SUGAR FACTORY BUILT–PAYSON CITY WATER WORKS BEGAN
by L. Dee Stevenson–Payson Historical Society
*William R. Heaton took over the office of mayor in 1912 and became the sixteenth mayor of the city.. Payson for sometime had been working toward new industries and improvements for the betterment of the community. The years 1912 and 13 saw the starting of some improvements and the completion of others.
School was held in the new high school during the school year 1912-13. The building was dedicated in January, 1913. Previous to this the Central School had served as the high school. Melvin Wilson was the first principal. Heber A. Curtis was the first student body president. Eight graduates received diplomas at the first commencement exercises.
A very new and flourishing industry was the Pay- son Eagle Bottling Works under the management of Mr. Messner and Roe Manwill. They converted the old adobe school house in the fourth ward into a bottling works. The plant was very modern. Two dozen cases could be filled every four minutes. The products were root beer, ginger ale, and soda water of all fruit flavors. They sold to Utah and Juab counties.
A 500 ton sugar factory went into production the fall of 1913. It was built west of Payson. Because of insufficient beet supply it was dismantled in 1940.
Payson was handicapped by its method of obtaining culinary water. Those who could, dug wells, but this water wasn't always pure. In Payson canyon were many springs of good pure water just waiting to be utilized. Beginning this year a reservoir was built at the mouth of the canyon, the water from the springs piped into it, then piped on down to the homes in the city.
Payson was fast becoming known as a fruit growing center. Some of its prominent fruit growers joined the Utah Fruit Growers Association. This gave them a market for their fruit.
During the summer, a fly killing contest and clean up days were sponsored. It proved to be such a success that it was decided to make it an annual event.” *
*Quoted from “The Payson Story” page 17, published by the Payson Centennial Committee, October 1950
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