Site: Piedmont
Alternate Names: Byrne
County, State: Uinta County, Wyoming
Years of Occupation: 1867-1940
Status of Site: Open
Classification: Class 3 - Abandoned Town
Type: Railroad/Industrial/Logging
Remnants: A dozen building remnants in various states of decay. 3 well preserved charcoal kilns north of town.
GPS Coordinate: 41.2169° N, 110.6255° W
NRHP Reference#: 71000894
Date of Last Visit: 8/25/13
Charcoal Kilns
Piedmont was an impulsive visit for me, I had seen the name pop up a time or two but never made the time to get there. Fast forward to this year the the ExpeditionUtah Relic Run would have us ending near Fort Bridger and Piedmont. I just had to get there to check it out!
Town Buildings
The town got its start as Byrne, Wyoming in 1867 supplying railroad timbers to the Union Pacific Railroad for the nearby Transcontinental Rail Road project. In 1868 the town became an official railroad siding, providing much needed helper engines, fuel and water to push the train up the nearby grades. The rail road tie business brought way to the logging industry and in 1877 original settler Moses Byrne constructed 5 charcoal kilns just north of town. The kilns provided much needed fuel for the Union Pacific passenger cars as well as the pioneers in the Utah Valley. The town was in its prime, industry was thriving and the town was growing. Soldiers from nearby Fort Bridger would make the short trek to town for its saloons and travelers in the area could all count in its mercantile as a reliable resupply.
Town Buildings
In the early 1900's the railroad track was realigned to utilized the newly completed Aspen Tunnel and the long grade out of Piedmont was no longer utilized, leaving the once busy railroad town without a railroad. The local mercantile closed in the early 1940's and most neighboring business didn't last that long. Buildings were salvaged for use elsewhere, those that were left were simply abandoned to the elements. There are no current residents though some lands are utilized by nearby ranching operations.
Town Buildings
The site consists of a half dozen wooden buildings in various states of collapse, none are currently inhabitable. A small cemetery on the eastern edge of the town and 3 of the 5 original charcoal kilns located a short distance to the north of Piedmont town center. The 3 remaining kilns are in remarkable condition and visitors are still welcome to tour around them including walking inside the massive domes. Interpretive signs have been installed at the kilns offering visitors an overview of the kilns operations. The kilns were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 by the Wyoming Recreation Commission.
Further Reading:
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wy/piedmont.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont,_Wyoming
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/71000894.pdf
Directions:
From the west (Utah): Travel along Interstate 80 into Wyoming. Take exit 24 (Leroy) and travel .2 miles. Turn right onto County Road 173 (Piedmont Road) and continue for 7.5 miles. First site of the town will be the 3 charcoal kiln on the east side of the road, the main town center is a few blocks further south along CR 173.
Additional Pictures:
Interpretive Signs
Interpretive Signs
Interpretive Signs
Interpretive Signs
Alternate Names: Byrne
County, State: Uinta County, Wyoming
Years of Occupation: 1867-1940
Status of Site: Open
Classification: Class 3 - Abandoned Town
Type: Railroad/Industrial/Logging
Remnants: A dozen building remnants in various states of decay. 3 well preserved charcoal kilns north of town.
GPS Coordinate: 41.2169° N, 110.6255° W
NRHP Reference#: 71000894
Date of Last Visit: 8/25/13
Charcoal Kilns
Piedmont was an impulsive visit for me, I had seen the name pop up a time or two but never made the time to get there. Fast forward to this year the the ExpeditionUtah Relic Run would have us ending near Fort Bridger and Piedmont. I just had to get there to check it out!
Town Buildings
The town got its start as Byrne, Wyoming in 1867 supplying railroad timbers to the Union Pacific Railroad for the nearby Transcontinental Rail Road project. In 1868 the town became an official railroad siding, providing much needed helper engines, fuel and water to push the train up the nearby grades. The rail road tie business brought way to the logging industry and in 1877 original settler Moses Byrne constructed 5 charcoal kilns just north of town. The kilns provided much needed fuel for the Union Pacific passenger cars as well as the pioneers in the Utah Valley. The town was in its prime, industry was thriving and the town was growing. Soldiers from nearby Fort Bridger would make the short trek to town for its saloons and travelers in the area could all count in its mercantile as a reliable resupply.
Town Buildings
In the early 1900's the railroad track was realigned to utilized the newly completed Aspen Tunnel and the long grade out of Piedmont was no longer utilized, leaving the once busy railroad town without a railroad. The local mercantile closed in the early 1940's and most neighboring business didn't last that long. Buildings were salvaged for use elsewhere, those that were left were simply abandoned to the elements. There are no current residents though some lands are utilized by nearby ranching operations.
Town Buildings
The site consists of a half dozen wooden buildings in various states of collapse, none are currently inhabitable. A small cemetery on the eastern edge of the town and 3 of the 5 original charcoal kilns located a short distance to the north of Piedmont town center. The 3 remaining kilns are in remarkable condition and visitors are still welcome to tour around them including walking inside the massive domes. Interpretive signs have been installed at the kilns offering visitors an overview of the kilns operations. The kilns were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 by the Wyoming Recreation Commission.
Further Reading:
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wy/piedmont.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont,_Wyoming
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/71000894.pdf
Directions:
From the west (Utah): Travel along Interstate 80 into Wyoming. Take exit 24 (Leroy) and travel .2 miles. Turn right onto County Road 173 (Piedmont Road) and continue for 7.5 miles. First site of the town will be the 3 charcoal kiln on the east side of the road, the main town center is a few blocks further south along CR 173.
Additional Pictures:
Interpretive Signs
Interpretive Signs
Interpretive Signs
Interpretive Signs
