BUTTERFIELD CANYON HISTORY

BUTTERFIELD CANYON HISTORY

                         Albert “Bert” Crane

Henry Crane, my father and several others were employed in 1880 to haul ore by team,

mostly four horses to a team and wagon from Butterfield Canyon to Sandy, Utah to the smelter.  He would leave home on Monday morning and drive to the mine in the canyon to load the wagon with ore---then back to his home that night with the ore.  This took approximately 14 hours.  Tuesday morning he left Herriman with his load of ore to Sandy to the smelter and back home that night.  This made it possible to make three trips a week.  Sometimes in the winter Father rode on one of the horses to help keep warm or he stood on the wagon tongue between horses to break the cold wind.  Mother used to stand out at night and listen for the ring of the steel tires of the empty wagon on the road or snow to know if father was getting home safely.  In later years teams and wagons hauled ore to Lark where it dumped into railroad cars and taken to Midvale.

CC loves the mountains

My first memory of Butterfield Canyon is when I went with my father to deliver groceries to a boarding house in the canyon about 1890/92.  There never were large trees in the bottom part of the canyon.  There were oak, boxelders, chokecherry and willow trees but the hills were covered mainly with oak brush.  A fairly large stream of water wound its way down the canyon.  There was a good road most all its way but mostly just a single lane.  Farther up the maple and oak trees grew large enough that they almost framed a tunnel above the road, then half-way up the canyon, pine trees grew on the mountain side.  The canyon runs mostly east to west.  As one goes west up the canyon, the first hollow off to the right is now called St, Joe.  At one time this had been called Jigger Hollow.  As I remember, there was a large building called the Jigger where ore was washed and screened.  Part of the rock wall of that building is still standing.  I remember a small house just south of the large building and a family by the name Shannon (Jack Shannon), his wife and two children lived there.  Several prospect and mining claims were located in this area, and the St, Joe mine was the main one.  Later, on the same property, Joe Mascaro and his family had a home and kept a goat herd.  About here the canyon turns to the south and about one-half mile on the west side is another hollow.  It also had a mining claim and prospect hole.  I remember a man, Mr. C.B. Durst living in this hollow.  My brother, Henry and I hauled a load of loose hay to him and we had to unload half of it so we could get up to his corral. 

Just a little south of that hollow is the line of the Butterfield Mining Co.’s land and it extend three miles to the west up the canyon.  Their workings were located about one-half mile from their line of ownership.  As near as I can tell this started in 1931 or 1932.  The Butterfield Mining Co. drove a tunnel into the mountain.  The buildings were about 1000 feet east of the tunnel on the east side of the creek.  There were three houses in a row which were living quarters for men who worked in the mine.  The first house was a kitchen, then a dining room and the last a bunk-house.  Each was about 40 feet long.  There were also a few shacks to the west of these buildings.  It was all swampy and the ditch was between the road and the house.  There was bridge made of lumber with a railing on either side over the ditch.  My father delivered groceries to the boarding house.  I remember walking over the bridge carrying things to the house.  They had a Chinese man for a cook and two Chinese boys to help him.   

At the mouth end of the tunnel was a large building.  In it was a blacksmith shop and a power with a water wheel.  The water wheel was fourteen to sixteen feet in diameter, and turned by water piped from the big flats, approximately two miles farther up the canyon.  The pipe was a sixteen inch pipe and reduced to four inch pipe to create pressure enough to turn the wheel.

The next hollow was on the north side and was called Black Jack.  It got its name from a man called John Black.  He had a mining claim in there at one time.  His hair was black as coal and he wore a heavy black mustache.  There was water coming from this hollow but the tunnel driven underneath drained all the water from it.  Not far from here is a road to the north to the Queen Mine.   It is mostly Dugway on the ridge of the mountain.  Some of the richest gold ore of any mine in his location has come from the Queen Mine.  The ore from the Queen Mine was hauled out of there on wagons.  A man by the name of Mangus Olson from West Jordan was killed while hauling ore from this mine.  He was driving four horses and had a trail wagon.  The brake gave way.  The wagon went over the Dugway.   Mr. Olson’s neck was broken, one horse was killed and one other horse’s leg was broken so it had to be killed. 

Butterfield Boy Scout CampOn the south side of the canyon is Stocking Fork, named after one of the early settlers of Herriman.  From this point on up the canyon, pine trees are frequently found among the maple trees and large oaks.  A nice stream flows from Stocking Fork into the main stream in the canyon.  Notices of mining claims were posted in this fork.   Many of the notices were in a can nailed to a post.  The can had an open end and the papers telling of the claim were inside the cans. 

Butterfield Boy Scout Camp

Two log cabins were built in this fork by homesteaders.  The next fork of the canyon is on the south side and is called Swamp Fork.  This also had a good sized stream of water and has mining claims developed in it. 

About one-half mile farther west is the Big Flat of the canyon.  This is the head of Butterfield Canyon and is the main camping area of the canyon.  At one time a big Scout House was erected there by Bingham people.  It was destroyed by vandalism and fire.  From the Flat the canyon divides into three parts.  Before and, and at the time the Butterfield Tunnel was driven there was a stream of water coming from all three hollows into the Big Flat.  Then the Butterfield Mining Co. put in a big box and diverted the three streams into it to supply a pipeline down to the water driven mill at the mouth of the tunnel.

Butterfield Scout Camp

The fork that goes south from the Big Flat is known as the Left Hand Fork.  There was a saw mill in this fork and evidence of a lot of timber cut at the time it was used.  There were hundreds of large stumps on the side ill.  I have seen stumps up to two feet in diameter and four and five feet high showing that the trees had been cut when the snow was there.  I was there in the summer of 1905.  There was once a road from there around the mountain to the head of Bingham Canyon.  It was called the Parley Hanon’s road.  We hauled timber from this fork to Bingham for timbering in the mines.  About one mile up Left Hand Fork, going west is Bear Fork.  This is the prettiest fork of the entire canyon, for here the pine trees grow straight and tall in abundance. 

The Center Fork from the Big Flat is known as the Tooele Fork.  It runs almost straight west.  At one time there was a road up this fork directly over the mountain into Tooele County.  This is the flattest of the three but becomes very steep at the west end.  At a flat in Tooele Fork where Bishop’s Fork begins, a site has been selected for a camping ground for the Riverton Stake. 

The fork that goes north and west from Big Flat is called Spring Gulch.  This fork does not have many pine trees but is full of maple trees and had a lovely steam of water flowing from it.  

The Salt Lake County has made a road up this fork and have connected it with the road from Tooele County so now it is possible to drive over the Oquirrah Mountain.

Page 9 of Alice Crane’s Journal

It is 1903 the Butterflied Mining & Milling Co. and a syndicate for a French Company with their tunnels drained the springs and claimed the water.  Herriman farmer’s crops died for the lack of water.  Now everyone fought for the water that was after the canyon was drained by all the tunnels.  Then they fought for the land.  Soon Combined Metals who owned both sides of the road closed it.  This put an end to illegal wood cutting that was stripping the mountains bare.  But they illegally closed a public road that I did not like.

Mr. Christie who was superintendent now had a personal kingdom that was eventually taken from him when the Salt Lake County Sheriff removed the lock and gate.  I remember Christie patrolled above the gate mounted on a big brown horse.  We would run to the oak brush and hide until he left.

Silver shield on right
count the mines??

Ward and Family outings in Butterfield Canyon were pleasant and happy.  Once a year a Ward Party under the direction of the Sunday School was held up the canyon.  Everyone was invited.  Some families went early in the morning and cooked breakfast and then stayed for the Ward dinner.  Others came for the dinner and program and games.  Long tables were setup and every one shared each other’s food.  This was a day truly enjoyed and remembered.      

Another day was at Choke Cherry time when many of the families made a trip to the canyon to pick and gather the choke cherries to make jelly and wine.  This time work and play and a good meal together was enjoyed by everyone who went. 

Many families planned on the 4^th of July or Labor Day to go there and stay two or three days for an outing.  In my day tents were put up, a fire pit was dug and water was bucketed from the spring.  Later families took their campers and trailers to sleep and eat in, but the fun of hiking and enjoying the great outdoors was still the same. 

  

A Mountain in my Backyard

Eugene Halverson

6 1/2 foot Timpanogos tree now extinct
Five foot Red Grove trees were clear cut and hauled to SLC

We lived in a company house at the very top of Telegraph.  Water had to be carried in, no bathroom and no kitchen sink.  I carried two buckets at a time from a tank under a spring.  It was so cold and tasty.  Primitive as it was I loved living on the border of the pines and Quakies just above the oak brush.  We got the birds and animals from both forests.

I had two choices to hike the high mountains above Telegraph, to the right was Galena Gulch the left was Bear Gulch this was the way to Butterfield and Middle Canyon (Tooele Fork).  The Bear Gulch trail went under the Giant Chief mine dump up a steep road to a cement dam where the road flattened out for a mile or so.  Prospectors panned gold all the way to the Big Tree.  I used to pan gold with Alvin Cole and there were diggings all over the place. 

 The Right Hand Gulch was a lush green Aspen forest, the Middle Gulch was full of old mines and even one active mine.   The left was a road up and over the ridge to the Queen Mine.
  

"Big Tree" a Cottonwood tree and old Indian village
 gone forever, my memories covered with dirt

The “Big Tree” was an ancient Cottonwood tree and an old Indian Camp site and trails over the mountain to Tooele.  The Right Hand Gulch was a lush green Aspen forest, the Middle Gulch was full of old mines and even one active mine.   The left was a road up and over the ridge to the Queen Mine.  Going to the right up the Ridge you will find a thick forest of pine trees overlooking Silver Shield.  In this forest I found many stumps four to six feet in diameter the remnants of an ancient forest called the Red Pine Grove.  After a steep climb off to the left you will find a trail through the Quakies that would take you to the Middle Canyon Pass.  

A zig-zag road down a steep side-hill took you to the town and mine of Queen.  I remember some houses for families and a large boarding house for the single men setting on the Old Queen Mine dump.  Then up the road were a few primitive shacks and a new US Mine Tunnel.  When US Mine closed all family houses and boarding were torn down.  Leaving two friendly old men who leased the mine.  I remember their shack.  It had a dirt floor where cotton-tail rabbits watch you from their hole in one corner.  These two feed us fresh home-made bread with strawberry jam.  Queen had no water.  It piped its water from Spring Gulch in Butterfield Canyon.  We walked this 10 or 12 inch pipeline to Butterfield ending a little above the old Scout Camp at the Big Flat where three main forks began. 

I remember the scout building and the stupid vandalism then later someone set it on fire and it burnt to the ground leaving only the large fireplace and the cement foundation.

There was an Indian trail from Utah County, past Camp Williams, through Herriman, to the Big Flat in Butterfield where they camped and then over the mountain to Tooele County of course none of these places were there then.  Many Indian signs and artifacts have been found at the Flat.

Hundreds of miles tunnels have sucked the springs and streams from my beautiful mountain.  The lovely stream of water from Spring Gulch has been sucked away it no longer flows and the pipe is gone.  There is no stream coming from the Left and Tooele Fork either.  Even the spring at the Big Flat is gone.  I fished the Butterfield Creek back before it was ruined.  

It was the 4^th of July 2016 and the games, breakfast was over so I decided to see what kind of a mess Rio Tinto made of Butterfield Canyon.  The first thing I noticed was the fences and signs where Lark used to be and then as I dropped down into Butterfield Canyon there was nothing to see except signs, fences, cement blocks, gates and trash.  Now! I was angry.  Where did all these foreign companies come from?  They should be sent back home like we did on this day in 1776.  They have worn out their welcome here.  The Butterfield I remember was a grand and glorious place.  I was angry then and I am still angry. 

On the south side of the canyon is Stocking Fork, named after one of the early settlers of Herriman.  From this point on up the canyon, pine trees are frequently found among the maple trees and large oaks.  A nice stream flows from Stocking Fork into the main stream in the canyon. 

When I finally

got past Rio Tinto’s mess, Salt Lake County had just as many signs and barriers.  Beyond them I could see a creek and these grand old maples and pines, some must have been over one hundred years old.  Lots of oak brush and elderberry it could still be wonderful canyon.  What we had was supposed to be a “Scenic Byway” but it was ugly” and not people friendly.  Only one family was picnicking.  

Well the Byway took me over the top down into Tooele County.  It was like coming out of the dark and seeing the sun.  It was beautiful.  They had the same giant trees, brush and flowers with running water but they were using it.  There must have been eighty people and they were happy people.  They were camping, picnicking, hiking and playing.  They had tables, toilets and water just like the Salt Lake County provides for the people on the East side of the valley.   

Queen Mine and Town

Eugene Halvorsen

Quaking Aspen

It was over 80 years ago but I still remember looking down into Queen.  It wasn’t like my side of the mountain.  My side had a whole canyon full of Quaking  Aspen and all kinds of flowers and bushes the higher elevated mountains have.  Black Jack Gulch was a dry canyon and all I could see was miles of oak brush with some pine trees growing here and there.  The road from the ridge through town and all the way down to the Butterfield Creek was very steep zigzagging kind of a road.

10th of August 1881 by Salt Lake Herald      from Don Strack

The Queen mine is situated in Black Jack Gulch about 500 feet above the Lucky Boy, remarkable for the very large amount of high grade ore it has produced.  There is a 300 foot shaft and levels of huge veins of ore.

The mine is equipped with pumping and hoisting machinery.  There was a boarding house, blacksmith shop, and ore cars and track.

In my time about 40 or 50 years later all these buildings were still standing.  Looking old and need of paint.  They all sat next the hill side and on the big yellow dump.

Oak brush     Mahogany,   brush

1937 to about 1948

I roamed everywhere in the 1930’s and 40’s.  Queen was the mid-point of my trail to Butterfield.  I would stop and talk or play if I could.  Then on the first bend of the road below town I would climb up to the water pipe and walk it almost to Spring Canyon.  Some places I could see a wooden water pipe with steel bands to hold it together.  I never bothered to go as far as the spring even though it wasn’t much farther.  The trail dropped down to the scout camp.  I remember the building and the remains of it after it burned down.  We used the big fireplace as a shelter from rain and snow. 

One day Queen is there and the people are working and the community is alive.  Then everything is gone.  All accept two old miners.  They were lonely and we were always hungry.  They fed us homemade bread with strawberry jam.  They knew everything and always were fun to talk to.  Their house was old with maybe a window or two.  They had a table with a few chairs and a couple of beds.  All sitting on a hard dirt floor, an interesting floor with rabbit holes in every corner.  There was always a rabbit looking at us.

It is unknown what prospector found or named it Queen but the Norther Chief Mining Co. owns and is developing the mine.  It was dangerous to bring the ore down the Dugway.  First by horse and wagon and later by trucks.  They ran into water and maybe had to quit. 

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 6 February 1896 by Salt Lake Herald           Don Strack

The Butterflied Mining Company has nearly completed a tunnel to drain the mountain.  In the process many new veins of ore has been found and are happily mining again.  Well the rich got rich but I would rather have a drink in the springs and fish the creek once more.