The village of Alpha, located in the southeastern Iron County in Mastodon Township, began, like many other communities in the county, as a mining settlement.
Although mining activity occurred in Mastodon Township as early as 1882 with the opening
of the Mastodon Mine several miles south of the site that became Alpha, this and other early mining ventures
were short-lived, not surviving the Panic of 1893. No attempt appears to have been made during the
operation of the early mines to establish a real village. Instead, lodging for the miners
was provided by boarding houses at the mine locations.
The village of Alpha, located in the southeastern Iron County in Mastodon Township, began, like many other communities in the county, as a mining settlement.
Although mining activity occurred in Mastodon Township as early as 1882 with the opening
of the Mastodon Mine several miles south of the site that became Alpha, this and other early mining ventures
were short-lived, not surviving the Panic of 1893.
No attempt appears to have been made during the
operation of the early mines to establish a real village. Instead, lodging for the miners
was provided by boarding houses at the mine locations.