The Sampo Coal Company and The Town of Sampo, Wyoming
Page by Bob Leathers with contributions from Gary Milliken
The Sampo Coal Company constructed the town of Sampo in 1908. It started mine development efforts that same year on an eight-foot vein of coal four miles north east of Hanna. The coal mine was the first large scale non Union Pacific Coal Company mine effort in the Hanna area. About twenty men were employed in the first year. The Sampo town and mine were managed and worked primarily by the Finnish population. Joseph Pesola was the superintendent of the mine in 1908. During 1908 and 1909 several openings were made, but good quality coal was not found. The Sampo mine only produced coal in 1910. Coal production was closed by 1911.
The holdings of the Sampo Coal Company are located about five miles north of the town of Hanna. Mr. S. Alawer is in charge as Manager. Several openings have been made, but coal has never been found in paying quantities until the present slope was driven, which is now down about four hundred feet with a parallel man way. Two entries have just been broken off, one running to the north and the other to the south. During the past year 7,539 tons of coal were produced and shipped to Colorado and Nebraska. (1910 State Mine Inspector's Report)
The Sampo mine produced 7,539 tons of coal with 44 employees in 1910. It was the only year coal production was reported to the State of Wyoming. Although no coal was reported to have been produced in Sampo in 1911, the town site of Sampo was surveyed and a town map produced by the office of Turpin and Eldridge, Civil Engineers, Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming in March of 1911. No deaths were found in the Sampo mine.
Sampo Coal Company's Sampo Mine
Sampo Coal Mine (Image from Hanna Basin Museum)
Coal Miners at the Sampo Mine (Image from Hanna Basin Museum)
The Sampo map identified the following miners as once living in the town of Sampo: House 30 Nikolai Huhtala, House 32 Jack P. Niemi, House 34 William E. Hill, House 37 John O. Nikola, House 58 Wm. Nordwall, House 60 Salu Maki, House 123 Aaron Tanttari, House 142 John Hall, House 143 Arvid Ramstrom, House 148 Peter Airaksinen, House 154 John Isaacson, House 156 Kusti Saari, and House 172 Muna Hirsimaki.
Map of Sampo, Carbon County, Wyoming. (Map courtesy of Gary Milliken June, 2016)
Sampo Coal Company's Sampo Mine Map
Map of the Sampo Mine (Map Collection from the Hanna Basin Museum)
2016 June 28: A Visit to Sampo, Wyoming
Bob Leathers and Gary Milliken traveled to Sampo, Wyoming looking for the Sampo Town and Coal Mine. We set out wanting to know where Sampo was located what might still remain there. The enclosed pictures were taken by Bob Leathers at Sampo - one hundred six years after the closing of coal production. The following are our images and notes of what we found and experienced. (Bob Leathers)
Gary Milliken is pictured standing on a house foundation made of native rock in the abandoned coal mining town of Sampo. Gary provided the Hanna Basin Museum Website with directions to the mine site and a map of the town from his milliken family collection. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
a broad view of the Sampo mine site. The town site is located in the area were the picture was taken. The coal spoil pile in the center of the picture is located about fifty yards to the west of the load out foundation made from native rocks. The Union Pacific Railroad bed is located just below the coal spoil pile and runs across the center of the picture. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
A Spoil pile consisting of poor quality coal and rock mark the location of the Sampo Coal Mine. The face of the hill directly behind the Spoil pile was obviously mined at some point in its history. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
The coal loading facility foundation appears to have consisted of 54 piles of native rocks, 3 piles wide and 18 piles long, running down hill from north to south. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
A close view of the coal loading foundation shows the 3 row width of the foundation made from native rock. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
Another view of the coal loading facility foundation. This view is looking up the hill. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
This was one of the largest foundations found at the town site. It was found on the ridge line on the south edge of the town site. According to the map it could have been on Bath House St. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
at the town site Many of the building corner stones are still visible. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
The Sampo town site was relatively junk free. Only a few traces of old cans and a stove could be found. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
The foundation pictured above was discovered on the north side of the town site. It could have been on or near Miner Street. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
Many of the rock foundations are covered with sagebrush making them hard to spot. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
there was very little evidence the town every existed except for some rock foundations and this old metal stove. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
Another house foundation found on the extreme north side of the town site. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
There was very little trash to be found in the area. The town and mine site appear to have been thoroughly cleaned up when the town was abandoned. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)
The RAILROAD BED LEADING TO the SAMPO mine FROM THE MAIN LINE OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. (Bob Leathers, June 2016)