Adventure Days Plein Art Event Underway

 

Pictured: Eastside windows and artwork in the Music Room at the Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center in Payson, Utah.

The Payson Adventure Days Plein Air painting event is underway. Organizers encourage people to come celebrate Payson’s beauty through art. Paint anytime from now until Saturday, June 7.

Suggested locations include the historic Payson City, homes, farmlands, Payson Memorial Park, Peteetneet Museum grounds, Mt Nebo Scenic Byway, and Utah Lake.

Drop off your artwork and register at the Peteetneet Museum on Saturday, June 7, from 9 AM until 2 PM. The Peteetneet is located at 10 North 600 East in Payson.

The cost is $10 per painting. Artists may submit up to three pieces; at least two must be plein air and one may be a studio piece (labeled “Studio”).

All pieces must be framed with wire and ready to hang in the museum. Doors close for judging promptly at 2 PM.

The award ceremony will take place on June 7 at 7 PM in the Music Room, located on the upper floor of the Peteetneet Museum. Awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention will be presented.

The art show will run from June 7 through July 15, 2025.

Plein air demonstration:

News & The Blues—In The Payson Chronicle

 

Memphis Slim & Sonny Boy Williamson—Live in Europe

In This Week’s Edition

 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

 

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

 

JERRY LYNN BARBER

 

The Buffalo

 

Coming up in ROOTED IN ART — Unearthing creativity connected to home: “The Tracks of an Animalier”

—The Buffalo by Avard Fairbanks; Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center, Payson, Utah

  #paysonchronicle #peteetneet #paysonutah @peteetneet.gallery @utahartsandmuseums @springvillemuseum @paysonutah #avardfairbanks #johnbfairbanks @thisistheplaceheritagepark @utahartsguild #louisantoinebarye #animalier #animalierstyle #metropolitanmuseumofart #moma @metmuseum #universityofutah @universityofutah @internationalpeacegardensofslc

May 21, 2025 Payson City Council Meeting

 

Agenda: 

Congrats Grads

In this week’s edition of The Payson Chronicle

 DIXON-FAIRBANKS

There’s a place in Payson’s heart at the junction of faith and industry, a place called Dixon-Fairbanks.

“Minnie’s Enterprising Spirit”

Minnie and son Lynn Reed Fairbanks, Sr, altered the Ex-Cel-Cis company’s course in 1921 by improving manufacturing processes, expanding product options, and building sales divisions nationwide. Over the ensuing years the Payson natives would employ over 3,000 people, operate fifteen beauty schools, and fifty beauty salons. Billed as the finest beauty center in the west, an ad appearing in the Salt Lake Telegram in March 1935 announced the opening of an Ex-Cel-Cis salon on Broadway and Main Street (shown here) in Salt Lake City.

The Ex-Cel-Cis center in mid-century downtown Salt Lake City.

A February 1948 Sugar House Bulletin newsclip features a sixteen-year-old Lynn Reed Fairbanks, Jr, in his “bug,” an original miniature car designed by local inventor Ross Wesley LeBaron. Named the Lynn-D-Special, the car was a Christmas gift from his father, Ex-Cel-Cis co-founder Lynn Reed Fairbanks, Sr. The younger Fairbanks would come to join Ex-Cel-Cis executives later. He traveled with his grandmother Minnie in her golden years to divisions across the United States. During her “grand tour” the company founder gave impromptu speeches expressing the appreciation she held for the people Ex-Cel-Cis employed.

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

GERALD  FLOYD  SPAINHOWER

Gerald Floyd Spainhower, 90, peacefully passed away on May 16, 2025, at home in Spring Lake, Utah. Gerald was born to Floyd and Rhea Barnett Spainhower on September 1, 1934, in Spring Lake and was one of four children. After graduating from Payson High School, Gerald enlisted in the Army Reserves.  He served from 1952-1963 as part of the B32nd Engineering Battalion in Texas and was honorably discharged after 7 years.

To support his family, he worked as a heavy equipment operator at the Dugway Proving Grounds. He retired from Dugway in 1990 at the age of 55. Gerald savored the outdoors and loved boating, camping, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and Razor rides with family and friends. He took great pride in his yard, his garden, and most of all his children, grand children and great-grandchildren. He loved to spend time with them and support them in their activities.

Gerald is survived by his daughters Stephanie (David) Leavitt and Susie (Jared) Knuteson, his grandchildren: Josie Knuteson, Shae Beal, Jarett Knuteson, Beau Leavitt, Casey  Leavitt, Richard Leavitt, Brendan Leavitt, 14 great-grandchildren, and his siblings CaraLee Pfouts and Gordie Spainhower. He was preceded in death by his brother Bob Spainhower.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Payson City Cemetery located at 400 North 800 East in Payson, Utah.

Payson Economic Development Board Meeting

 

Payson Economic Development Board Meeting

439 W Utah Avenue, DRC Room, Payson Utah

Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 7:30 AM

The Economic Development Board of Payson (EDBP) promotes economic development and improvements of all business conditions in Payson in order to maximize employment opportunities, the tax base, and quality of life in Payson.  The primary focus of the board is to recruit industrial and retail businesses and help existing businesses to grow and thrive.  Its secondary focus is to promote tourism, educational opportunities, residential development, and downtown development.  The board serves as a conduit between the commercial interests of Payson and the municipal government.

Agenda:

1. Welcome 

2. Thanks

3. Prior minutes approval

4. Committee reports, assignments and goals

5. EDCP/GOEO

6. Swag bags

7. Innovation Center

8. ICSC

9. Strategic Plan

10. Golf Event

11. Vision Statement

12. Report on things happening in Payson

13. Report from City

14. Other

15. Adjourn

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

Avard Fairbanks: Sculpting The Spirit Of America And Utah

 

Postmaster Isaac Albert Smoot of Salt Lake City (right) and Avard Fairbanks (left) look over a model of the artist’s mid-20th Century sculpture, Pony Express.

Fairbanks' most famous commercial contribution for the automobile industry was the ram hood ornament for Dodge automobiles in the 1930s. A version of the iconic metal ram (shown here) is on permanent display at the Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center. It was donated to the museum by Bill Benson of Payson.

 

IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

 

Happy Mother’s Day

 

Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center #payson 

May 7 Payson City Council Meeting

In This Week’s Edition

 

April 30 Payson City Council Work Session

 

Payson City Council Work Session:

Date & Time: 4/30/25, 6:00 PM

Description/Agenda:

Work Session on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Payson City Center, 439 West Utah Avenue, Payson, Utah, as well as virtually through a link with Zoom Video Communications. 

A. CALL TO ORDER

B. WORK SESSION

1. Discussion regarding potential WIFIA Funding Projects

2. Discussion regarding new Fire Station

3. Discussion regarding Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget

C. ADJOURNMENT