Sweet Mine Trestle, Utah Trestle
The Sweet Coal Company was located just southwest of the mining camp of National and was developed about the same time as Consumers by William Sweet, who secured a lease on the land. It was originally called the Gordon Creek Coal company but was changed to the Sweet Coal Company in 1925. Coal operations produced about 500 tons daily; shipments began from the Sweet Mine in January 1926. The camp that grew up around it took the name of its owner and consisted primarily of tents. However, as the coal flourished, the tents were replaced with permanent buildings, and the population grew to about 200 people.
The three Sweet, National, and Consumers mining camps shared the National post office, schoolhouse, and Consumer’s hospital and amusement hall. Each camp had its own store and water well.
The mine temporarily closed in 1937 but reopened during World War II, only to fall into receivership in March 1940. In March 1941, it was taken over by the Judson Coal Company, which again began production and bought out all its assets the following year. It continued to be worked until the early 1950s.
As active mining continues in the area, there is little left of these three old mining camps, though a few foundations and crumbling buildings can still be spied along Gordon Creek.
From Helper, head south on US-191 for about two miles to Consumers Road. Travel west for about nine miles to Coal City. Sweet, Consumers, and National’s old mining camps are about two miles west.
Mining in the area along Consumers Road today has wiped out the remains of the mining camps once situated here. Photo by Kathy Alexander.
The townsite was located just beyond National, where Consumers Road splits, and then about .3 miles on the left fork. The only thing left is a large foundation.
© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2023.
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