REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--NORTH MAIN CHANGES

     The Payson Historical Society was saddened to announce the passing of one of our most dedicated members, Kenna Holm.  Kenna was a member of the organization for many years.  She had been  serving as the Historical Society Historian.  She will missed.  We will continue posting the columns she wrote several years ago of  her "Remember When" series.  Thanks to this wonderful lady, once again, these articles posted on the Payson Historical Blogspot will rekindle many fond memories for many of our readers and introduced many new ones the the Payson many of us remember.  Kenna's contribution to maintaining the history of Payson will always be treasured

 Remember When
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Kenna Holm - Nebo Reporter

NORTH MAIN CHANGES

    As I was watching the snow come down and watching the traffic here on Main Street in
Payson, I couldn't help but think of all the changes that have been made just here on NorthMain.
From the light north on the corner on the west side of the street by the stop light instead of
a little park area, there was a Car Dealership. As I remember it, it was Snyder Motor Co. It was
operated byBert Snyder. They sold Oldsmobiles and they had a garage in the back ofthe business.
Franz Suter and Ellis Johnson (Steve Johnson’s father) among others were some of the Oldsmobile mechanics that serviced the automobiles for Snyders.  Their business was right out on the sidewalk and the portico came out to the corner. We used to cut through there on our way to church at the 3rd Ward.

    On the East side was Duke Page Chrysler Dealership (which I have written about). Next to Snyder's (who later sold it to Painters) on the north was the old Fairbanks hom

e.  It was torn
down and rebuilt at This is the Place State Park in Salt Lake City. Brigham Young used to stay in
this home when he came through Payson.

   Next was the old tithing house  located  next to the  Third Ward Church. The Tithing House was torn down and the Faribanks home was removed and that area is the parking lot of 3rd Ward.

   Across the  street where Central Bank is now was where our old Nebo Stake Tabernacle stood. Oh, we all hated to see that building torn down but time marches on and we can't keep
hold of everything even though we try. Then further north on Main Street there were just
homes for many years.
    In 1974 a only a little service station called Budget Fuel was constructed where Flying J is now. A new building was built further back on the lot and it has been remodeled and a restaurant called Cobblestone was added to the business. My dad used to call it 'The Rock Pile.  He'd say ,"Let's go have lunch at the Rock Pile". I always got a laugh out of that . The owners changed the name to Fuel America and then it was sold and became Flying J in 1998 and the restaurant became known as The Cookery.
    There was no Motel, McDonalds, Gas and Dash, Payson Market or any other business on
North Main.
    When we first moved to our home at 555 North Main in 1985, there was the old sub station across the street that had been turned into an apartment and then they built the storage sheds behind it. To the North of that was 3 homes. Johnson's, Pulsipher's (who later was sold to Pam and Scott Haney) and King's (who later sold it to Ren and Chris Zeeman).

    In1986 they built McDonald's. I guess we had  moved  up  in this world. I  remember  my little  grandson Brady saying, "Boy Grandma, it's so neat to live right by McDonald's". He was only about 4 and he thought that was fun to be able to walk down to McDonald's with one of us and get a treat.

    Then in 1987, they built Comfort Inn. It was a nice addition to our town. Later Dan Chambers built Dan's Dash Inn (the little gas station and food store)also a Subway Sandwich was
built between Dan's and Comfort Inn.
    They then took out the 3 homes that I mentioned before (which was sad to see go) and started building Payson Market. It was nice to have that big market in this end of town. But with it came more traffic. Then came BlockBuster Video and Checker Auto. With each of these additions, the traffic got heavier and heavier. They did widen the road some but it's still hard to get in and out of our homes besides those that shop trying to get out onto Main Street.
I keep wondering what will come in next. Payson just keeps changing but it's fun to take time to look back and remember when...