by Natalie Tripp

STAFF WRITER

Ophir will emerge from its winter hibernation this weekend with the annual opening of the Ophir Historic District.

The Ophir community created the district just under six years ago in an attempt to preserve the rich mining history in the town by restoring old buildings and homes. This Saturday marks the opening of the third summer season, and a few new attractions have been added to the district since last year.

Those familiar with the district will discover a newly restored ore wagon among the buildings. A shoe shop was also built to house all of the donated equipment from the old shoe shop on Vine Street, and an entire new building has been donated to be converted into an old school house.

Margie Morgan, Ophir Historic District secretary, is thrilled about the new additions.

"The ore wagon was used at the Ophir Hale Mine, and we are lucky to have it," Morgan said. "The school house will be a summer project, and will be restored throughout the season."

Because the entire venue is run by volunteers, all of the restoration on the school house will be completed by local volunteers with money from a Tooele County tourism grant and other donations. The district council is looking for antique school desks or artifacts from 1870 to the early 1900s to place in the school house.

The district also includes three mountain cabins, a post office, jail, caboose and outhouse. All of the homes are original homes built over a hundred years ago, and the post office boasts post office boxes used over 70 years ago. They were salvaged after the original post office burned to the ground.

For Sharon St. Claire, Ophir Historic District chairperson, the district is more than just a tourist attraction.

"There's not too many places that people can go in our mountains that aren't private property," St. Claire said. "This a chance to get outside in the elements too."

The district was also able to add a public restroom to the venue built by volunteers with funds from the grant.

While Ophir is not the bustling mining town it used to be, St. Claire wants the county to understand the importance of Ophir's history.

"Ophir was a big part of Tooele County when it was a mining town," St. Claire said. "Many of the families that lived in Ophir just relocated to Tooele or Grantsville. The heritage lives on."

The district will be open for guided tours from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday for the opening day celebration. There is no charge to tour the district, and light refreshments will be served. The district will stay open every Saturday for the rest of the summer, and will be open on weekdays by appointment.

"For those people who haven't been up to see a mining town before, this will be a wonderful experience," Morgan said.

ntripp@tooeletranscript.com