Primero | |
---|---|
Mining
ghost town | |
Coordinates: 37°08′33″N 104°44′30″W / 37.14250°N 104.74167°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Colorado |
County | Las Animas |
Elevation | 6,814 ft (2,077 m) |
Time zone | UTC-7 ( Mountain (MST)) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
ZIP codes | 81233
[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 194641 [3] |
Primero is a ghost town in Las Animas County, Colorado, United States. [3] The community was a company coal mining town for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company during the early 20th century.
The mining community was one of the first in the region, hence the name. [4] In 1921, the mine employed roughly 275 miners. [5] The town eventually came to contain 175 total buildings, including one Catholic and one Protestant church, a high school, and other amenities. [6] The Protestant church, Union Protestant, was dedicated in April 1917 and hosted cultural events along with worship. [7] [8]
The coal produced at the Primero mine was largely employed in steel manufacturing, including at the CF&I plants at Pueblo–the Minnequa Steel Works–and Segundo. [6] The closing of the steel works had an adverse effect on the demand for coal from the Primero mine, playing a role in the 1921 labor dispute between CF&I miners and the Company. [5] During the duration of its operation, the mine produced 8,177,567 tons of coal. [6]
A post office called Primero was established in 1901, and remained in operation until 1933. [9]
An explosion at the Primero mine killed 75 miners on 31 January 1910. [10] The mine explosion has been cited as a relevant example of the unsafe conditions prevalent in CF&I mines in the years prior to the 1913-1914 Strike. On 8 November 1910, an explosion at the Victor-American Fuel Company mine at Delagua killed 76. Miners from Primero helped for survivors and recover bodies from the rubble. [11]
In September 1913, a strike was called by the independent United Mine Workers of America union against CF&I. Over the next several months, sporadic violence saw deaths, including Primero. The violence escalated to 20 April 1914, when Colorado National Guard and company-supported militia committed the Ludlow Massacre against striking miners, leading to further violence in what is known as the Colorado Coalfield War.
Following the strike, CF&I–helmed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and under the advisory of future Prime Minister of Canada William Lyon Mackenzie King–implemented a series of reforms intended to promote support for the Company. Among these were investments in new town infrastructure in communities owned by CF&I. Among the structures built was a Catholic church, which, until the completion of the nearby Protestant church, housed the liturgies of multiple denominations. [1] [12] Bishop John Henry Tihen, bishop of the Diocese of Denver, visited the church in Primero in May 1921. During the visit, he confirmed 17 children in the town. [13]
During World War I, at least 48 men from Primero joined the United States military. The town also contributed $34,900 ($550,000 in 2015) in liberty bonds during the Third Liberty Loan. [14]
In 1921, a labor dispute over pay changes saw miners strike for several months, from 23 August through November. During the strike–referred to by the Company as a "closure"–saw a large number of the mine's employees leaving Primero. [5] In part, the fight over the wages pertained to whether those at Primero would be represented by their choice of the UMWA–membership of which was then prohibited by CF&I–or the company union that was a part of the Company's Industrial Representation Plan. Ultimate, Colorado's Industrial Commission sided with the company in prohibiting membership to the UMWA and enforcing CF&I's wages that were negotiated with the company union. [15]
The town was depopulated in 1928, and by 1 August 1933 all assets were either sold or dismantled. [6]
Primero | |
---|---|
Mining
ghost town | |
Coordinates: 37°08′33″N 104°44′30″W / 37.14250°N 104.74167°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Colorado |
County | Las Animas |
Elevation | 6,814 ft (2,077 m) |
Time zone | UTC-7 ( Mountain (MST)) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
ZIP codes | 81233
[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 194641 [3] |
Primero is a ghost town in Las Animas County, Colorado, United States. [3] The community was a company coal mining town for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company during the early 20th century.
The mining community was one of the first in the region, hence the name. [4] In 1921, the mine employed roughly 275 miners. [5] The town eventually came to contain 175 total buildings, including one Catholic and one Protestant church, a high school, and other amenities. [6] The Protestant church, Union Protestant, was dedicated in April 1917 and hosted cultural events along with worship. [7] [8]
The coal produced at the Primero mine was largely employed in steel manufacturing, including at the CF&I plants at Pueblo–the Minnequa Steel Works–and Segundo. [6] The closing of the steel works had an adverse effect on the demand for coal from the Primero mine, playing a role in the 1921 labor dispute between CF&I miners and the Company. [5] During the duration of its operation, the mine produced 8,177,567 tons of coal. [6]
A post office called Primero was established in 1901, and remained in operation until 1933. [9]
An explosion at the Primero mine killed 75 miners on 31 January 1910. [10] The mine explosion has been cited as a relevant example of the unsafe conditions prevalent in CF&I mines in the years prior to the 1913-1914 Strike. On 8 November 1910, an explosion at the Victor-American Fuel Company mine at Delagua killed 76. Miners from Primero helped for survivors and recover bodies from the rubble. [11]
In September 1913, a strike was called by the independent United Mine Workers of America union against CF&I. Over the next several months, sporadic violence saw deaths, including Primero. The violence escalated to 20 April 1914, when Colorado National Guard and company-supported militia committed the Ludlow Massacre against striking miners, leading to further violence in what is known as the Colorado Coalfield War.
Following the strike, CF&I–helmed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and under the advisory of future Prime Minister of Canada William Lyon Mackenzie King–implemented a series of reforms intended to promote support for the Company. Among these were investments in new town infrastructure in communities owned by CF&I. Among the structures built was a Catholic church, which, until the completion of the nearby Protestant church, housed the liturgies of multiple denominations. [1] [12] Bishop John Henry Tihen, bishop of the Diocese of Denver, visited the church in Primero in May 1921. During the visit, he confirmed 17 children in the town. [13]
During World War I, at least 48 men from Primero joined the United States military. The town also contributed $34,900 ($550,000 in 2015) in liberty bonds during the Third Liberty Loan. [14]
In 1921, a labor dispute over pay changes saw miners strike for several months, from 23 August through November. During the strike–referred to by the Company as a "closure"–saw a large number of the mine's employees leaving Primero. [5] In part, the fight over the wages pertained to whether those at Primero would be represented by their choice of the UMWA–membership of which was then prohibited by CF&I–or the company union that was a part of the Company's Industrial Representation Plan. Ultimate, Colorado's Industrial Commission sided with the company in prohibiting membership to the UMWA and enforcing CF&I's wages that were negotiated with the company union. [15]
The town was depopulated in 1928, and by 1 August 1933 all assets were either sold or dismantled. [6]