PICTURES TELL THE PAYSON STORY -- PAYSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The historic 51 South Main Street building (pictured above) while under the ownership of the late Cal Reece in the 1970s.

By L. Dee Stevenson, Payson Historian

Located at 51 South Main on Historic Payson Main Street can be found a two story building that has housed many different business over its 116 year history. The building was originally constructed in 1900. The first floor contains the area where the various merchants conducted business during their existence. The upper floor contains an apartment that has been used by the owners or at various times was rented to tenants to be used as their residence.

The Dunn Confectionery was one of the first businesses to utilize the building. They sold ice cream, candies, and many gift items. There was a large soda fountain bar along the north wall which had a depiction of the Mormon Trek made from tiles across the entire front.

In 1942 Byron Dastrup purchased the building and it became known as Dastrup’s Confectionery and Gifts. Mr. Dastrup and his wife operated the business until the late 1950's. After his wife died, Bliss and Jane Elmer had their business, Elmer’s Confectionery and Gifts, located in the building until the early 1960's.

When the Elmers decided to discontinue their business, Mr. Dastrup again operated his business in the building until 1972. He then sold the building to Calvin Reece. Mr. Reece operated C. Reece and Sons in the building for the next four years. He had a Radio Shack facility in the front part of the building and his wife operated a Knit Shop in the rear portion of the building.

In 1976 the building was purchased by Willis and Lois Pulver. They operated the Will-Lo Hobby Shop in the building for the next few years. At one point they opened a doorway into the old Gene’s Photo Building and extended their business into the adjoining building.

In about 2000, the Pulvers sold the building to the Morgansons where they opened the Morganson Frame and SewForth Shop. They specialize in custom framing and there is a sewing accessories shop located in the rear of the building.

The Morgansons have done some extensive remodeling to the building and they now use the upstairs rooms as classrooms where they hold classes associated with their business.

This building has seen a lot of changes in the last 116 years of it existence on Main Street. Many of the old original business have disappeared and new ones are now taking their place in the various buildings along the street.

Residents of yesteryear not even recognize the businesses that are now located in many of the old familiar buildings along the street.

Story originally published in The Payson Chronicle (December 2016).

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