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Wattis Photographs

In 1916 W. H. Wattis and his brother from Ogden purchased 160 acres of property from the federal government to begin mining operations in the area southwest of Price near Hiawatha.

Charlie Petitti, who had moved his family into the area in 1915 profited when he sold the railroad a right away across his property. In 1917 electric power came to the area and Charlie made money by allowing the poles to be placed on his property. By the spring of 1918 there were quite a few families now living in the new camp, called Wattis and when they wanted to build a school it was Charlie Petiti who sold them the property. Charlie's brother built a store and pool hall.

The Wattis Coal company merged with the Lion Coal Company and the camp began to really blossom during 1919. Boarding houses were built and frame homes were built for families. In 1938 religions established themselves in the camp. Later a movie theater was eventually built and they moved the chairs and dances were held. A union hall was constructed and used for meetings, dances and other entertainment.

During World War II 250 miners had steady work and new homes were built to house them. During the 1950's the demand for coal dropped the many miners moved out of the camp. In 1965 the coal properties were sold and by 1970 Wattis was a ghost town with most of the houses and buildings gone. The mining camp is now just a memory.

Please keep in mind that these photographs have been reduced in size to approximately 1 1/2" to 2" to save on server space and download time. The original size of the photograph varies. Please see the Introduction page for details on ordering photographs along with the price list.

	Photo: 90-1-1 Date of Origin: @1920 Item name: Miners Description: Miners at lion Coal Co. on walkway above mine office
	Photo: 90-1-2 Date of Origin: 1919 Item name: Ming Town Description: Mining Town of Wattis with railroad, mine office of Lion Co., Boarding houses and houses.
	Photo: 90-1-3 Date of Origin: 1917 Item name: Miners Description: Miners at Wattis mine.
	Photo: 90-1-5 Date of Origin: 1952 Item name: Town Description: Overview of the Wattis Coal camp
	Photo: 90-1-6 Date of Origin:   Item name: Mining Description: Maintenance worker on the old Lion Coal Co. Trainway
	Photo: 90-1-7 Date of Origin: 1970 Item name: Miners Description: A group of miners that set the production record of Plateau Miners.
	Photo: 90-1-7A Date of Origin: Miners Item name: Miners Description: Miners standing in front of sign.
	Photo: 90-1-8 Date of Origin:   Item name: Mantrip Description: Mantrip up the Wattis tramway.
	Photo: 90-1-9 Date of Origin: 1920 Item name: Miners Description: Mine rescue team
	Photo: 90-1-10 Date of Origin: 1980's Item name: Miners Description: Plateau Mining Co. mine rescue team with all the latest rescue equipment.
	Photo: 90-1-11 Date of Origin: 1919 Item name: Mining Description: Main fan building at Lion Coal Mine.
	Photo: 90-1-12 Date of Origin: 1940's Item name: Miner Description: Skateboarding down the Lion Coal Co. tramway past the old First Aid Station
	Photo: 90-1-13 Date of Origin: 1980's Item name: Longwall Description: Modern longwall mining, Plateau Mining Co., Wattis, Utah.
	Photo: 90-1-14 Date of Origin: 1952 Item name: Tipple Description: Lion Coal tipple that has been replaced with a new coal handling facility.
	Photo: 90-1-15 Date of Origin: 1930's Item name: Coal Description: Cutting coal getting ready to blast
	Photo: 90-1-16 Date of Origin: 1930" Item name: Coal Description: Old time lodading machine.
	Photo: 90-1-17 Date of Origin: 1930's Item name: Mining Description: Preparing face of mine, drilling holes for dynamite to blast
	Photo: 90-1-18 Date of Origin:   Item name: mine Equipment Description: Transporting coal from mine on shuttle car.
	Photo: 90-1-19 Date of Origin:   Item name: Tramway Description: Lower section of the Lion Coal tramway, Wattis, Utah.
	Photo: 90-1-20 Date of Origin:   Item name: Loading Coal Description: First coal loaded by Plateau Mining Co.
	Photo: 90-1-21 Date of Origin:   Item name: Mining Description: Men waiting for shift to start at man loading station.
	Photo: 90-1-22 Date of Origin:   Item name: Tipple Description: Men standing on tipple.
	Photo: 90-1-23 Date of Origin: 1980's Item name: Plateau Mine Description: Overview of the Plateau tipple and shop at Wattis
	Photo: 90-1-24 Date of Origin:   Item name: Mantrip Description: Mantrip at Plateau mine.
	Photo: 90-1-25 Date of Origin: 1980's Item name: Silo Description: Coal silo at Plateau mine used for storing coal.
	Photo: 90-1-26 Date of Origin:   Item name: Locomotive Description: Locomotive used in mine to pull coal cars out when full.
	Photo: 90-1-27 Date of Origin:   Item name: mining Description: Four miners inside the mine at Wattis
	Photo: 90-1-28 Date of Origin:   Item name: Mining Description: A pillar holding up the roof inside the mine at Wattis.
	Photo: 90-2-1 Date of Origin: 17 Jan 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Railroad loadout & Utah Railway scales
	Photo: 90-2-2 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: This picture shows the manner in which cars are moved by a trackore. Utah Railroad loadout.
	Photo: 90-2-3 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Utah Railroad loadout and scales
	Photo: 90-2-4 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Railroad loadout at Wattis Coal Mine
	Photo: 90-2-5 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Railroad Loadout at Wattis Coal Mine
	Photo: 90-2-6 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Railroad loadout at Wattis Coal Mine
	Photo: 90-2-7 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Railroad loadout at Wattis Coal Mine
	Photo: 90-2-8 Date of Origin: 1947 Item name: Railroad Description: Railroad loadout at Wattis Coal Mine
	Photo: 90-3-1 Date of Origin: 1920's Item name: Mining Camp Description: Wattis Coal mining camp
	Photo: 90-3-2 Date of Origin:   Item name: Town Description: An overview of the town of Wattis showing the homes, the railroad and the loadout.