Helper Justice Court

Helper owes its start to the coming of the Denver and Rio Grande Western railway between 1881 and 1882. Growth was not rapid; by 1887 the railroad had erected only twenty-seven residences with the idea that the city would develop into a freight terminal. The town’s name was derived from the fact that the railroad employed helper locomotives for trains traveling up the steep grade to Soldier Summit. The town owes much of its growth and prosperity to the immigrants who came fro Southern and Eastern Europe to work in the Coal mines in the surrounding mountains. The price river runs though the town. The Western Mining & Railroad museum is dedicated to telling the story of people who worked in the underground mines between 1880 and 1950. The museum has on display model trains, themed rooms with real artifacts and views of modern working trains. The statue of a miner in front of the civic auditorium also pays homage to the occupation of many of the residents. The city’s swimming pool, parks and five baseball fields for different ages provide for outdoor recreation. There also a nearby fishing pond surrounded by mountains.