By Andrew Adams | Posted - May 27, 2017 at 8:09 a.m.

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

CARBON COUNTY—A man’s passion for the past is now part of a bold vision to restore one of Utah’s old mining towns.

Gary DeVincent has always held a deep appreciation for all things vintage and antique, and he said he was instantly attracted to Helper by its historic Main Street.

“It had that true allure of a ghost town,” DeVincent said. “That’s what was appealing.”

Last year, he saw the shuttered gas station at 398 South Main Street and was instantly sold.

“It was beyond what most people think you’d want to restore, but being what it was, it had to be restored,” DeVincent said. “That was the challenge.”

Challenges like restoring the gas station are a hobby for DeVincent, whose replica 1940s era station and workshop remains on display for passersby in American Fork.

“Basically it all started out with the restoration of vintage Harleys and Indians, you know, and cars – but mostly motorcycles,” DeVincent said.

Ultimately, though, the idea of a vintage “museum” of sorts to house his motorcycles led DeVincent onto bigger and bolder projects, like the Helper gas station.

Approaching completion, it features gas pumps and other equipment that are true to their original era.

DeVincent collected all of the antiques sometime over the past 25 years.

“Even 10 years before this, the intent was ‘someday, use it somewhere,’” he said.

Though work remains, DeVincent is eyeing an even more ambitious restoration job just up the road.

He also bought an old, dilapidated hotel that once contained a silent movie theater.

Already, he has undertaken work to showcase the original brick, and he has opened up what once were 11-foot-by-11-foot rooms.

“(The rooms) were getting used back in the Depression era to house people,” DeVincent said.

Where some might see a demolition job, DeVincent sees the perfect opportunity to bring the past into the future.

“I’d love to see a Mexican or Italian restaurant,” he said.

DeVincent is part of a growing number of people to buy up properties in Helper with the intention to renovate and restore them.

“If each person would do their part, this thing can turn around,” he said. “It’s been the mission ever since to methodically clean it up.”

He said he expected bigger things on the horizon in Helper, and encouraged visitors to note the city’s progress during the upcoming Helper Arts & Music festival, Aug. 17-20.

“(There’s a) lot of pride in this town, a lot of history, and you know all of that makes it, you know, exciting to do,” DeVincent said.

×

Photos