PART - 11--Hyrum Lemon--9th Mayor

    PAYSON–THE FIRST 100 YEARS
    Part 11–Hyrum Lemon–Ninth Mayor
    Payson Historical Society

Reservoir Built--Hand Fire Engine and Hose, Street Sprinkler Purchases

    “At the election in November of 1890,  Hyrun Lemon was elected as the Ninth Mayor to take office.  He took office in January 1891.  The first bank in Payson, the Payson Exchange Savings Bank, started to business on April 29, 1890, but did not get a license to operte until January 1, 1891, and they secured this license from Mayor Lemon.
    From  time to time the people had animamals die, not knowing what to do with them, the city finally purchased three acres from Wallace Chard to be used for this purpose. They also secured ground east of Rocky Ridge from the same purpose.
    Have found at this time,  no date for the first reservoirs built up the canyon. On August 29, 1891,  we find where Reservoir No. 3 was finished. On Sept. 4, 1891,  a reservoir was made of Maple Lake. This helped materially with the water supply for irrigation.
    Not having adequate means for fighting fire,  a hand fire engine and hose was purchased October 31, 1891.   D. E. Sargent was appointed Chief of the Fire Department.  An engine house was built on the City Hall grounds and an iron fence was put around the City Hall Property.
    In June 1892,  it was decided to organize a fire department.  The rules being: first, having an organization consisting of twenty men; second, furnish each man with one hat, one red woolen shirt and one belt; third, furnish the department with pick axe, speaking trumpet -and two lanterns; fourth, each fire fighter be allowed 50 cents per hour when on duty at fires and when called out by authority of the council; fifth, buy a light hose cart so men would have means of transporting the hose to the fire. This cart was bought Sept. 10, 1892.
    In 1893 the streets of Payson were named and Daniel Stark was hired to make a Plat of Payson City.
    In April of 1893, 149 Lombarda Poplar and 40 Locust trees were planted in the city park and 34 Lombarda Poplar and 46 Locust trees planted in the cemetery. This made a big improvement in each place.
    The business men met with the council and asked for a street sprinkler, the dust being so bad in the roads. The city bought the street sprinkler June 10, 1893. It was up to the people in the sprinkling district to pay for the running of it. In order to fill the sprinkler,  a platform was erected near Simon's old mill, the water was taken out of the creek.
    The electric plant had been in the grist mill but according to the Iliff Herald of February 24, 1892.  Iit was moved to a new brick building just north of Main Street.”*

*Quoted from “The Payson Story” page 12, published by the Payson Centennial Committee, October 1950