Early Business District

1957-59 Business District
Source: Unknown

Yes, this is cool. This shot of the early Page business district is a sweet pic. I like the Firestone sign that reads, “Changeover to New Firestone Tubeless Tires Now!” Tubeless tires. What a concept, but I doubt it will catch on. lol. In addition to Firestone, you can see Page Jewelers (my mom worked there after it was moved to 7th Ave), and a locksmith shop. I can’t make out the two businesses in the middle. Maybe one of you can tell us what they were. Anybody? I’m diggin’ the cars though.

This business district was located on the corner of present day Aero Drive and N. Navajo Drive. It was between N. Navajo and present day Cathedral Drive, across the street from present day Fred’s Liquor.

If you scroll down and look at my previous post of the Froze in Time aerial shot, you’ll see an outcropping of buildings along 7th Avenue (present day Lake Powell Blvd). Babbitt’s and First National Bank of AZ occupied those buildings. That picture may have been taken before those businesses moved in, but they eventually found a temporary home there. I have some photos I’ll be sharing with you that show that.

That’s all for now,

-Mike

Frozen in Time

Late 1950s Page Arizona
Source: Unknown

This aerial view of the early town of Page captures a time long since past. This has to be 1957-58 or possibly early 59. I love how the paved road into town just stops and dirt takes over. The USBR warehouse is the rectangle building near the center of the picture. It’s still there today. The trailer court is the development across from it. The trailer court streets were named with letters.

We lived at the airport (right behind the hanger) and the street nearest us was P Street. I’m assuming the names started at A Street at the other end of the court, but my memory is fuzzy at that point. The buildings just below the trailer court near the present day corner of Aero and Cathedral (across from present day Fred’s Liquor and the old Warner’s Nursery) comprised a chunk of the business district. Firestone, Page Jewelers, and a locksmith shop were there. I have a picture I’ll be posting of it soon.

The group of buildings near the other corner of the trailer court (close to present day Lake Powell BLVD) included Babbitt’s and First National Bank. This picture may have been taken before those businesses occupied those buildings, but if so, they eventually found a temporary home there. I have a picture of those buildings I’ll be posting as well.

Just above those buildings is the MCS apartments. There are only a couple of streets there in this picture, so construction was still progressing.

On the right side of the picture, you can see some houses along N. Navajo Drive, Gum, Elm, and Fir Streets. There may have been a few houses built or being built along the north end of Date Street too. I don’t know if that’s the hospital on Vista and N. Navajo. I’m not sure when that was built. If any of you old-timers want to add anything by way of comments, please do.

-Mike

Glen Canyon Dam Construction Site

Glen Canyon Dam Construction Site. Undated. Source is most likely the USBR.

Here’s an incredible shot of the Glen Canyon Dam construction site. The picture is undated, but it has to be pre-1960 or 1960 at the latest. This was probably taken just about the time we moved there, or a little before. This is looking downstream. The ropes (for those who are familiar with those) are just around the curve in the canyon. Page is to the left side of the canyon on Manson Mesa and the present day visitor’s center is on the right. The original visitor’s center was eventually built (“built” isn’t the right word – the original visitor’s center was a pre-fab building that was later moved into town and placed near the football field as the LARC center. I don’t remember now what that acronym stood for) on the left side of the bridge in this picture and there was a short road down to a lookout point. That road and the lookout point are still there, but chained off so no one can enter.

This is a sweet picture that captures a moment long since past, not to mention under water.

-Mike

November, 1957

November, 1957
Photo: USBR

Check this out! Early construction shot of the dam site. The beehive is clearly visible near the center of the picture. The dark mesa on the left side of the picture near the top is the Page town site. There’s nothing there yet to speak of, but that’s either smoke or dust in the top left corner. It looks like there’s some building going on, but I’m not sure what it was. If you have any info you can add to this pic, please leave me a comment below.

Here’s something really cool. If you look close at the canyon in this picture, just this side of where the dam is to be built, you can see a tiny line across the canyon. I’m pretty sure that’s the footbridge I mentioned in a previous post HERE.

I received an email this week from someone who’s husband had started working there in February 1957, almost a year before this photo was taken in November, 1957. In December 1957, their whole family moved here. When we moved there in 59-60, their son and I quickly became best friends. I’m thankful we’re back in touch after all these years.

-Mike