Payson First 100 Years--Part 9--James Finlayson

Opera  House Built — Justin A. Loveless Manufactured Horse Collars

            “James Finlayson was elected Seventh Mayor in 1883. He was in for two terms.

            Seeing the need for a jail occasionally, one of modern style was built to the northwest of the City Hall in 1883.

            The Presbyterians had been using the Long hall for their church and school. On November 2, 1883 they dedicated their own Chapel, also built a parson- L age of seven rooms. This parsonage was occupied by the pastor and his family Oct. 24 of the same year. In August, 1884, the Presbytery of Utah met at this place and organized the Presbyterian Church of Pay- son with nine members. David Hone was ordained the ruling elder for one year.

            The people of Payson could that another school was necessary for their children. January, 1883

they held a mass meeting and assessed themselves a 2 percent tax and chose nine persons as a committee to choose a plan of a house suitable to meet the need. J. L. Townsend was appointed architect. The work progressed as far as the roof the first year and two large rooms were finished the next year. Seated with Victor Patent Lock Desks, accommodating 160 pupils, school opened Jan. 1885 under the direction of Professor A. C. Smyth and C. W. Wright. The upper story consisting of two large rooms, with sliding doors for partition, so they could be made into one large room, also class rooms, teachers offices, and cloak room. This was called the Central School.

            Seeing a need for a larger place to hold dances and dramatic presentations, a company was organized May 20, 1882 to build an opera house. Those on the committee were: President John J. McClellan; vice-president John Betts; directors James H. Memmott, Solomon Hancock, Samuel W. McClellan; secretary, Samuel Worsencroft; and treasurer, George W. Hancock. The building was finished with 507 opera chairs. The play "The Green Bushes" was put on by local talent at the opening June 22, 1883.

            It is said that the first piano used for dances was in the Hancock Hall in 1885 and that John Badham was the pianist.

            According to the Payson Enterprise of Jan. 1, 1892, George Todd and Co., with Justin A. Loveless as Junior member, commenced the manufacture of horse collars in 1886. They were the first to establish this industry in Utah Territory.”*

*Quoted from “The Payson Story” page 10, published by the Payson Centennial Co