Payson--First 100 Years--George Chase--27th Mayor

PAYSON–THE FIRST 100 YEARS
Part 29–George Chase–27th Mayor
Payson Historical Society

RACE TRACK LIGHTED — POWER HOUSE BUILT IN PAYSON CANYON

    George Chase became the 27th Mayor in January 1940. These next years brought many advancements to the community.
    The sewer project was nearly finished. C. E. Huish started a cold storage and locker plant. It was operated In connection with the Porter Meat Market.
    The Seminary building was enlarged and remodeled making it one of the finest seminary buildings in the state.
    Aug. 30, 1940 the Commercial Bank of Payson started business in the State Bank Building with P. P. Thomas as president, George C. Chase as vice president and Roy Broadbent as cashier. This meant a great deal to the people. There had not been a bank here since the State Bank closed Jan. 3, 1932.
    For the Home Coming and Onion Days in 1940 the race track was resurfaced. The race track was lighted with 64 giant lights making night horse racing possible. This was the debut of night racing in the state. The lights also made it possible to have entertainments of all kinds at night, such as baseball, football, rodeos, etc.
    A power house was built about three miles up Payson Canyon by the Strawberry Water Users association. It went into operation in 1941. 'I his helped materially with the electric power.
    The United States declared war on Japan, Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese  made a sneak attack upon Pearl Harbor. On December 11 of the same month war was declared with the Axis. Once again the U. S. had to send men and war material across the seas, this time in two directions.