The townsite of former Mount Harris is located on Hwy. 40 between MM 114 and MM 115 between Milner and Hayden, Colorado. The community began to be settled in June 1914 when brothers, George and Byron Harris opened the first mine at the mouth of Bear River Canyon. The Colorado-Utah Coal Co. mine was situated on the south side of the river, and a large conveyor carried coal across the Yampa to the tipple and railroad cars. The Town of Mount Harris became the hub of activity for three additional mining camps: The Victor American Fuel Co., The Pinnacle-Kemmer Co., and Bear River. By 1916 Mount Harris was a nationally recognized model company town. A large sandstone building housed the company offices, a general store, post office, drug store, barbershop and pool hall. Main street also sported three boarding houses, the Colburn Hotel, a church, offices for two doctors, a fire department and a community center for meetings, Saturday night dances and movies. A unique two-level filling station served US 40 from the top floor and Mount Harris residents from the lower floor. By 1920 Mount Harris was not only the largest town in the county with 1,295 residents but boasted a two story outdoor bandstand.

One of the worst mine disasters in Colorado occurred at Mount Harris on January 27, 1942 when a methane gas explosion in the Wadge Tunnel killed 34 miners. Four survived the tragedy. Most of the dead were buried at Hayden because Mount Harris did not have a cemetery. The end of the 1940's and the availability of petroleum brought an end to the need for coal to power locomotives and industrial plants in the east. The Victor American Camp shut down in the early 1950's and on May 20, 1958 the Mount Harris Mine closed. In order to avoid taxes, the company dismanteled the town and auctioned off all the buildings, some of which are still in use throught the county. Only a few sidewalks and foundations remain today.

On August 19, 1990 an Historical Marker was dedicated at the former townsite of Mount Harris by the Mt. Harris Committee Members and the Last Frontier Group.

Source: The Historical Guide to Routt County, copyright 1979 by The Tread of Pioneers Museum.
History of Hayden and West Routt County, 1876 - 1989, copyright 1990 by Curtis Media Corp., Hayden Heritage Center Museum

Photo courtesy of Roger Cusick