What constitutes a community? What do they form around, the seed? What makes them persist over time?
Helper, Utah was founded as a “helper engine” town in 1881. Here trains would pick up an extra engine to help them up the steep, relentless grade of Price Canyon and over Soldier Summit. At the beginning of the 20th century, Helper was a booming railroading and coal mining community. It was also the most diverse place in Utah, with 27 different languages spoken in the town. Coal later diminished in value, and eventually started to run out, and the community has been forced to find a new way. From flower-planting to the inception of an annual arts festival, to the revitalization of Main Street’s historic buildings, Helper is finding ways to hold onto its story, while simultaneously moving forward with an entirely new economy, one based on the arts and tourism.
To understand how Helper found itself in this moment, where an economic shift is necessary, and to find out if locals are on board with this shift, we interview three Helper residents. In this episode, we speak with Jean Boyack, sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Helper”. We also talk to Richard Colombo, long-time owner of the R&A Market in Helper. He also served with the Helper Fire Department for 41 years, recently retiring from his position as Chief. And we speak with Mike O’Shea, who was born and raised in Helper and was the principal at a local elementary school. Each of these residents came from coal mining or railroading families and has observed Helper through boom times, decline, and revitalization.
Listen to find out what is contributing to the apparent ease and speed with which Helper's economic shift is taking place. Is it Helper's history of diversity? Its union history? Could the name Helper play some role here? Does economic revitalization just take a few individuals who care? Are new residents and old-timers alike on board with change? Is it the creation of opportunity, gentrification, or both? What does the future hold for Helper, Utah?
A few but not all of these questions we hope to answer in part one of this series on Helper, Utah.