Payson - (Images of America) by Jayne Peace Pyle & Jinx Pyle (Paperback)

About the Book

Beneath the escarpment of the Mogollon Rim in Gila County lies Payson, Arizona. Founded as Green Valley in 1882 by ranchers and miners, the town site of Payson was laid out by local blacksmith James C. Callaghan and local merchant and cattle rancher John C. Hise. Two years later, local rancher and Native American fighter Charlie Meadows founded the Payson Rodeo in a mid-town meadow, which ultimately became the world's oldest continuous rodeo. When the cattle and timber industries declined, Payson evolved into a retirement and tourist destination. People looking for places to hike, bike, fish, hunt, and camp are attracted to the Payson area, which is also popular for its festivals and historic sites. A replica of Zane Grey's cabin stands next to the local museum, and the Tonto Natural Bridge is just 11 miles outside of town.

Book Synopsis

Beneath the escarpment of the Mogollon Rim in Gila County lies Payson, Arizona. Founded as Green Valley in 1882 by ranchers and miners, the town site of Payson was laid out by local blacksmith James C. Callaghan and local merchant and cattle rancher John C. Hise. Two years later, local rancher and Native American fighter Charlie Meadows founded the Payson Rodeo in a mid-town meadow, which ultimately became the world's oldest continuous rodeo. When the cattle and timber industries declined, Payson evolved into a retirement and tourist destination. People looking for places to hike, bike, fish, hunt, and camp are attracted to the Payson area, which is also popular for its festivals and historic sites. A replica of Zane Grey's cabin stands next to the local museum, and the Tonto Natural Bridge is just 11 miles outside of town.

Review Quotes

title: 'Payson' book an insightful picture history
author: Tim Ehrhardt
publisher: Payson Roundup
date:07/21/2010

Jinx Pyle and Jayne Peace Pyle's latest book, "Payson," provides a wonderful pictorial look at the area. This is published by Arcadia Publishing and is one of many in their Images of America series that is widely distributed around Arizona and the rest of the country.

According to the Pyles, friend and state historian Marshall Trimble pushed them to do this book to help get a little bit better recognition than what sometimes comes about via a smaller publishing house like they have. Trimble also has done a book in the Images of America series on his hometown of Ash Fork, Ariz.

The book features 10 chapters, all loaded with pictures. There is a chapter on the Tonto Natural Bridge. The picture on page 84 of David Goodfellow is particularly neat, looking more like something shot on a Hollywood set than in Rim Country -- it's that good of a photo. Goodfellow patented the land around the bridge and was the nephew of modern bridge discoverer Davey Gowan. The Pyles got many of the photos in their Tonto Natural Bridge chapter from Anna Mae Deming, whose house the nonprofit that they lead, the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation, now owns on Main Street.

Another group of photos that are spread throughout the book are from Ella Lee Owens. These photos are of the various sawmills in the area that the Owens family had at various times, including where Sawmill Theatres are now located. Logging has always been a significant part of life in Rim Country with local sawmills providing the wood for many houses built in Payson and the surrounding area.

This book also has a number of photos of so many of the people who helped make this area what it is. Bill Boardman, Andy Ogilvie, Edd Haught, Frank Herron and Howard Childers are just a few of the many people pictured in this book.

The book is available at a number of retailers around the state for $21.99. Locally it can be found at the Pyles' Git-A-Rope Trading Post located in the Womans Club building on Main Street. There is also a collection of postcards that retail separately for $7.99.