Joseph A. Berger

One of the best-known and most colorful residents of Copperfield, Utah was Joseph A. Berger, who was often referred to as the “old man with the whiskers” (Davis 1960) and asked by tourists if he was Ernest Hemmingway (Creedon 1962a; Davis 1960). Berger was born June 29, 1889, in Munich, Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1892 as a young child of 2 or 3 years old. Whether he immigrated with both parents, one parent, friends, or relatives is currently unknown (United States Federal Census [Census] 1910, WWI registration 1917/1918; WWII registration 1942). He obtained his United States citizenship sometime between 1892, when he immigrated to the United States, and 1910 (Census 1910). 

Berger arrived in Bingham Canyon sometime before 1910. To support himself, he operated a novelty store, cigar store, and attempted to run a newspaper (Davis 1960; Lloyd 2023a). In 1909, he married Rose E. Peterson in Farmington, Utah (Marriage License Record 1909; Salt Lake Tribune [SLTR] 4 June 1968:25) and the couple was living in Bingham Canyon where Berger worked as an undertaker (Census 1910). In 1915, Berger informed Bingham residents that he was the new director of the Bingham branch of the Eber W. Hall Undertaking Parlor. Touting his 10-years of experience, Berger offered residents of Bingham and Salt Lake City the best services that money could buy (Press Bulletin [PB] 1 January 1915:3). 

Berger takes over the undertaking business in Bingham, 1915 (PB 1 January 1915:3). 

In a 1960 interview, Berger reminisced about burying four of the six men killed by the notorious Rafael Lopez (Davis 1960). One of the victim’s family was unable to raise the funds needed for the burial, so Berger dressed him up in a nice suit and vest, complete with gold watch chain, “plug hat” (e.g. bowler or top hat), and cigar in his mouth. The victim was placed in a coffin in the back of the funeral parlor and admission was charged to those who wanted to see him. Enough money was raised to eventually cover the burial expenses, including flowers (Frazier 1965:285). 

The Lopez incident occurred in November 1913, when Lopez shot and killed Juan Valdez in Highland Boy, Bingham Canyon. Following the killing, Lopez vanished, and an extensive manhunt ensued (Salt Lake Herald-Republican [SLHR] 22 November 1913:2). In January 1914, the manhunt was called off, although Lopez remained at large (Deseret Evening News [DEN] 5 January 1914a:2; DEN 5 January: 1914b:2; Salt Lake Telegram [SLT] 21 November 1914:11). The aftermath of the incident resulted in the death of six men, including Valdez, four posse members (Otto Witbeck, Nephi Jensen, J. Douglas Hulsey and Tom Mandervich), and Bingham Police Chief, J. W. Grant (DEN 5 January: 1914b:2; SLT 21 November 1914:11). Witbeck, Jensen, and Grant were killed by Lopez in an ambush near Utah Lake (SLHR 22 November 1913:1). Following the Utah Lake incident, Lopez returned to Bingham Canyon and took refuge in the Minnie mine. While hauling in materials to smoke Lopez out, Lopez shot and killed Hulsey and Mandervich (SLHR 30 November 1913:12). 

The fate of Lopez remained a mystery until 2003, when Salt Lake County Sheriff Randy Lish finished a multi-year investigation into the Lopez incident. Lish concluded that Lopez was killed by Frank Hamer and other Texas Rangers in a shootout in Del Rio, Texas in 1921 (Hunt 2003; Magna Times [MT] 6 March 2003:3) 

During his 1960 interview, Berger stated that he knew Lopez well, having often shined Lopez’s shoes at his cigar store. Interestingly, since Berger and Lopez had similar statures, the police had Berger wear Lopez’s clothes to aid searchers and witnesses in recognizing Lopez (Davis 1960). For many of the men during this period, passing the time in Bingham Canyon consisted of dancing, drinking, gambling, and gossiping. The Lopez affair certainly gave Bingham residents plenty to talk about for weeks (Davis 1960).

By 1917, if not before, Berger had a home at 270 Hampton Avenue in Salt Lake City. It appears that he was splitting his time between Bingham Canyon and the valley since he was working as a painter for Nelson and Sons in Murray, Utah and he was also operating a pool hall, although he may have given up the work as a painter to run the pool hall (Census 1920; WWI Registration 1917). The pool hall was Berger’s Nest, located on Main Street in Bingham Canyon. Berger, along with Smokey Thomas and Bill Krueger (who were most likely Berger’s business partners) were on hand each night to greet the customers. Amenities included pool tables, a shoeshine stand, soft drinks, hotdogs, punchboards, card games, a popcorn machine, tobacco, and candy. The new craze of the 1920s was the game of Mah Jong and the Nest had tables reserved for enthusiasts, whose games often lasted all night (Creeden 1961b, 1962b). The Berger’s Nest even offered men free Mah Jong lessons (Bingham Press Bulletin [BPB] 8 August 1924:7). Men were the targeted audience, since women were prohibited from entering bars and similar establishments (Davis 1960). This was also the time of Prohibition, so any drinking of alcohol was conducted in secret. 

1924 advertisement for Berger’s Nest (BPB 8 August 1924:7).

It is certain that there are numerous stories that could be told about events that occurred at Berger’s Nest. One such event involved a con man and a punchboard that Berger had set up, with a grand prize of a Ford automobile. The con man had taken a few punches out of the board and took them home. Perhaps the man somehow spliced some numbers together; but in any event, he showed up a few days later with the winning number, much to Berger’s surprise. Berger knew the man was up to no good since few numbers had been punched and it was rumored that he told close friends, “Hell, I haven’t put the winning number in the board yet” (Creedon 1962b:1). It’s unknown who eventually won the Ford, but it is safe to say that the con man was sent packing without the prize. 

Another incident occurred when a passerby heard scuffling inside Berger’s Nest. Upon sticking his head in the door, he spied Berger wrestling with a young man who eventually lost his pants to Berger. The young man owed a bill that he refused to pay, so Berger took the payment in kind. The young man was last seen running up the street in his shirttails (Frazier 1965).

By 1930, Berger had moved to 2716 Alden Street in Salt Lake City, where he lived with his wife, daughter (age19), and son (age 11). The Bergers still owned this house in 1950 (Census 1930, 1940, 1950a, WWII Registration 1942), although Berger had a mailing address, and possibly a room, at the Byrne Hotel in Bingham Canyon (Census 1950b; WWII Registration 1942). It appears he was still dividing his time between the canyon and the valley. 

In November of 1930, Berger opened the Evergreen Gardens with his partner S. L. “Smokey” Thomas in the old Bingham Ballroom (Canyon Hall). The newly remodeled building featured a miniature golf course and booths/tables for the ladies. Other amenities included confectionaries, light lunches, hot lunches, dancing, fountain service, cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco. The Evergreen Gardens was open daily from 5 a. m. to 3 a. m. (Census 1930; Creedon 1961a; Bingham Bulletin [BB] 6 November 1930:3; BB 9 April 1931:3; BB 12 February 1931:8; Davis 1960). 

On April 19, 1939, Berger set off for an expedition down Paradise Canyon in Arizona with seasoned river explorers Dr. Russell. G. Frazier and William Fahrni. The plan was to travel from Jacob Lake in the Kaibab Forest of Arizona to House Top Canyon and descend into Paradise Canyon. The trip was expected to last about a week (BB 21 April 1939:1). The following month, films of the expedition were shown on May 9, 1939, at the Bingham Canyon Masonic Lodge No. 13, an organization of which Berger was a member. Dr. Frazier ran the projector while Berger provided narration (BB 5 May 1939:1). 

Advertisement for Evergreen Gardens 1931 (BB 9 April:3).

During the first Galena Days celebration in 1939 (Bray 2007), Berger served as judge for the Kangaroo court. Beardless men— for it had been declared by the celebration committee that all men over 18 would sport beards— were rounded up by vigilantes and brought before Judge Berger, who would allow the miscreants to go free after paying a small fine. The money gathered through fines was then used to support the celebration (BB 18 August 1939:1; Deseret News [DN] 28 August 1939:6). Past Bingham resident Jim Wilson remembers Berger being Galena Days honorary sheriff and carrying a shotgun. His favorite group to roundup were the tourists (Lloyd 2023b). 

Galena Days Kangaroo Court Tries Beardless Man, 1939. Berger left center with dark jacket, tie, and hat, on his left is Jess Southwell, court clerk, vigilantes in plaid shirts (DN 28 August 1939:6).

Two years later in 1941, Berger was operating a café in Copperfield, Bingham Canyon, across the street from the Kennecott mine observation point. Known as the Combination Bar, it was reported to be the smallest café in the world, having only one stool. When asked how many customers a day he served, he did not know. He mentioned that customers sometimes had to stand in line, but he stated, “we get the hungry ones fed.” The café received little tourist trade since the road that passed in front of the Combination was so narrow that drivers were so focused on maneuvering through the narrow passage that they seldom noticed the businesses that lined the street (Census 1940; SLT 30 July 1941:7). 

When Joe Lugo was 12 years old, he worked for Berger sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning the counter tops, and washing dishes at the Combination Bar. Berger also had him collect all the grasshoppers he could catch. Why might you ask? Berger said he ate them (Lloyd 2023a). Morgan Jones remembers Berger’s famous Hopper Burger (Lloyd 2023c), Those of a curious nature might ask, did the grasshoppers go into the Hopper Burger? 

Joe Berger serving a full house at the Combination Bar (Kimberly 2022).

Advertisement for Joe Berger’s Combination Café/Bar (Bingham Bulletin [BB] 7 June 1940:7).

Closeup of menu hanging on the wall (Kimberly 2022).

Hotel Byrne building with Pan-Hellenic Grocer (Left), Combination Café (Middle) and Mike’s Barber Shop (Right) and Byrne Apartments (Top floor). Orange truck with camper belongs to Berger (Identifications from Bray 2007:152; Lugo photograph 2022). 

During the 1950s, Berger moved on from the Combination Bar to operating a Knick-Knack store in Copperfield (Census 1950b). He appeared on both the 1950 censuses for Salt Lake City and for Copperfield. His wife Rose, daughter (Rose Pruce), and son-in-law (Charles Pruce) were residing at the Salt Lake address, while Berger was listed as a lodger residing in Copperfield. He also served as the Copperfield agent for the Bingham Stage Lines (BB 29 May 1953:4). In 1958, he listed his last classified advertisement offering the following items for sale: bar fixtures, chairs, tables, ice box, souvenirs, and other items. Everything needed to be gone by August 1, 1958 (BB 25 July 1958:4). The reason for the deadline was that Kennecott had bought Berger out (Davis 1960) and all Copperfield residents had until August 1, 1958, to vacate the town to make room for mine expansion (Sargent 1958). It was most likely at this point that Berger decided to retire because, after all, he was 69 years old at this time. 

Berger did a lot of traveling in his homemade camper after leaving Bingham Canyon. His journeys included the dedication of Glen Canyon Dam, the Indianapolis auto races, the Kentucky Derby, and a visit to the Grand Canyon. He was saddened by the impending destruction of Bingham Canyon. Berger stated that it was “… tough to leave Bingham because no matter where my trailer takes me, I’ll make acquaintances, but at my age it’s hard to make real friends again” (Davis 1960). The last home in Bingham was razed in 1972 (Western nd). 

Retired Joe Berger, age 71 (Davis 1960).

As can be seen, Berger was a “Jack-of-all-Trades.” He was also an active participant in community events and was a member of Canyon Lodge #13 of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Kiwanis Club. Berger died of natural cause in a Salt Lake hospital on June 3, 1968, just shy of his 80^th birthday. He was survived by his widow, Rose Elizabeth Peterson Berger, daughter, Rose E. Berger Pruce of Salt Lake City, son, Joseph A. Berger of San Diego, and two sisters, Edna Berger of Staten Island, and Mrs. Charles Berger Fullman of Florida. He was buried at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City (Find a Grave 2009; Salt Lake Tribune [SLTR] 4 June 1968:25)

^*Headstone of Joseph Anthony Berger (Find a Grave 2009).

*Despite the date on the headstone, all documents indicate that Berger was born on June 29,1889, not 1886. The obituary gives a birth date of June 29, 1887, and the date of death as June 2, 1968.