Walking Tourof

Old Fort Peteetneet Old Fort Payson

and Historic Payson

Historic Peteetneet Museum, Cultural Arts and Social Center

Payson Historical Society

Compiled by Gloria S. Barnett and L. Dee Stevenson

©2006

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Early Payson History

Payson was founded on October 20, 1850 when three wagons entered the current site ofPayson. The families consisted of: James Pace, their leader, Andrew Jackson Stewart, and JohnCourtland Searles. Other families that arrived in November were: James Daniels, George and JosephCurtis, William C. Patten and Elias Gardner. In December, and shortly after, families joining thegroup were: Charles B. Hancock, Benjamin F. Stewart, James McClellan, Henry E. Stevens, JamesMcFate, John Bellows, Breed Searle, and Benjamin Cross. The town was named Peteetneet after aUte leader who lived in the area. A small fort was built to house the sixteen families in 1851. Thefort was made of logs taken from the banks of the nearby creek they also named Peteetneet Creek.The logs were lashed so tightly together that a dog could not squeeze through.

(Map of Ft. Payson–1853)

In 1853 Indian uprisings made it necessary to enlarge the fort to accommodate the familiesthat had moved into the new settlement. The fort had a four-foot deep moat at the bottom, a baseof rocks and an eight-foot wall of adobe with bastions on the corners. It was about four city blockssquare. The main gate was on the east side. The name of the settlement was changed to Payson inthe latter part of 1851. Brigham Young changed the name to honor James Paces, its founder.

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Payson City Historical Walking Tour

The Payson Historical Preservation Board recentlyerected new markers at important pointsalong the walking tour. Each marker has a new plaque that gives information about the particularsite. The markers were constructed to remind us of our pioneer heritage. They are an importantcontribution to the historical walking tour.

Payson City

Established 1850Note the following information for each of the marked historical sites within the city.

• Look for orange iron stakes in the ground with numbers on them.• Homes and buildings on the tour with the exception of the Peteetneet Museum may not be

entered.

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Marker #1You will want to begin your tour at the northwest corner of Utah Avenue and 200 East. Here

we will observe our first marker. This marker marks the southeast boundary of Fort Payson. On May20, 1973, one of Payson’s reservoirs broke sending a nine foot wall of water down Payson Canyon andinto Payson City. This markerwas washed one block north to the service station on the southeast cornerof 200 East and 100 North. Royce Hermansen, owner of the station found the marker while cleaningdebris. The city reset it for the D. U. P. Thus, there are two foundations for one marker.

Marker #2

You will continue your walking tour walking north of Marker #1 along 200 East. Marker #2 willbe found by the opening between the house and store building on the west side of the road just a fewyards north of Marker #1. This is the location of the southeast gate of Fort Payson. It was the main gateto the fort and 200 East was the main road into the city and fort in 1853. This road continued on southtoward Santaquin. This was the gate you entered for the stagecoach stop and where your horses werequartered and cared for. This street has never been closed off in the past 150+ years of Payson’s history.

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Fort Payson Square

Fairbanks Home

This is the gate that Alexander Keele was guarding in July of 1853 when he was shot and killedat the beginning of the Walker War. He had traded shifts with Merlin Plumb and thought of himself asvery lucky. There was a plaque erected in the northwest corner of Payson’s Memorial Park noting thisevent.

The Nebeker School built in 1855 was in thesoutheast corner of the fort. It stood where you seethe red brick house located near this marker. HenryNebeker was the owner and operator of the stagestop, livery stable, and the school. All town functionswere held at the school for a time.

Now continue going north to 200 North and 200East. Turn at this corner and go west to Main Street.Cross Main Street to the brick church and go to thetree south of the church in front of the parking lotnext to a large rock. Here you will find Marker #3.

Marker #3

This point was the center of Fort Payson and was the fort square. On the corner, where thechurch stands, stood the Tithing House. A little to the west of that, the corn crib, and west of that wasthe graineryand on the corner to the west was the blacksmith shop and barn. To the south stood the oldFairbanks home. It was moved and is now restored in the “This Is the Place State Park” in Salt LakeCity. Their original home in the east is one of the oldest homes in America.

Across the street, where Central Bank now stands, was a bowery. Poles were placed in theground and more poles and branches were placed across the top for shade. This was the public meetingplace for church and all events taking place in 1853. In 1855 they met in the Nebeker School.

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Now look directly across the street to the red sandstone mansion on the corner. This cornerof the square was the public wood pile.

Across the street west, where the grey stucco and rock house stands was the campground forvisitors. The story is told that during times of celebrations there were many traveling visitors as well asIndians using the public campground

Just a little south if where 200 North and Main Street intersect is a sunken hole in the street.This was the fort’s well for drinking water. A flag pole stood nearby.

The three above-mentioned homes along with the Historic Peteetneet School are four local landmarksthat are listed as Utah Historical Sites.

The red sandstone mansion was built in 1893by John Dixon who was a banker, landholder, and one time mayor of Payson in1900. He slept with a pistol for protection.

Across the street, on the corner, thelarge grey stucco and rock mansion wasbuilt by Samuel Douglas in 1874. Hehad cattle and a local mercantile storethat sold everything.

The large brick and sandstone mansionjust to the north was built in 1897 byJack Dixon. He was a brother to JohnDixon. He had cattle and large landholdings.

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Now continue north on Main Street to 300 North. Walk east to the large grey stuccomansion with the large white pillars at 47 East 300 North.

Marker #4

This home was built in 1876 by George Patten. He was in the cattle business and had largeland holdings also. This home was turned intoPayson’s first hospital in 1901. The doctorwas Parley Pratt Musser. His nurses were hiswife, Jennie Patten, and a Miss Provstgaard.The parlor was his office. The kitchen wasused as a kitchen and an operating room. Thetwo front bedrooms upstairs each had twohospital beds. The hospital closed around1913.

Continue east along 300 North to 200 East and turn north again. About 3/4 of a block on the westside, you will see Marker #5.

Marker #5

This marker marks the northeast corner of Fort Payson. The plaque came up missing one day andthe third grade students from Barnett Elementary School brought pennies, nickels, dimes, and quartersto help the D. U. P. of Payson acquire a new one. The children were directed by teachers, Klara JeanDurrant and Linda Mathews.

Now continue north to the corner of 400 North and turn west one block to a story and a halfwhite stucco home on the corner of 100 East and 400 North.

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Marker #6

This is the William Wignall home which wasbuilt in March of 1857. It was one of the first homesbuilt outside of Fort Payson and is one of Payson’soldest homes still standing. The Wignall’s came withthe fated Martin Handcart Company of 1856.Somehow all six children, William and his wife, GraceSlater Wignall, survived the ordeal. They entered theSalt Lake Valley November 26, 1856 and were sentbyBrigham Youngto Fort Payson on November 30,1856. Grace hated the fort and told William if hedidn’t build her a home by March she would take thechildren and go back to England. Agreat-granddaughter, Grace Flinders restored thehome in 1989.

Continue west on 400 North. Cross Main Street and continue west two ½ blocks to Marker#7 at the Cow Lane Monument.

Marker #7

This marker denotes “Cow Lane.” Early Payson residents all had cows that were taken to pastures inthe morning and returned in theeveningbya hired herder. 400 North has pastures to the west and east oftown. This street has been known as “Cow Lane” for more than 100 years

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Nebeker Home

Continue walking west until you come to a large older home with a large front porch on thesouth side of the street. Here you will find Marker #8.

Marker #8

This cement marker was placed by the Payson Centennial Committee in1950 in honor of those first pioneers entering Payson. This is the spot thepioneers spent their first night in the area. The creek nearby, named Peteetneet,means “Little Water.” There is an oil painting, hanging in the PeteetneetMuseum, painted by local artist, Samuel McClellan, depicting this scene.

Directly across the street from Marker #8 we see the following monument erected tocommemorate the first campsite of the first settlers. The house you see on the next corner to the westis located in what was known as Nebeker’s Grove.

We must retrace some of our steps now so turn east and go back to 200 West along 400 North. Once you reach the corner, go south past the red brick house to the fence marking the rear of theproperty. Here you will find Marker #9.

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Marker #9

This spot marks the northwest corner of Fort Payson. When the brick home to your right wasbuilt, the cornerstone was scraped up and lost in the dirt. A search found it and the owner placed it a fewfeet to the left of the driveway instead of its original location. Sometimes the marker is covered by ivyand must be found in front of the fence not too far to the left of the home’s driveway. Old FortPeteetneet was built in this vicinity but it is not known as to the exact location.

Continue south to the corner of 300 North and 200 West. The grey stucco home on thesouthwest corner will be where Marker #10 can be found in front of the house in the flower garden.

Marker #10

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The Old Rock School Today

This home was once “The Old Rock School House.” It was built about 1863 from the rocks leftfrom Fort Payson’s foundation. Rather than haul all of the rocks away, a plan to build the school wasdevised. This school was used until Peteetneet School was built in 1901. The Rock School stood emptyfor 22 years before a carpenter named Earl McClellan bought it and converted it into a dwelling. On thenorth side of the house a section was left unstuccoed so you could still see the rocks from the old fort.

Continue walking south on 200 West until you come to Utah Avenue. Look for Marker #11 onthis corner on the east side of the road.

The Old Rock School

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Marker #11

This spot at Utah Avenue and 200 West marks the southwest boundary of the fort. This markeris the only one of the four that has remained intact.

Directly across the street to the west you will see acream colored two story house. This is the old SmithHotel where drummers (salesman) showed and soldwares to city merchants. Thehotel also hired a hack togo down Utah Avenue to the railroad stations and bring back customers to stayin thehotel. It is now anapartment building.

Smith Hotel

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Marker #12Turn and go east on Utah Avenue to the second house setback in the yard. There is no marker here. This home wasbuilt in 1875 by Jesse M. Boyle for the Tom Wimmerfamily. Mr. Wimmer was reportedly the wealthiest manin town. The home had 16 rooms. It was the first hometo have running water inside. Mr. Wimmer reportedlymoved to Salt Lake City when one Payson resident toldhim he was too rich to live in Payson. This housewas usedas a boarding house for teachers and a hotel besides aprivate dwelling.

Continue walking east on Utah Avenue to thenortheast corner of Main Street. Here you will findMarker #13 on the south side of the brick building on thecorner. This was originally a drug store.

Marker #13

This marker is placed where the second gate to the fort was located. It was where MainStreet and Utah Avenue crosses. This was the rear gate to the fort.

Continue walking east on Utah Avenue until you come to the large brick building on thenorthwest corner of 100 East. Here you will find Marker #14.

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Marker #14

This brick building is the old Opera House which opened in 1883. It was the only one south of Salt LakeCity. It has red velvet seats and curtains. The seats were trimmed in gold. It had a slanted floor and anorchestra pit. It also had a dance floor that could be put over the seats making a dance hall. Today thisbuilding has been refurbished and is the home of Mi Rancherito Mexican Restaurant.

If you continue east on Utah Avenue past the beginning point of your tour, you will come to thebeautiful, restored Peteetneet Museum, Cultural Arts and Social Center. This magnificent old buildinghouses many pioneer artifacts and items of historical significance to Payson and its founders.

Historic Peteetneet Museum, Cultural Arts, and Social Center

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This tour has been provided by the Payson Historical Society, Payson City, and many people who workedhard to make it happen. Jake Jasperson, Scout Troop 911, Dale and Gloria Barnett, Ivan Haskell, andCheri DeGraw.

OTHER INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT IN PAYSON

Payson City Complex located on 400 West and Utah Avenue which houses a Pioneer Museum andhas a pioneer cabin located on the property.

Payson Memorial Park at 200 South Main Street.

Centennial Pioneer Plaza at 100 North and Main.

Gladstan Golf Course in the southeast part of town.

Enjoy Your Stay In Payson

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