REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--ROE'S BAKERY

 Remember When
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Kenna Holm

Roe’s Bakery

    While driving through town recently, I was looking at all the empty buildings we have lining the streets. It made me so sad and I got to thinking back of how busy Payson Main Street was.  One  of  my favorite  places  was  Roe's Bakery. That place has been around so long and now it stands vacant and just a reminder of the better days.  The bakery was actually started in the 1920's but Roe Wilde didn't take it over until  He made everything from scratch and it was so delicious

   Snaff Wood reminded me of all the bakers Roe had trained, him among them.  Snaff said he was wonderful to work for and so many that he trained went on to have their own shops or work for big stores.
    I remember when Roe did the baking and he had a lot of good helpers. The ones I remember best is Larsen Wilde's wife Marsha (she was always so friendly), Teresa, his wife worked there forever, Venita Harmer, Colleen Wilson (she was Teresa's sister),  Shirley Houser and Leila Greenhalgh Houser among others.
  

 Snaff  said  Roe  was  always  a  hard working man and a good man to work for. He also trained his sons in the bakery but I think Garth was the only one to carry the trade on.
    I loved to go in there and then be so confused as to what to buy. Everything always looked  so  good.  I'm  a  fussy pie  eater and  I usually never buy pies from commercial places because I make my own but Roe's had good crust. His pies were delicious.  He made a mean meat pie you could buy with or without gravy. ymm.
     Roe trained Snaff  Wood and he went on to do great things. He started out working for Don's Cafe before he went to Roe's and learned the baking business. He worked over in Hawaii at the BYU Hawaii school and then he came back to Utah and worked in the BYU Food Services and retired from there after 19 1/2 years of service. He was a manager there
     Remember Roe’s  good Date Nut bread. I loved it and it seems you can't find it anymore. Bakery goods were made from scratch which is now almost a thing of the past. Everything comes in pre-done from somewhere--who knows.
I remember his Flatfeet sweet rolls, his Danish rolls were to die for and I could go on and on about the products he produced. Kind of makes your mouth water to think about them.
     Roe supplied Ray’s Market with bakery goods for many years until they built the new Payson Market and they provided their own bakery
    Roe trained many good men. To name a few--there was, Larsen Wilde, Keith Mendenhall, The Mecham brothers, Rex Peery, Darwin Olsen, LaZone Porter and I'm sure there are many more. It was like the Roe's BakerySchool of Learning. He taught them and then they went on to have their own bakeries or to work at a large place.
     Roe was a hard worker, not only at his bakerybut in the cityand his church. He was Bishop of Payson Third Ward. He was actually my Bishop for a few years before they divided the Third, West and Second wards and made the Sixth Ward.
    His motto was "the two best ingredients in a bakery to make the best are 1. Butter and 2. Love.  Roe had a love for his business and he passed it on to his son.

     Roe taught all of his children to work hard. They all helped  in  the  bakery when they were young but Garth is the one who took over the bakery and had a love for it like his dad. Roe and Teressa opened up a  gift  shop  that  was connected to the bakery and called it The Dowry. They carried a lot of beautiful items.
Now the bakery and gift shop stands vacant but isn’t good to remember when?

PAYSON THE FIRST 100 YEARS--FLOYD HARMER--29TH MAYOR PART 2 OF 2

PAYSON–THE FIRST 100 YEARS
Part 32–Floyd Harmer–29th Mayor–Part 2 of 2
Payson Historical Society

WATER WORKS IMPROVED–TELEPHONE SERVICE UPDATED–LEGION HALL DEDICATED

Street markers, sponsored jointly by Payson City, the Lions Club and the Jaycees were placed on each intersection. This makes directions easier to find.
The Cocklebur Riding Club rodeo arena was initiated July 4, 1949. Under lights the youth of the city vied for honors in steer riding, calf roping and novelty races.
The United States Post Office of Payson was moved to larger quarters Oct. 15. It now occupies the building on South Main St. adjacent to the Forsey Variety Store.
Mayor Floyd Harmer was re-elected for the fourth straight term November 8, 1949. This made Payson History, as he became the first mayor to gain the honor. This term will be for  four years, due to a recent change in Payson election law. The only other long termed mayor was Orrawcll Simons. He served three terms, 1867 to 1875.
The new addition to the Taylor School was dedicated December 15 in the new auditorium of the school. The program was under the direction of Nebo School District board of education, with Melvin Wilson conducting. The prayer of dedication was given by Samuel E. Taylor, a former teacher and son of Jesse S. Taylor for whom the school was named.
1950 being Payson's Centennial year, many outstanding entertainments are slated and many improvements started.
The first highway post office in Western United States stopped in Payson Jan. 23, 1950 on its initial run on a regular route from Richfield, Utah to Salt Lake City.
The improvement program of Payson's water works system was started in June. The improvement covers the entire water system, from the springs beyond Payson reservoir thoughout Payson City, replacing pipe lines and flow lines, installing new lines and giving 70 fire hydrants to Payson.
The Payson High School during the school year of 1949-50 helped with the centennial as they won thirteen tropies. A first place trophy was awarded LeRov Bills as best rifleman in the six western states. The Payson high rifle team won first place in state and regional competition as well as a plaque showing Payson as winning team in six state meet of National Rifle Assn.
In speech, Payson High won a sweepstakes award won in a state meet at BYU against 40 other schools.
In athletics the high school won state football, Class B, second place; regional football, first place; state basketball, Class B, second place; regional basketball, first place; regional track, first place; Snow college trek, several regions competing, first place; BYU mile relay, first place; state mile relay, first place; Future Farmers of America basketball, region, first place. The school was also awarded the Moorehead sportsmanship football traveling trophy, Region 3.
Members of Payson Senior High School band under the direction of J. D. Christensen presented a centennial concert May 18, at the tabernacle. Favorite old tunes were played. One number was played by the old Payson Band. William Clayson directed a number and John Done conducted a number, Memorial Park, written by his son, Melvin Done.
District governor of Kiwanis International officially organized a Kiwanis club in Payson June 10. James S. "Sam" McClellan, president of the Payson club accepted the charter from Governor McCune, on behalf of the eight charter members of the club.
The Mountain State Telephone company improved and expanded the local telephone service. This includes increase in rural lines and outside plant facilities to reduce party line congestion. With the completion the toll charge between Spanish Fork and Payson will be eliminated.
The Legion Home was dedicated at an open house June 22, Bill Snyder, Payson Post 48 commander and Mrs. L. D. Stewart of the Legion Auxiliary arranged the program and dedicatory exercises, with Mr. Snyder as master of ceremonies. Bishop Glenn Cowan, Payson Third Ward, himself a Legionaire, gave the dedicatory prayer.
A new city electrical sub-station located on the city property at the old Orem shop area went into operation July 1 at 4:30 p.m.
The Black Hawk encampment was held in Payson August 1-5. The keynote theme carried out in the programs during the five days was Our Pioneers. Some of the outstanding: features were, a pageant written by Kathryn Betts, "Youth's Heritage-Our Yesterdays" a parade, a sham Indian-settlers battle, a sunrise service, where the settlers first camped and each day programs were given by the different posts.
There are two more centennial events scheduled. The annual Onion Days and Homecoming celebration Sept. 4 and the Birthday program and marker celebration in October.

REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--PAGE FURNITURE

Remember When
Thursday, September 11,  2008
Kenna Holm

PAGE FURNITURE

  Page Furniture was established in about 1904 and started out as produce business then they changed  and  started  selling  notions,  stationery, inks, and many other things. They soon added a line of mattresses and then rugs and slowly added furniture.
I was talking to Reid Page, Earl's second son, and he said he first remembers his dad selling china and silver and then adding furniture. He didn't do a lot with the furniture business because he took care of the fruit orchards. They also grew apples and peaches. Their orchards were located where the South Stake and Page Ward building and the homes south of there are now..

 Earl and Lynn in the Carpet Department

  Earl's son Lynn helped him in the store. They were wonderful people to deal with. They had no carrying charges or interest (can you believe buying something with no interest to pay?) They delivered all over for FREE. They went to Eureka, Goshen, Santaquin and Nephi and everywhere in between.
Reid said he would help with deliveries especially at  Christmas Time.
Reid remembers when he was little going down and dusting all the furniture and his dad would give him a nickel which he would then in turn run down to Stan Wilson's A&W root beer stand (where Wee Blu Inn is now) and buy a frosty root beer. A large cup was a nickel and a small cup was just a penny.
People were always honest and would come in and pay 5 or 10 dollars a month on their account and if they didn't have it, Earl would say, "That's okay, Pay next month". (I don't think anyone could get away with that now days).
   Reid also said that several people would come up to the orchard and work so they could pay for their furniture with work.
Earl was a good man. When he got the first radio in, he took it to a family that had 2 or 3 severely handicapped boys so they could enjoy it. The mother of those boys would have to carry the boys on her back and she would take them to the show house so they could enjoy a movie.
There were several who worked over the years for the Pages, Harold Jones, James A Daniels, Earl Walker, Blair Kirby, Bill Wright, and Gary Herbert. I remember Lynn Page and Earl Walker laying carpet for everyone and also Ted Smith.  Earl's wife Reta always did the books. Later when Lynn took over,  his wife Verdene helped in the office.  I bought a lot of my furniture and carpet from Pages and they always did a great job.

 Every year at Onion Days, they would make sure they had a beautiful float in the parade representing the Page Furniture Store.
It was fun to talk to Reid and reminisce with him about the Page Orchard and their Furniture Store. It seems time flies but it's fun to stop once in awhile and remember when..

PAYSON--THE FIRST 100 YEARS--FLOYD HARMER--29TH MAYOR

MAIN STREET WIDENED—POWER STATION BUILT—PARCEL POST DELIVERY

    Floyd Harmer, our twenty-ninth mayor, took the oath of office in January 1944. One of the first concerns of the new council was fire protection. With the growth of the town the present fire apparatus was found inadequate. A new fire truck was bought. With two trucks fire costs were kept down. A resuscitator was also purchased and has saved several lives.
    The Junior Chamber of Commerce was organized June 22, 1944, Leon Wride, president. Since then they have lead out in many worth while enterprises.
    The war continued until 1945. On May 8, Germany surrendered, but it wasn't until August 14, that Japan surrendered. This brought to a close World War II.
    During Homecoming and Onion days in 1945 a Dairy Show was inaugurated and has become a part of the celebration. It is looked forward to by the 4-H boys and the dairy men as much as any part of the celebration.
    The Orem Railroad stopped running in 1946 making way for more modern travel, by bus and automobile.   
    March 22, 1947 work started on the widening of Payson Main Street. The sidewalk on the east side was three feet wider than on the west, so the east side was made the same as the west. The gutters were narrowed, for a distance of two blocks. Main street was then resurfaced for 3 blocks, from Second North to First South, also from First East to First West on Utah Avenue.
    The Payson Flower Club with the aid of the various clubs, Payson City and the community planted 500 roses in the Memorial municipal rose garden on the hospital grounds. The garden was dedicated as a memorial to the veterans of World War II.
    The Payson Jaycees purchased a Deluxe model oxygen tent for the Payson Hospital. They also installed a skeet range, planted trees at the race track to make a wind break and installed a teeter, a swing and a slippery slide at the playgrounds in the park.
    In July, Lee Rindlisbacker and Grant Carlisle, owners of a local dairy, opened a modern plant. They now pasteurize milk, handle butter, cheese, chocolate milk and other dairy products.
    A plaque, in honor of the first settlers, placed on the pioneer cabin in Memorial Park was dedicated Aug. 31, 1947. Mrs. Mary J. McClellan, chairman of the Centennial Daughters of Utah Pioneers committee was in charge of the program. The dedicatory prayer was given by Jasper Hill.
    In May of 1948, behind-the-wheel driver instructions were provided to all sophomores in the Payson High School. The driving course was a follow-up of instructions given in the physical education classes.
    At the close of business on June 30, 1948, the Commercial Banks of Payson, Spanish Fork, Heber City, Nephi and Delta were consolidated into one new banking corporation. It is now known as The Commercial Bank of Utah.
    Starting on Thursday morning, July 1, 1948 the Payson post office started a parcel post route. Parcels to all business houses and residential districts in Payson within the city limits are delivered.
    The Jaycees built a second fire place at Memorial park Aug. 20, just north of the one erected by the Nebo Stake Bee Hive Girls. The city placed concrete pipe to carry the dangerously swift and deep Peteetneet Creek which runs through the picnic area. A small stream was left open. This completed a very picturesque picnic area.
    The American Legion Basketball state tournament was held in Payson on Feb. 23-4-6. There were sixteen all star teams participating. The Payson American Legion Post No. 48 sponsored the tournament.
    The official opening of the Huish Theatre, built in memory of C. E. Huish, Payson native son, was conducted Wednesday, April 27, 1949. A capacity crowd enjoyed the coronation. The seating capacity is 830. This theatre is one of the finest in the state of Utah.

Payson First 100 Years--David Forsey 28th Mayor

PAYSON–THE FIRST 100 YEARS
Part 30–David Forsey–28th Mayor
Payson Historical Society









OILED ROADS — SWIMMING POOL REMODELED



    Thus we go on to 1942 when David Forsey took oath as the 28th mayor of Payson.  The United States had just entered the war the previous month before he took office.
    The sewer project was completed in April. Work then began on oiled roads. The roads had been graveled the fall of 1941 for the preliminary base.  During 1942-43,  eight miles of city streets were oiled. Several miles of new side walk were also put in and rock irrigation carriers were constructed.
    The swimming pool was remodeled to meet standard requirements required by the state. The children of the community once again enjoyed the city  pool on the warm summer days.
    The band stand in the park was too small to accommodate the seating of the band while playing at summer concerts, so a large platform of cement was added to the bandstand to make it large enough to seat the players in the concerts held  each Sunday evening during the summer months.
    The sides of the fish pond in the north west corner of the park were rocked up, the dam and bridge remodeled. This greatly improved the picturesqueness of the pond.  Memorial Park is recognized as one of the most beautiful parks of any city in the country.

REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--MONTE TAYLOR--A PAYSON ICON

Remember When
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Kenna Holm   



Monte Taylor–A Payson Icon

    I can’t think of Payson Onion Days without thinking of Monte Taylor.  He was such an icon.  He not only had his Dixieland Band in the parade but he played at the horse races and put on his own Dixieland band concert and entertained in the park after the parade.    He would then go on and play in the Payson City Band for the band concert.
 

  Let’s roll back and tell the story of Monte because it is quite a story.  He started playing the clarinet at the age of six (six mind you..at six I’m not sure most kids have enough wind to blow one of those things).  He played in his first Payson Onion Days Parade at the age of nine marching with the Payson Band.  He started playing for the Sunday Night Band Concerts then moved up to first chair

which he held from then on.
   Monte was born in Payson in 1929 and was the first child of “Snick” and Helen Taylor.  He had one brother, Dick, who was quite an athlete.  He is now deceased.  He also had two sisters, Carol Herrick, who works at Nebo Credit Union and Jean Rogers, a long time bus driver in Nebo School District.  Both Carol and Jean reside in Payson.  He married Lorna Jeannie Lightfoot and they were the parents of seven children: Vickie, Richard “Diz” (deceased), Jill (deceased), Jackie, Dana, Jody, and Sydney.
    Monte was the manager of the power department at Strawberry Electric for many years.  They lived on 8th West by the current Mt. Nebo Junior High for many years and then they lived at the power plant in Payson Canyon for a number of years until he retired and they built a new home on 300 West.

   Monte started playing with a family band at church socials and then later with different bands in the area at age 17.  Some who he played with were Sherm Loveless (Pat Hill and Brent Loveless’ dad) from Sherm’s Men’s Apparel I wrote about some time ago, Ralph Magliaccio (who owned and run Arrowhead Swimming Pool and dance hall in Benjamin0, Dub Reece and several others.
    In about 1960, he formed his own band called Monte Taylor’s Dixieland Band.  They were terrific.   The played between races on Onion Days, the played in the parade as well as in the park after the parade.  They sat on the bed of a flat bed truck and were dressed in the red and white striped vests and white shirts and played the whole distance of the parade route. The Dixieland music was something that everyone loved to listen to.  His Dixieland Band consisted of Al Payne (now deceased) on the piano, Farrel Huff (also deceased) on the trombone, Alma Willey on the bass horn, Dick Peery (now deceased) on the trumpet and several others including Raydon Madson, who joined at various times over the years.
    They played good old toe-tapping music.  Monte would then change hats and play with the Payson City Band in the band concerts.   WHAT A TALENTED MAN !
Monte really got into his music.  The sweat would just roll off of the man and he would just keep going.

    In about 1988 he received a plaque and was honored for fifty years playing with the Payson City Band at the Sunday Night Band Concerts.  He and his lovely wife were also honored in 1990 as Grand Marshalls for the Onion Days Parade.
    At the age of 55 he had heart problems and had surgery where the put a pig valve in his heart.  At the age of 59, he had to have one of his legs amputated because of blood clots.  That did not slow Monte down at all.  He kept right on playing his clarinet and entertaining everyone at the Sunday concerts on Onion Days even though he was there in a wheel chair.
    It was a sad day on July 12, 1997 when Monte died from a pulmonary embolism at the early age of 67.  He was a genuine icon of Payson Onion Days and it was so fun to look back at his life and what he shared with all of us and remember when...

REMEMBER WHEN FROM THE PAST--PAYSON RACE TRACK

Remember When
August 14, 2008
Kenna Holm

THE PAYSON RACE TRACK

    Payson's Golden Onion Days is just around the corner and I've been thinking back to the "good 'ol days" when everyone looked forward to the celebration and the horse races and all the fun the celebration brought. I miss those horse races. They were the best. It was the drawing card of the celebration.  I had the pleasure of chatting with Terry DeGraw about those days and it was so enjoyable.
    I'd like to take us back to when the celebrations started. Now that was before my time but I wanted to mention how it got started.  In 1929 State officials suggested that to hep the economy in each community they should promote an annual celebration. At that time Dr. LD Stewart was the mayor of Payson and the city leaders tossed a few ideas around as to what to call the celebration. At that time Payson was growing lots of things like, the sugar beets (I remember thinning those) peas, (we loved to chase the wagons that was loaded with peas on their way to the pea vinery) tomatoes, beans, fruits and vegetable of all kinds. It was decided that the onion would be the thing that would be the motif , because the onion crops had just caught on here and so the name of the celebration would be 'Payson Golden Onion Days and Homecoming.  The city built a track and grandstand for horse racing which would be the main featured event of the celebration

   Dr Stewart was a member of the Utah Horsemen's  Assn.  and  he  owned  several outstanding  race  horses.  I remember  his  one horse called Timpanogos that won many races. His stables was down where Tom Provstgaard's home  is  now.  (If  my memory serves  me correctly).
    In 1946 they remodeled the grandstand and enlarged it to hold double of what it had held before. The races were a major attraction. This was actually the  only event  that  charged  in  the  celebration.  That  money went  to  pay for  all  the celebration.  They had parimutuel betting which really brought in large crowds and lots of money to the track. The betting booths were set up on the south side of the grandstand and had people there at the booths taking the bets for people. It was finally stopped by the state officials, but the racing continued.
    Payson came alive on race days and the farmers tried to get their crops in before Labor Day so they could attend the horse races.
    They had paddocks where the betters went to view the race horses before the races so they could pick who they thought would be the winners. Snaff Wood told me he thinks Dick Gray was like the Horse Wisperer and talked to the horses at the paddock.

    At the races, Brig Crane and Dale Wilson were they announcers sometimes along with state announcers. and made the races really exciting with their commentary. Snaff Woods also said he remembers the
kids all used to walk around under the grand stand and pick up the change people would lose out of their pockets.
    Between races they  would have entertainment. They would have great acts.

    Terry DeGraw told me he was in the racing business for about 39 years. He was one who helped start the Racing Association here. There were about 40 members. They built new barns (with the city's approval) and started out with 1 set of barns that held 32 12x12 stalls with 2 tack rooms on each side for the men to hold their saddles and such. Later on theybuilt 4 more sets and had 126 stalls with 4 tack rooms. They rented the stalls and did manythings with the proceeds. They bought their own tractor, starting gate, new paddocks, new pipe railing and helped put a new roof on the grand stand.
    Terry said he was in partnership with Dale Wilson and they went 50/50 on everything. He said Dale was one of the most honest men he knew. (I knew Dale because we lived in the same neighborhood and he had two daughters that would come up and play. They were a great family) Terry said they made it a family affair and it really paid off. He said his kids knew how to work and they have wonderful memories.  Terry won the first Mayors Cup in 1980 when Gary Hansen was mayor. This was only one in many races his horses won .

    The race track and barns were used for so many different things. The kids in 4-H and the high school rodeo kids used the race track .Now they have nowhere to go for their events. They also used the track for the stock car races, the riding clubs used it. I remember my dad playing broom polo. He was a member of the  Cockleburr Riding Club. Dad had a horse that was really meant to be a polo horse. That horse would push right against the opposing horse while dad would hit the ball. It was fun to watch. They had horse pulls where the men would have teams of horses that would pull weight and theywould see which teams could pull the most. My dad always had some winners in that. The school also used the grand stand and field for their football games.
    It's sad that that is all gone. With Onion Days nearly here, I would love to have those horse races back. I like the statement that Terry made. He said "the horses were high powered athletes".
It  was  a  sad day when  they tore  the grandstand, paddocks, horse barns and all down even though there were so many fighting to keep it going and now all we can do is remember when....