Historical Commission Corner

Published on July 28, 2025

How coal miners in Superior were charged to do their jobs

Working conditions in Boulder County coal mines led to many grievances for the miners, which in turn led to the emergence of organized labor, following a pattern happening in many industries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mine workers in the Superior area had the usual concerns: better wages, safer working conditions and a shorter work week. However, they had numerous other complaints, especially those regarding deductions from the miner’s paycheck that would probably surprise us today.

Even though the miners worked for the mine company, they were charged for many of the basic mining supplies. For example, miners were charged for squibs (a type of fuse), fuses, and powder, all of which were used in blasting. They were paid by the weight of the coal they mined, but a fee was deducted to pay the person who weighed their coal. Miners were assessed twenty-five cents a pay period to charge the battery that powered their headlight. One dollar was deducted for a doctor’s fee. Miners had to buy their own picks and shovels, often from the company store at an inflated price.

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) stepped in to organize the colliers in the mines of Erie, our neighbor to the north, in 1890. Over the years many strikes took place throughout the region. The most dramatic was the Long Strike of 1910-1914. Miners in Superior’s Industrial Mine took part in that and other work stoppages. An important landmark related to the labor history of Superior was the Union Hall located on 3rd Avenue just north of Coal Creek Drive, serving as a members’ meeting place and headquarters during strikes. Mining conditions nationwide improved gradually over the years and received a big boost during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The old Superior Union Hall has been gone from Original Town for some time.

Historical Commission news

It’s been the dog days of summer but for the Historical Commission of late, it’s been about a cat. We recently discovered a lost cat taking shelter in the barn at Grasso Park and through some ideal coincidences, we were able to help reunite the kitty to its owner.

Anyway, back to dogs, and working like them, the Historical Commission newly adopted a strategy of meeting once a month just to work on cataloging and organizing our growing collection of artifacts. We have decided to utilize a museum specific software called CatalogIt for the inventorying process. Commission members are finding the museum database option to be very compatible with our needs.

Be sure to come by the Asti Park Historical Museum (110 W. Maple St.) and the Grasso Park Interim Museum (122 E. William St) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 2, to see first-hand the artifacts illustrating the history of Superior.

Did you know that:

Congress passed a law in 1894 making the first Monday in September a legal holiday known as Labor Day?

Miss Josephine Roche, previously head of the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company and namesake of the Oermann/Roche trailhead, was appointed assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury by Franklin Roosevelt? She later served in the administration of the United Mine Workers and was highly regarded by the miners and their families.

On a pleasant day in June of 1895, a well-dressed fellow named Butch Cassidy robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride of over $22,000 dollars? It’s the stuff of legends.

Written by Larry Dorsey, Susan Stanish and Jennifer Garner.

For more information about the Historical Commission and its activities, contact Commission Liaison Jennifer “JG” Garner at 303-499-3675, ext. 167, Commission Co-Chair Larry Dorsey at 303-499-1969, or just click on the “Historical Commission Info” button below.