Welcome to the Primero Scalar Project.

Primero was a coal mine opened in 1901 by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. From the outset, the town was planned to be the model town that exemplified the best CF&I had to offer their workers.  Near Smith Canyon and the Purgatoire river, Primero's first name was Purgatory mine, then became Smith Canyon Mine, and eventually Primero, the Spanish word for first.  Primero had a state accredited high school, grade school, a Y.M.C.A., separate Protestant and Catholic churches, and 175 houses built by the company.The town was short lived however, and was closed in 1928, with all buildings and equipment sold or dismantled by August 1st, 1933. The main goal for the property of Primero was to be a large efficient producer of metallurgical coal. Once the coal was mined out of Primero, it would be shipped to the coke ovens of Segundo. The coal that was produced while the mine operated was 8,177,567 tons total. The mining community was largely developed by the sociological department and was considered to be a model mining town. The community was modernized with the production of modern homes, clubhouses, and schools with a qualified teaching staff. All of these features were meant to further enhance, and maintain a quality of living for the families, and coals miners of Primero. 

Begin exploring the town by clicking any of the buildings in the map below.

Click the arrows to see an overall view of the town.