The Helper commercial district is located within the present city limits of Helper, Utah. The District is entirely within the E 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 24, Township 13 South, Range 9E Salt Lake City Standard Meridian. The District is bounded on the north by Janet Street, on the west by First West Street, on the South by Locust Street and on the east by the Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) railyards. The size of the district is somewhat less than 40 acres and includes, but is not limited to, the entire extent of Pratt’s and Mead’s Survey Platts.
The existing boundaries were selected because of their tight nature, delineating the main Helper commercial district, as well as access points to that area. The inclusion of residences was determined by both their presence on Main Street or their adjacent location to the street and within business district, other residences were excluded and may be part of a future multiple resource nomination.
Janet Street is the northern boundary, and with its underpass (to the east) represents the effective beginning of Helper’s Main Street. On the west is First West Street which contains some residences, but included major rear access ways to the commercial buildings on Main Street. Locust Street boarders the district on the south, representing the end of the main commercial area. The eastern boundary follows the Rio Grande Western railway yards, which formed a vital part of Helper’s commercial life.
The Helper commercial district consists of a total of 110 of which 98 sites have been judged to be potentially contributory to the historic character of the area. A wide variety of both residential and commercial structures, arrayed along both sides of Main street in a north-south manner, comprise the district.
The Helper Commercial District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (#79002491) on July 24, 1979.
- CR-07-651 (Intrusion – Recently constructed brick utility building.)
- CR-07-652 – 2 South Main Street – 1929
- CR-07-653 – 6 South Main Street – 1920
- CR-07-654 – 8 South Main Street – 1909
- CR-07-655 – 12 South Main Street – 1908
- CR-07-656 – 14 South Main Street – 1911
- CR-07-657 – 16 South Main Street – 1914
- CR-07-658 – 20 South Main Street – 1914
- CR-07-659 – 22 South Main Street – 1911
- CR-07-660 (Intrusion – Extensively remodeled house – 1969)
- CR-07-661 – 26 South Main Street – 1906
- CR-07-662 – Intrusion – Brick House – 1946
- CR-07-663 – Intrusion – Brick Garage, barber and beauty shop – 1950
- CR-07-664 – 42 South Main Street – 1936
- CR-07-665 – 52 South Main Street – 1913
- CR-07-666 – 58 South Main Street – 1912
- CR-07-667 – 58 South Main Street – 1975 – Intrusion – New First Security Bank
- CR-07-668 – 66 South Main Street – 1913
- CR-07-669 – 68 South Main Street – 1919
- CR-07-670 – 74 South Main Street – 1919
- CR-07-671 – 76 South Main Street – 1919
- CR-07-672 – 80 South Main Street – 1928
- CR-07-673 – 94 South Main Street – 1935
- CR-07-675 – rear of 94 South Main Street – after 1935
- CR-07-676 – rear of 76 South Main Street – after 1923
- CR-07-677 – rear of 74 South Main Street – 1909
- CR-07-678 – rear of 74 South Main Street – 1933
- CR-07-679 – rear of 66 South Main Street – 1919
- CR-07-684 – 11 West Hill Street – 1925
- CR-07-685 – 100 South Main Street – 1922
- CR-07-686 – 120 South Main Street – 1924
- CR-07-687
- CR-07-688
- CR-07-689
- CR-07-690
- CR-07-691
- CR-07-692
- CR-07-693
- CR-07-694
- CR-07-695
- CR-07-696
- CR-07-697
- CR-07-699
- CR-07-700
- CR-07-703
- CR-07-705
- CR-07-706
- CR-07-707
- CR-07-708
- CR-07-709
- CR-07-710
- CR-07-711
- CR-07-712
- CR-07-713, 714
- CR-07-715
- CR-07-716
- CR-07-717
- CR-07-718
The residential buildings are generally one story and are fairly modest in appearance. Several styles and building materials were utilized, including; hand hewn stone, wood frame, stucco, and several types of brick. The commercial buildings also exhibit a wide degree of variability, although they are generally consistent in scale, with almost all buildings being one to two stories in height. The predominate building material was red brick, although hand hewn stone stucco, wood frame, and other types of brick were also utilized.
Comparison of the present appearance of the district with early Sanborn maps and historic photos indicates that the area still retains much of its historic character. Prior to 1927 the area east of Main Street was dominated by Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) railroad company houses, but after that time, the area began to acquire the predominately commercial appearance it retains today. The modifications of the residential buildings have been fairly minor and have generally consisted of “modern” siding materials and additions, and modification of the porches. The commercial seen facade modifications, many of which are the installation of the enclosure or buildings have often minor and reversable.
A description of each contributory building along with its capsule history is given below. The buildings are listed by their Utah Historical Society site inventory number.