Patsy Vario Jr. June 25, 1924 – Dec. 19, 1944 Died in Milne Bay, New Guinea Served in the South-East Asian Theatre WW II U. S. ARMY Pat Vario & Don Haslem were high school buddies when war broke out. Both joined the U.S. Army to serve their nation on the “Buddy Team Enlistment Program” Both enjoyed life giving the ultimate sacrifice and died side by side together. Our thanks to Bob Walraven who also served with Pat and Don. Patsy had three brothers who served in WW II Anthony, Frank & Ernest
This building was built by Walt Shubert, the mayor, to be furnished with the original equipment from the retired shoe shop located at Vine Street in Tooele, Utah. The original shoe shop on Ophir was owned and operated by Carl Berg.
This rail car was moved to Ophir by Leo Ault to represent the St. John & Ophir Railroad that carried ore and passengers to the main Union Pacific line in Rush Valley. It contains old pictures and documents of significance to Ophir, the State of Utah, and the United States.
This one room house was lived in by men who worked as teamsters or miners. When it became vacant in the 1930’s it served as a clubhouse for the boys of Ophir. It was moved to its present location from Miners Street and was restored to represent the Ophir Post Office, which had been torn down. The post office box, window, and desk are from the original Ophir Post Office.
This building was constructed in approximately 1899 by Dr. Zerick Logan. He served as the Ophir doctor at the time and lived in the house for 30 years. Later James St. Young Sr. purchased the house where he resided until 1959. The house sat vacant until 2008 when it was donated by the Young children to the Ophir Historic District to be used as a representation of the first school in Ophir.
This house was built by Carl “Charley” Berg at this original location. He repaired shoes for the people of Ophir. After his death, it was occupied by several couples and small families. Poker games were played as a regular pass time.
This one room house was built by Carl Berg at this original location. It was used as a rental, mostly by bachelor miners. It has been restored to its old time appearance.
William and Emma J. Hughes Ajax The unique two-story underground building was established in 1870. Shortly thereafter a post office called “Centre” was added. The building was 80 x 100 feet, in some places the lower floor was 20 feet below ground. The excavation was done by William Ajax using a shovel and wheelbarrow. The building’s support timbers were cut from juniper and pine trees. These trees were located in the mountains west of here where he walked to and from each day to cut the timbers. The roof was constructed of poles covered with juniper boughs, sod and clay. The store was illuminated by sunlight coming through south-facing windows in the roof. Shoppers were offered a wide variety of merchandise, food, clothing, housewares, hardware, tools and medicine. Goods were arranged in department store style. It was estimated the value of the merchandise was in excess of $70,000.
Patrons came from the mining camps, sheep and cattle ranches and the communities of Rush and Vernon Valley. Meals and lodging for travelers were provided. Their livestock was also cared for in sheds and corrals located west of the present highway. Wild grass-hay was cut in nearby meadows. It was sold to miners in Stockton, Ophir and Mercur. The coming of the railroad through Rush Valley made supplies and travel more accessible, thus ending much of the need for a store in the area. William Ajax died in 1899, his family operated the store until 1914 when they liquidated the merchandise.
The building was abandoned, and later it was burned, (perhaps railroad transients camping at the building). All that remains are the mounds of dirt just east of the monument.
This illustration depicts the living quarters where meals and lodging were provided. A portion of the underground store was under this building.
See other historic markers in the series on this page for SUP Markers.
