographic map, scale 1:24,000

Wegemann, C.H. 1915. The Coalville Coal Field, Utah. USGS Bulletin 581-E

Information about the railroad branch line in Grass Creek Canyon was in large part compiled from handwritten notes, dating from 1978-1988. Most of this information was transcribed from handwritten notes taken while doing research in the files of UP's engineering department during 1982-1983, then compiled as a computer file in 1988, with additions through September 1994. The notes from the early 1980s were completed prior to the closure of UP's engineering office in Salt Lake City in about 1984. All files and most personnel were moved to Omaha in 1983-1984. The office was located in the Utah Division offices in the former depot annex building, just south of Union Pacific's Salt Lake City depot. The building was demolished in 1999 to make room for The Gateway Project.

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