PICTURES TELL THE PAYSON STORY Payson Historical Society SIMONS-WIGHTMAN BUILDINGS

PICTURED: The Elite Café

In 1891, the Simons Block Building at 86 South Main was constructed by Orrawell Simons. An adjoining building was later constructed in 1898 by Joseph Wightman. The combined structures are now known as the Simons-Wightman Building. Each of the two buildings has their own individual design in the brickwork. The Simons Building at one time housed the local newspaper offices and a lawyers office In 1916, the Simons Building, the south part of the two adjoining buildings, was sold to Leo and Amy Vest. They established the Elite Café on the Main Street level of the building. They lived in the apartment on the upper floor of the building.  Read more about this historical gem in the next print edition of The Payson Chronicle.