PHOTO OF THE DAY--SANFORD WILSON HOME (RIGBY MORTUARY)

SANFORD WILSON HOME

Sanford Wilson operated the Modern Pharmacy at the southwest corner of Utah Avenue and Main Street.  His wife, Cad Wilson operated Wilson Millinery Shop that would later become Wilson Style Shoppe.  The purchased the home at 210 South Main from a Dr Griggs.  After he left Payson he relocated to Chicago.  The home was later purchased by Deseret Mortuary.  Later, one of the associates, Walter Rigby, purchased the home and operated it as Rigby Mortuary for many years.  He and his family lived in the upstairs apartment.

PHOTO OF THE DAY--SANFORD WILSON HOME (RIGBY MORTUARY)

SANFORD WILSON HOME

Sanford Wilson operated the Modern Pharmacy at the southwest corner of Utah Avenue and Main Street.  His wife, Cad Wilson operated Wilson Millinery Shop that would later become Wilson Style Shoppe.  The purchased the home at 210 South Main from a Dr Griggs.  After he left Payson he relocated to Chicago.  The home was later purchased by Deseret Mortuary.  Later, one of the associates, Walter Rigby, purchased the home and operated it as Rigby Mortuary for many years.  He and his family lived in the upstairs apartment.

REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--OLD PAYSON HOSPITAL

Remember When
Thursday, March 26, 2009
KennaHolm
Memories of the Old Payson City Hospital

I've been thinking of all the things that are so different now than they were many years ago. For instance, my hospital bill came this week for my four days stay in the hospital. It about put me back in as I hyperventilated reading it. Then I talked my husband into looking back in some of his things he seems to hold on to (he's a pack rat) like old hospital bills and check stubs and etc. (by the way it is fun to look back over those things and have a good laugh). We had our daughter Vicki's receipt from having an appendectomy in 1972 and her four days in the hospital
was $147 compared to my four days that was $3,361.50. OUCH!

 Another receipt where our youngest daughter Rebecca had an ER visit that cost all of $3.50 for the ER room. Those were the days when our insurance paid 100%. None of this 80/20. Our babies cost $50. to the doctor. And there were no computers. Everything was written by hand or with a typewriter. Not nearly as fast as it is today.
 I remember the hospital administrator wore many different hats. He not only run the hospital but he took the x-rays and helped all around. The first administrator I remember was George Cheever Sr. and the

n Harold Harmer. I remember that Mr. Cheever also did the x-rays at that time too. They had to be minute men and know how to do everything.


 The nurses then all wore bright white dresses or uniforms and the head RN's wore their nurses cap all starched and proper. They also wore white nylons and shoes.  I'm not sure I remember if there was a PA system or not. Maybe the hospital was small enough they could just yell or phone the other end.
 As I lay in the hospital up here, all the calls that came over the PA were for people I didn't even know. In the old hospital it used to be calls for Peg Butler, Jeanne Lofgran, Jerry Wilson. And then there were the few doctors we had  like Dr. Oldroyd, Dr. Max Stewart,  Dr. Curtis, Dr. LD Stewart and then Dr. Hall and Dr. Brockbank and Dr. Hogan. Now there are so many different doctors that it's hard to keep up with all of them. Those  were the days we had one doctor that did it all. Now there's a different doctor for every part on your body. But we have some excellent doctors now as we did back then.  
  In those days there were specific visiting hours...3 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 8 p.m. No exceptions and now it's anytime with no restrictions. Children under 14 were not allowed in the hospital to visit. Now it doesn't matter the age of the visitor.  We then had three labor rooms for mothers-to-be and one delivery unless it is for a C-section.   Now they have birthing rooms.   Lot of changes over the years.
 I did miss the wonderful back rubs that the nurses used to give you at night with lotion,  they felt so good.  The nurses would come in in the morning and while you showered or had your bed bath.   They changed the linen  on your bed.  They put crisp clean white sheets on and they were made with such tight corners and very neat. 
 Don't you sometimes just like to sit back and remember when.....

PHOTOS OF THE DAY--HUISH THEATER

HUISH THEATER

OPENING NIGHT OF THE THEATER IN APRIL 1949

            The Huish Theater opened on April 27, 1949.  The first movie shown in the theater was “Mother Was a Freshman” starring Loretta Young.  The Huish had been constructed in memory of Charles E. Huish, a Payson native, who had planned to build the theater before his death in 1948.  The theater had a seating capacity of 830 and boasted all the most modern equipment.  Huish Enterprises also owned the Star Theater which had been in operation in Payson for the previous 25 years.  Mr. Huish owned numerous other theaters by the name of Star in south-central Utah.

MURAL LOCATED IN FOYER OF THEATER--CENTER MURAL SHOWS PAYSON LOOKING FROM WEST MOUNTAIN AND THE ONES ON EACH SIDE ARE THE PAYSON LAKES       

   The theater chain’s name was changed to Huish-Gilhool Enterprises when Mr. Huish’s son-in-law took over operation of the theater organization.  Eugene “Gene” Braithwaite was the manager of both the Star and Huish
    

THE THEATER WHEN THE MC FADDENS OPERATED IT FROM 1966 TO 1980

        In the fall of 1966, Sam and Dorothy McFadden leased the theater and it reopened in October of 1966.  Mr. McFadden had retired as the Western Regional Manager of Columbia Pictures.  Mrs. McFadden had  operated a screening room for theater bookers many years before in Portland, Oregon.  They had always wanted to operate their own theater for many years.
            The McFaddens operated the theater for six days a week and closed on Sundays.  They also initiated the Tuesday Ladies Night.  On this night, a lady would be admitted free with each paid adult admission.  This was very popular with the residents of Payson and the surrounding area.  The McFaddens were a well-accepted addition the Payson business community.
            When Mr. McFadden passed away in 1972, Mrs. McFadden continued operation of the theater.  She  operated  the theater until early 1980 when she retired.
            Harold and Vilda Erickson took over the operation of the theater when Mrs. McFadden retired.  Mr. Erickson had done much maintenance work on the theater equipment in many of the Huish-Gilhool theaters.  They operated the theater for a number of years following many of the same polices that had started with the McFaddens.
            After the death of Mr. Gilhool, his family then placed the theater for sale.  Paul and Bunny Mower, also Payson residents, purchased the theater.  They updated and remodeled much of the interior area of the building.  They successfully operated the theater for a number of years before they decided to close and move to Arizona.
     

THE THEATER AS IT APPEARED AFTER THE FINAL CLOSING

     For many years, community members have recognized and discussed the need for an auditorium facility where quality theatrical productions, concerts, dance productions and other live performances could be offered. The dream has been to develop a facility where the talents of local performers could be showcased and the understanding and appreciation of quality arts could be extended to all people.  Dr. Gordon Taylor had the vision to see the possibilities of such a  facility and purchased the Huish Theater to see that vision becomes a reality.
            Because no appropriate facility currently existed in Payson, local citizens of all ages have been missing opportunities to enjoy, explore and learn from the arts in our community. Some of our residents are able to attend live performances at other venues in our region but a large number of our local children and adults have not had the opportunity to experience live performances beyond local school and church activities. So the "dream" for many years has been to have an auditorium and theater facility where everyone can know the joy, beauty and enrichment that the performing arts offer.  Currently the Payson Community Theater and various other organizations have had to utilize other facilities for their productions each year.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY--HUISH THEATER

HUISH THEATER

OPENING NIGHT OF THE THEATER IN APRIL 1949

            The Huish Theater opened on April 27, 1949.  The first movie shown in the theater was “Mother Was a Freshman” starring Loretta Young.  The Huish had been constructed in memory of Charles E. Huish, a Payson native, who had planned to build the theater before his death in 1948.  The theater had a seating capacity of 830 and boasted all the most modern equipment.  Huish Enterprises also owned the Star Theater which had been in operation in Payson for the previous 25 years.  Mr. Huish owned numerous other theaters by the name of Star in south-central Utah.
 

MURAL LOCATED IN FOYER OF THEATER--CENTER MURAL SHOWS PAYSON LOOKING FROM WEST MOUNTAIN AND THE ONES ON EACH SIDE ARE THE PAYSON LAKES       

   The theater chain’s name was changed to Huish-Gilhool Enterprises when Mr. Huish’s son-in-law took over operation of the theater organization.  Eugene “Gene” Braithwaite was the manager of both the Star and Huish
    

THE THEATER WHEN THE MC FADDENS OPERATED IT FROM 1966 TO 1980

        In the fall of 1966, Sam and Dorothy McFadden leased the theater and it reopened in October of 1966.  Mr. McFadden had retired as the Western Regional Manager of Columbia Pictures.  Mrs. McFadden had  operated a screening room for theater bookers many years before in Portland, Oregon.  They had always wanted to operate their own theater for many years.
            The McFaddens operated the theater for six days a week and closed on Sundays.  They also initiated the Tuesday Ladies Night.  On this night, a lady would be admitted free with each paid adult admission.  This was very popular with the residents of Payson and the surrounding area.  The McFaddens were a well-accepted addition the Payson business community.
            When Mr. McFadden passed away in 1972, Mrs. McFadden continued operation of the theater.  She  operated  the theater until early 1980 when she retired.
            Harold and Vilda Erickson took over the operation of the theater when Mrs. McFadden retired.  Mr. Erickson had done much maintenance work on the theater equipment in many of the Huish-Gilhool theaters.  They operated the theater for a number of years following many of the same polices that had started with the McFaddens.
            After the death of Mr. Gilhool, his family then placed the theater for sale.  Paul and Bunny Mower, also Payson residents, purchased the theater.  They updated and remodeled much of the interior area of the building.  They successfully operated the theater for a number of years before they decided to close and move to Arizona.
      

THE THEATER AS IT APPEARED AFTER THE FINAL CLOSING

     For many years, community members have recognized and discussed the need for an auditorium facility where quality theatrical productions, concerts, dance productions and other live performances could be offered. The dream has been to develop a facility where the talents of local performers could be showcased and the understanding and appreciation of quality arts could be extended to all people.  Dr. Gordon Taylor had the vision to see the possibilities of such a  facility and purchased the Huish Theater to see that vision becomes a reality.
            Because no appropriate facility currently existed in Payson, local citizens of all ages have been missing opportunities to enjoy, explore and learn from the arts in our community. Some of our residents are able to attend live performances at other venues in our region but a large number of our local children and adults have not had the opportunity to experience live performances beyond local school and church activities. So the "dream" for many years has been to have an auditorium and theater facility where everyone can know the joy, beauty and enrichment that the performing arts offer.  Currently the Payson Community Theater and various other organizations have had to utilize other facilities for their productions each year.

Theaters until the Star closed in 1953.  It was later demolished in 1956.  Mr. Braithwaite continued as the manager until the Huish Theater was closed in 1966.

REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--MENDENHALL'S MARKET

REMEMBER WHEN....
Thursday, March 19, 2008
Kenna Holm

MENDENHALL’S MARKET

     I've had several ask me to do a story on the old Mendenhall's Market. I did touch on that once but not in detail so this week I want to wander back in time to a little store on 300 West Utah Avenue.  When I first remember it, it was Mrs. Smith store. She was the mother of Gladys Wilson (of the Gladstan Golf Course). She was a tiny little lady and seemed really old to me when I was little (She was probably at least 60). She had a little pot belly stove in the store. The store was just tiny narrow little store but she carried a lot of different grocery items. She lived in the back of the store in a little apartment. Her daughter Gladys was there to help her a lot. I don't remember her carrying a lot of penny candy like the Mendenhall's did later.
     Rex and Harriett Mendenhall lived in Orem and Rex had a couple of sisters here in Payson by the name of Thelma Taylor. (mother of the late Beverly Evans) and Gladys Clayson (mother of Clark Clayson, the school principal).
     In 1948, Rex and Harriett was on there way over to see his sister, Thelma,  and was driving West on Utah Avenue  when they noticed a 'For Rent' sign int he window of a little store on 300 West Utah Avenue.  They decided to stop and see what it was about and low and behold they decided to rent the store.
 

   They moved into the back of the store in the little apartment. They only had one child then, Jane (Tuckett) and Harriett was expecting their second child, Robert (who became known as Tuna).
      Over  a  matter  of time  they enlarged the store and added a lot more merchandise.  All the  kids loved  going there because they had such a great variety of penny candy. (yes-there used to be penny candy to buy, not like now where a .89 cent bar looks like the 5 cent ones then).
      As kids, we used to take pop bottles in and we got 3 cents for each bottle and we could buy the candy we wanted. Rex had little brown paper bags (tiny ones) that he would put your candy in.
      They always had a screen door so in the summer they could keep the door open. (no fancy
doors--just a plain front door with four little windows in it)  The store sat right up to the sidewalk and all the kids would ride their bikes there and just drop them in front and it would be hard for people who might be walking down the sidewalk to get past. The kids loved going there. Rex was so kind and patient with them. He would let them come around the counter and pick out the candy they wanted.
      His sister Thelma worked there and was a pleasant lady. I just loved her. It was so handyto have their market close by. Theycarried just about everything. You could even run up there and go in in your housecoat. (unheard of now).
      In 1952, they bought a home on North Main Street and moved their little family there and then used the apartment where they had lived as a storage area.  They later bought a home on South Main that had been owned by Ralph Wilson for many years.  It was later torn down when Park View School was remodeled and enlarged.
      My brother’s kids, who both lived in Orem,  loved to come visit their Grandpa and Grandma because my dad would give them a dime or quarter and they would make a beeline for Mendenhall's to get their little bag of candy. That's one of the memories all of them have of coming to Payson to visit my folks.
      In those days all the soda pop was in bottles and Harriett kept their cooler so cold that the drinks would just about be slushy when you popped the lid, Oh they were good ! You never saw Rex without his white apron on working at the store. Later on they opened a market in Santaquin and Rex ran it while Harriett took care of the Payson store.  Rex got cancer and passed away which left a big job for Harriett. In time she sold the businesses.
      Now asI ride downUtah Avenue and see the spot where Mendenhall's store used to be, I get this nostalgic feeling and wished it was still there. It looks beautiful with the lawn and trees but it's nice to think back and remember when....
        

PHOTO OF THE DAY--EARLY CITY HALL AND JAIL

CITY HALL AND JAIL

     In 1870 the first brick building was constructed on the west side of Telegraph Street  between West Jog Street and South Street.  In today’s address system that would be Main Street between 200 and 300 South.  The plans for the new two story building were drawn by Jesse Finlayson.
     The building was utilized as a City Hall with offices for the mayor, city council and a court room on the main floor.  There was a jail located in one corner of the basement.  Later a separate building was constructed just north of the city hall to house the jail.  The second floor of the City Hall was used for dances, weddings, and suppers of a public nature.
     In 1873 the first high school south of Salt Lake City was established in Payson by J. L. Townsend.  It was located on the upper floor of the City Hall.  The school closed in 1875 when the Brigham Young Academy opened in Provo.
     In 1896 a belfry was added and a bell was sounded as a curfew at 9:00 PM each night.  The bell was also used as a fire alarm.  The building was demolished in 1925 when Nebo School District purchased the property as a location to construct a new junior high school in Payson.

PHOTO OF THE DAY--OREM RAILROAD STATION--PAYSON

OREM RAILROAD--PAYSON STATION

The Orem Railroad was complete to Payson in May of 1916.  There was a duel celebration held that month to recognize the completion of the Orem Railroad line and the Strawberry Highline Canal Project.  The Payson Station was located approximately where we find the parking lot of the Crest General Store today.  George A. Cheever was the station master during most of the time the railroad was located and operated in Payson until 1946 when service was discontinued.

REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--UTAH POULTRY AND NELSON RICKS CREAMERY

REMEMBER WHEN
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Kenna Holm
  
CREAMERY AND POULTRY PLANT

     I’ve been thinking about Payson Main Street and really longing for the old days when we
could park in town and do all of our shopping. I’d much rather had that than all the big stores. It was
where you could pass anyone on the street and stop and visit because we knew everyone in town.
Remember the old creamery? It was on the corner of Main and First South where Finch’s
have their new business and where Daley’s Surveying and before that Olson’s Garden Shop.  I
remember going in there with my dad and I hated the smell of all that cream and milk. Yuk! I
remembered some things about it but I called Kenneth Shepherd and got a lot of information from
him since his dad managed the business.

     It seems at that time, everyone had cows and chickens and they would come into townandbringtheircream and eggs to get money to go shopping. They would take the eggs to the poultry and the cream into the creamery.
      The farmers would do the milking and bring the milk in to set and let the cream rise and
then skim the cream off. They then came into town and would drop off their buckets of cream. Ivan Shepherd (Ken’s dad) would then sample each container of cream and analyze it for the butter fat content.  The people would then get paid according to the butter fat that was in their cream. This was usually on a Saturday and the people would come to town all dressed up so they could get their money from the eggs and cream and go to Safeway’s Grocery Store across the street and do their grocery shopping. In those days, everyone dressed up to go into town.
     Ken said he remembers playing out to the west of the building  by the creek that runs behind it.  His brothers C.H. and Rex would come after school and help their dad. They would wash the milk cans and have them ready to give back to the farmers.
     I could remember the cement floor and the drain in it. Ken said that one corner of the building had burlap hanging and water running to keep the cream and milk cool. They would then send the milk to Salt Lake headquarters of Nelson Ricks Creamery which was Banquet Butter.
     They would send cream also to Spanish Fork and Aurora to be made into cheese. The cheese factory in Spanish Fork was West of the old World Drug Store.
     There was an old coal heater in the middle of the building and everyone would stand around and visit while Ivan tested and wrote everything down.
     Ken also mentioned that Eldon Tew had a shoe repair in the East side of the building in the 1940's and he sold pennycandy. Of course kids would always remember the candy. That was when you got your money’s worth for a penny. Right?
     The creamery was closed in the1950s and Ivan went to Spanish Fork and worked for a while and he also went to Aurora. He took a small trailer down and would stay in it during the week and then come home on the weekend. He did that until he retired.
     I tried to find a picture of the old creamery but none was to be found.
     The Payson Poultry was behind where the Huish Theatre building is now. It was about on the parking lots of the One Man Band and the bank. There was a house (that s just been torn down in the last few years ) that sat right next to the show house on the north and the Snyder Apartments that set where the One Man Band is now. There was a little lane that turned in between those two buildings and you could drive right up to the poultry. I remember going into town with my dad and he would back up to the loading place and they would place the sacks of whatever he had bought into the trunk of the car.
     Everyone would take their cleaned eggs into the poultry and get paid for them. The workers then took the eggs down stairs and candled them and got them ready to send out.  They were shipped to various stores all over the state and even outside the state. You could also order baby chickens through them. Nearly everyone raised a few chickens.
    
They later changed the name to Intermountain Farmers. They then tore it down and they built a new building where Best Deal Springs is now. It was then called IFA. It finally closed and moved to the Spanish Fork IFA. Fun to remember when isn t it?

Floyd Harmer (former mayor of Payson for many years) was the manager. The men that worked there that I remember were Bud Harmer (Helen Walker’s dad), Spence Mendenhall (Linda Carter’s dad), Ted McBeth (husband of Rhea), Jr. Lundell (JoAnn Bryan’s dad) and I’m sure there are others I can t remember. Bud took over after Floyd died and then Spence Mendenhall went on to be manager.