Helper Parkway LbNA #49167
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 25, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Helper |
| County: | Carbon |
| State: | Utah |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Planted by: | Jill from UT
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|---|---|
| Found by: | Sunflower8 |
| Last found: | Nov 12, 2016 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jul 25, 2009 |
The town of Helper, originally settled in the early 1880’s, grew up around the railroad and coal mining industries. In fact, Helper got its name from the “helper” locomotives that waited there to pull trains to Soldier’s Summit.
The founding of Helper coincided with the immigration of people from several countries including Italy, Greece, China, and Japan and many of these immigrants ended up in Helper because of the tremendous amount of labor needed by the railroad and mining industries.
Helper grew and thrived for many years, and has survived the ups and downs of changing economic times. Many of its main street buildings stand empty now, but there are some fun things to see and do in Helper. Known as Utah’s Christmas Town, they have a wonderful celebration and parade each year here. Also, each August Helper hosts an art festival on Main Street that draws many artists from the surrounding area. There is also The Western Mining and Railroad Museum that is a must for anyone wanting to get to know the history of the area better.
This letterbox series celebrates the history of Helper with train and mining stamps. We hope you enjoy discovering this Eastern Utah town.
DIRECTIONS
Take either of the 2 exits West into Helper and get onto Main Street. At the Helper Library and Community Center stands a miner and his coal cart. You can’t miss him. I don’t know if it is official, but a local resident once told me his name is Big Bad John. Once you find him, stay in your car, but make sure you are facing down the road the same way he is facing. Look a little ways down and you’ll see a road sign directing you back to Highways 50 and 6. Drive towards this sign and when you reach it turn to the left. Drive through this lot and across a street. You should be able to see a red wooden deck where you can stand and look at the Price River. Park here. This is your starting point.
CLUES
Coal Cart Box: From the red wooden deck, you’ll turn left and head down the path. Immediately you’ll see a sign on your right titled WPA-PWA. Shortly, you’ll pass a bench on your left. Cross over the footbridge and to your right there will be a cluster of trees. The letterbox is hidden under this SE corner of the bridge under a rock.
Miner’s Hat Box: Once you have replaced the Coal Car, continue on down the path. Shortly you’ll come to a bench and a sign that is titled Coal City. From the sign walk 43 paces. To your left you should see a group of rocks. Behind the second big rock are a couple of smaller rocks. Underneath these you’ll see a piece of tree bark. Underneath the bark is a Miner’s Hat.
Helper Train Box: **First Finder Prize. Once you have replaced the Miner’s Hat, continue on the path until you see a picnic pavilion on your left. Pass the pavilion, and keep an eye out to the left for the Ron Cooper memorial. Spray painted on the path you’ll see the word “Finish”. This is where you’ll want to turn right off the path. There is not a trail, but you can easily make it past the bushes into a small clearing right behind them. Look back in the direction you came from (NW), and you’ll see a very large trunked tree. Make your way towards that tree. Once you are standing by it, look around for the short skinny stump sticking straight up. Under the log at its base is your prize. Rehide well with leaves.
Once you are back on the path, if you continue in the same direction, you’ll come to a mining equipment display that is associated with the Helper Mining and Railroad Museum. The museum is right across the street. Also, if you follow the trail the other direction from your starting point at the red wooden deck, you can cross the bridge and the parkway continues for another half mile. The signs along the path give a great history of the area.
We would love to hear from you. Let us know how our boxes are doing at jillk2320@yahoo.com
The founding of Helper coincided with the immigration of people from several countries including Italy, Greece, China, and Japan and many of these immigrants ended up in Helper because of the tremendous amount of labor needed by the railroad and mining industries.
Helper grew and thrived for many years, and has survived the ups and downs of changing economic times. Many of its main street buildings stand empty now, but there are some fun things to see and do in Helper. Known as Utah’s Christmas Town, they have a wonderful celebration and parade each year here. Also, each August Helper hosts an art festival on Main Street that draws many artists from the surrounding area. There is also The Western Mining and Railroad Museum that is a must for anyone wanting to get to know the history of the area better.
This letterbox series celebrates the history of Helper with train and mining stamps. We hope you enjoy discovering this Eastern Utah town.
DIRECTIONS
Take either of the 2 exits West into Helper and get onto Main Street. At the Helper Library and Community Center stands a miner and his coal cart. You can’t miss him. I don’t know if it is official, but a local resident once told me his name is Big Bad John. Once you find him, stay in your car, but make sure you are facing down the road the same way he is facing. Look a little ways down and you’ll see a road sign directing you back to Highways 50 and 6. Drive towards this sign and when you reach it turn to the left. Drive through this lot and across a street. You should be able to see a red wooden deck where you can stand and look at the Price River. Park here. This is your starting point.
CLUES
Coal Cart Box: From the red wooden deck, you’ll turn left and head down the path. Immediately you’ll see a sign on your right titled WPA-PWA. Shortly, you’ll pass a bench on your left. Cross over the footbridge and to your right there will be a cluster of trees. The letterbox is hidden under this SE corner of the bridge under a rock.
Miner’s Hat Box: Once you have replaced the Coal Car, continue on down the path. Shortly you’ll come to a bench and a sign that is titled Coal City. From the sign walk 43 paces. To your left you should see a group of rocks. Behind the second big rock are a couple of smaller rocks. Underneath these you’ll see a piece of tree bark. Underneath the bark is a Miner’s Hat.
Helper Train Box: **First Finder Prize. Once you have replaced the Miner’s Hat, continue on the path until you see a picnic pavilion on your left. Pass the pavilion, and keep an eye out to the left for the Ron Cooper memorial. Spray painted on the path you’ll see the word “Finish”. This is where you’ll want to turn right off the path. There is not a trail, but you can easily make it past the bushes into a small clearing right behind them. Look back in the direction you came from (NW), and you’ll see a very large trunked tree. Make your way towards that tree. Once you are standing by it, look around for the short skinny stump sticking straight up. Under the log at its base is your prize. Rehide well with leaves.
Once you are back on the path, if you continue in the same direction, you’ll come to a mining equipment display that is associated with the Helper Mining and Railroad Museum. The museum is right across the street. Also, if you follow the trail the other direction from your starting point at the red wooden deck, you can cross the bridge and the parkway continues for another half mile. The signs along the path give a great history of the area.
We would love to hear from you. Let us know how our boxes are doing at jillk2320@yahoo.com