Dover, Utah
Ghost town in Utah, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dover is a ghost town located in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The site lies west of Fayette across the Sevier River.
Dover | |
|---|---|
  Dover Location of Dover in Utah  Dover Dover (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 39°12′27″N 111°53′46″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Sanpete |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Abandoned | 1930s |
| Founded by | William Robinson |
| Named after | Dover |
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]
