Elmer Larson - Hanna Carpenter
1889-1912: The Butvier Collection from Sally Hafdell and David Eriksson in Sweden
Notes from Bob Leathers
Hanna, Wyoming Coal Camp
In early 1889: the Union Pacific Coal Company hired Swedish carpenters to build the first coal tipples and miner homes in Hanna. Among the first carpenters hired from Sweden was Elmer Larson.
Elmer Larson - he was actually named hjalmar, but he called himself Elmer in America - was born in 1870 and emigrated to America in 1891. We don't know where he lived all those years but probably around Hanna, Wyoming.
He first worked as a carpenter at the coal company and later he became something more than a carpenter, maybe foreman/supervisor or someone with a little more responsibility than a carpenter.
He returned from Hanna, Wyoming to Sweden in 1912 because his wife's father was killed by a bull, therefor they had to take over the farm here in Sweden. They should have sailed with the Titanic home, but of unknown causes they never did.
Hedda Bolin, then married Larson - she was actually named Hedvig, but she called her self Hedda in America - she was born somewhere between 1873-1883 and emigrated to America around 1900 at about 17 years old. She met Elmer Larson in America and they where married there. (David Eriksson, Sweden)
The following images sent to Bob Leathers from Sally Hafdell and David Eriksson in Sweden are truly magnificent. They provide us with new and important details about the history of Hanna.
Elmer Larson
Union Pacific Coal Company's Hanna Coal Camp
Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine in Hanna
Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 Mine in Hanna
More at: Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 2 Underground Mine at Hanna, Wyoming
1906: The blueprint above show the details for a new Dump/Tipple built for the No. 2 mine. The old [original] Dump pictured below ran west to east. The new dump ran north to south.
The original Dump for the No. 2 mine is pictured above in the background.
Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4 Mine in Hanna
Cumberland, Wyoming Coal Camp
One of the places Elmer appears to have been in 1900 was Cumberland, Wyoming. A coal camp in southern Wyoming. Cumberland, Wyoming is located about 15 miles south of Kemmerer on the Uinta County line. It was originally called "Camp Muddy." It consisted of four camps, Cumberland No. 1, Cumberland No. 2, South Cumberland, and Cumberland Gap. It was a coal camp much like Hanna. It was wholly owned by the Union Pacific Coal Company.
Diamondville, Wyoming Coal Camp
Another coal camp Elmer may worked at or visited was Diamondville, Wyoming. 2021: Diamondville still exits today. It is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The Diamondville mine was owned and operated by the Diamond Coal and Coke Company and not the Union Pacific Coal Company. However the Union Pacific Coal Company did own and operate the two Cumberland Mines, No. 1 and No. 2, about 14 miles south of Diamondville.
Silver King Mine
Park City District, Summit County, Utah
Another place Elmer may have worked as a carpenter was the Silver King mine at Park City, Utah. The Silver King Mine was a silver, lead, and zinc mine located in Summit county, Utah at an elevation of 8,199 feet. (Western Mining History)
People and Places
Elmer Larson appears to have moved around during his stay in America. He may of had a connection to a professional photographer during his stay. Elmer's collection of pictures has some awesome images taken in various locations that appear to be in Wyoming, but have not yet been identified.
Elmer Larson's Blue Prints
The Elmer Larson collection of images contains blue prints of mine dumps/tipples, mine buildings and mine houses.