Helper Historic District

The Helper Historic District is a historic district comprising the center of Helper, Utah. When originally listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the district was called the Helper Commercial District. It was bounded by Janet Street to the north and Locust Street to the south, and by First West Street to the west and the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) yards to the east. It comprised 110 buildings, 98 of which are considered contributing structures. Typical buildings are one to two stories tall in a variety of styles, mostly built in red brick. The district included a number of modest one-story residences, built by the railroad and mining companies in the manner of a company town. The district represented Helper's development as the commercial center of the local coal-mining industry, and as a railroad service center.[2]

Helper Historic District
Helper Historic District is located in Utah
Helper Historic District
Helper Historic District is located in the United States
Helper Historic District
LocationBounded by RR tracks, Janet, 1st, West, and Locust Sts, Helper, Utah
Coordinates39°41′06.09″N 110°51′16.34″W
Area30 acres (12 ha)
Built1913 (1913)
Architectural styleCompany Town Style
NRHP reference No.79002491[1] (original)
100008303 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 24, 1979
Boundary increaseOctober 31, 2022

The most significant structures in the district are the Helper City Hall and the Civic Auditorium. Other important contributing structures include the Railroad Chapel and the Catholic church. Several sites are associated with Japanese, Greek, South Slav and northern Italian immigration to the area. Many structures are associated with the D&RGW, including the train station. During the 1930s the town center was extensively altered by Works Progress Administration forces, who built retaining walls and channelized the Price River, filling in the bed in the area that is now the northern part of the district.[2]

The Helper Commercial District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1979.[1] The Helper Post Office is individually listed on the National Register within the district. The district underwent a significant expansion and renaming in 2022.[3]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Epperson, Terrence W. (February 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Helper Commercial District". National Park Service. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  3. "Weekly listing". National Park Service.
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