24 – Coal Camps – July 2011
An early history of Price by one who lived it This year, as Price City revels in its 100 years of incorporation, one has to also think about the years before that event took place in the Spring of 1911. What was Price like after the turn of the 20th century? What was it like in the late 1800’s? While not a coal camp, and not really a railroad center (Helper really had the lock on that) it was the first town established in what was then northern Emery County. And it began auspiciously in the winter of 1879 when a few settlers put down roots in the area. There has been a lot written about that history, but not so much as it is common knowledge. And while Price was not a coal camp per say, it was the center of commerce in the area from the beginning, a place where coal camp people came and met up with those from the railroads, agriculture and merchantile. Probably one of the most complete histories written about those
early days came from someone who lived through some of it; Earnest S. Horsely. He was the brother of one of the first mayors (Arthur) of Price (before incorporation and they called them presidents) and helped to lay the groundwork for the city as it is today. Below is his historical account of Price up until the late 1920s. January 1, 1879 dawned somewhat bright and clear, as the winter so far had been mild and very little snow had fallen up to that time, and the spirit of the hardy and venturesome pioneers was not stilled, as the mountain passes and canyons were still accessible to travel. Along in the first week of this year Caleb Rhodes, Frederick Jr. Grames, Alfred Grames and Charles Grames left Salem, Utah county, to explore what was then known as Castle Valley. After some difficulties encountered in road making, removing (Continued on page 30)
Albert Horsley, a nephew of the author of the accompanying story is seen here in the middle of this school group in Price in 1904. The school it was taken in is not known.
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