Dover, Utah

Ghost town in Utah, United States

39°12′27″N 111°53′46″W / 39.20750°N 111.89611°W / 39.20750; -111.89611CountryUnited StatesStateUtahCountySanpeteFounded1877Abandoned1930sFounded byWilliam RobinsonNamed forDover

Dover is a ghost town located in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The site lies west of Fayette across the Sevier River.

The community was named after Dover, in England.^[1]

History

The land was first settled in 1877–1878 by 45 families led by William Robinson. They found the soil was good, but water somewhat scarce. By 1879 they had a schoolhouse, also used for church and civic functions, and a post office, which operated until 1895. There were also two general stores, where residents typically paid for goods in kind with eggs.^[2]

When Utah Territory achieved statehood on January 4, 1896, Dover's celebrations took a tragic turn. They had no cannon to fire, instead exploding some dynamite with a well-driving hammer.^[3] The hammer, which had been through many such celebrations before,^[2] blew apart, injuring several people.^[3]

In the years 1910–1916, irrigation companies in Millard County dammed the Sevier River some distance to the north.^[4] The resulting reservoir, now known as Yuba Reservoir, covered parts of Dover's farmland, driving out some of the residents.^[3] A severe drought in the 1930s finished off the town; a few houses were moved, and most of the others were later torn down.^[2] Nothing remains but some foundations and fallen buildings, and a memorial cemetery.^[5]

References

^ The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Volumes 9-10. 1918. p. 121.
^ ^a ^b ^c Carr, Stephen L. (1986) [June 1972]. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns (3rd ed.). Salt Lake City: Western Epics. p. 101. ISBN 0-914740-30-X.
^ ^a ^b ^c Antrei, Albert C.T.; Roberts, Allen D. (January 1999). A History of Sanpete County (PDF). Utah Centennial County History Series. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Historical Society. pp. 364–365. ISBN 0-913738-42-5. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
^ Antrei, p.372.
^ "Cemetery Database". Utah State History. Utah Department of Community and Culture. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2009.