Mohrland, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mohrland, Utah
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 Mohrland, Utah
Location in Utah
Mohrland, Utah
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Emery |
| Established | 1907 |
| Abandoned | 1938 |
| Named for | Mays, Orem, Heiner, Rice |
| Elevation | 7,185 ft (2,190 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1437639 |
Mohrland was once a busy ghost town in Emery County, Utah, United States. It was located in Cedar Creek Canyon, close to the Carbon County border. Mohrland became the biggest coal mining town in Emery County. Its story is much like the coal towns found in Carbon County.
Contents
Mohrland's Early Days
People started mining coal in Cedar Creek Canyon before 1896. They mostly dug coal for homes nearby. In 1907, a group of investors bought the mine and the land around it. They created a company called the Castle Valley Fuel Company. They also planned a townsite and named it Mohrland. The name was a special word made from the first letters of the investors' last names: Mays, Orem, Heiner, and Rice.
Building a New Town
Coal began to be shipped out by April 1910. Even though the Castle Valley Fuel Company had money problems, the town kept growing. Soon, Mohrland had its own business area. This included a hospital, a company place for workers to stay, and a store called Wasatch Store. There was also a post office and several places called saloons.
In 1915, a new company took over the mine. This was the United States Fuel Company. They also ran the town of Hiawatha, which was just north of Mohrland. By 1920, Mohrland had more than 200 houses. It also had a large hall for fun events and a school. About 1000 people lived there.
Life in a Company Town
Mohrland was a company town for its whole history. This meant the mine owners basically ran the town. The company worked hard to make Mohrland a nice place to live. This was true even though it was on the edge of the desert. Streets had shade trees, and a small stream flowed through the canyon.
Fun and Benefits for Workers
Mine workers received special benefits. These included medical care. They also had regular dances, movies, and other social events. Mohrland's company baseball team was very popular and good. In the spring of 1915, they were champions of their league. They played a special game in Price against the famous Chicago White Sox. More than 10,000 people watched the game. Mohrland's team lost 17 to 1, but it was a big event!
The End of Mohrland
The early 1920s were the best years for Mohrland. But by 1925, coal prices and profits went down. On March 1, 1925, U.S. Fuel suddenly closed the mine. This left Mohrland's residents without jobs. They also couldn't get credit at the company store. Many people had no money or food.
A Brief Return and Final Closure
The company reopened Mohrland just as suddenly in September 1926. The town slowly started to recover. In 1930, the population was 620 people.
However, coal mining became less profitable during the Great Depression. In 1938, U.S. Fuel decided to close Mohrland for good. They wanted to focus all mining at Hiawatha. Hiawatha had a slightly shorter shipping route. It also had more space to build a new coal processing plant. The buildings in Mohrland were sold to a company for $50 each. Very little of the town was left behind after that.
