Payson – Then and Now

Payson Historic District

Specialized Agricultural and Interurban

Railroad Period-1926–1946

PART FIVE

by Cal Reece, Payson Historical Society

The Specialized Agricultural and Interurban Railroad Period represents the second largest group of resources with 120 contributing buildings.  The residential architecture of Payson during this period was very similar to other communities throughout Utah.  The housing constructed during this period varied from transitional bungalows, period revival-style cottages, and World War II era homes.

An excellent example of a transitional bungalow is a brick home located at 170 West 100 South that was built in 1940.  It had an unusual cast-concrete door surround and was occupied by Lucky Pickering and his family. Mr. Pickering was a well-known businessman and artist in Payson for many years.

The two-story house at was built at 111 South 300 East in 1939 us a rare example of the Colonial Rival style.  It was owned and occupied by the Douglas Dixon family for many years.  Mr. Dixon will be remembered as the owner-operator of the Dixon Market that was located on 100 North between Main Street and 100 East

Examples of the Minimal Traditional-style were based on the FHA plans for small homes were developed in the 1930s.  The brick home at 353 North 100 West built in 1945 and a frame sheathed in shingle siding built at 337 North 100 West also built the same year.

There were several notable institutional buildings built during this period.  The Payson Junior High School at 250 South Main was built on the site of the old Payson City Hall.  The school was constructed in 1926.  It was a Jacobethan Revival-style building.

The LDS Church constructed a new church at 225 South 400 East in 1930 and a very similar building at 200 North Main in 1931.  An Art Moderne LDS Church Seminary building was built near the high school at 590 South Main in 1929

This period also noted new construction in the commercial district of the community.  There was a large free-standing furniture store built at 67 North Main in 1935.  It was occupied by the Dixon-Taylor-Russell Furniture Store and was known as DTR.  It was later operated at Spencer Home Furnishing and today is known as Getaway Furniture.

The years following the end of World War II saw many changes in the landscape and homes constructed in the community.  Each era of development has seen changes in types of styles of the homes and business buildings were added and became part of the community.

 

If you would like to view a slide show of Payson Then and Now go to http://www.youtube.com and in the search box type Payson Then and Now 2.

Discover mementos from the BEEHIVE STATE HERE.