B. F. Ott was the first manager of the Huish Drug that was located at #2 North Main in the Lewis Building which was located on the northeast corner of today’s Main Street and Utah Avenue. He was the manager there from 1903 until 1908. In 1908 the owner’s son, Dave Huish, completed pharmacy school and returned to Payson to manage the store for his father.
Mr. Ott then relocated to Salt Lake City for several years and operated a drug store in that city. He then went east to marry his sweetheart. He made the decision to return to Payson with his new bride. He established B. F. Ott Drug about 1911at #6 North Main just north of the Huish Drug. The building had been constructed in 1898.
He remained in business at that location until 1944. He then leased the drug store to Ralph Daniels of Malad, Idaho. He had worked for the Ott Drug when he was a young man. Mr. Daniels’ father, Rolla Daniels, was a Payson native. Rolla’s father. Orson P. Daniels had been a prominent photographer in the Payson area in the late 1800s
Mr. Daniels operated Daniels’ Drug in the Ott building until 1954 when he moved into the Lewis Building next door. The building had become vacant when City Drug moved into their new store across the street where the Douglass Building had been located.
In 1961, LeRoy Jewett opened a shoe store in the Ott Building and operated in that location for several years.
In 1966, Dawna Stewart opened a new business called The Cloth Shoppe. She operated her business there until 1986. She and her husband purchased the building from the Ott Family a short time after she opened her business.
There was a craft store located in the building for several years after Mrs. Stewart vacated the building. It then remained vacant for several years until Mrs. Stewart leased the building to Russ Brown. He established Memory Lane Photography in the building and later purchased the building from the Stewarts. That business is still flourishing in that location.
#6 North Main has seen many changes in the last 112 years. Many businesses and business neighbors have come and gone, the street has changed from horse and buggy traffic to automobiles but the building still stands proud in its prominent location of Payson Main Street.
B. F. OTT DRUG
Parade Passing by Ott Drug
B. F. Ott Drug
Daniels Drug in Ott Building
City Drug next to Daniels Drug
Clothe Shoppe in Ott building.
Memory Land Photography today is located in the Ott Building
