Street Level

The Birth of a Town

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

Photo: USBR. Undated. Photo Courtesy of Terry Edwards

Here’s an early shot of Page taken from the rim where North Navajo Drive and South Navajo Drive meet. Those are the Transit houses that dotted the rim along South Navajo and Aspen Street. As you can see, they are still being placed on site. The roads are being graded and the ground cleared. Notice the sewer pipe laying on the ground, awaiting installation. This photo is undated, but it has to be 1957 or 58. For comparison, look at the second picture I posted in the second blog on this site. It’s an aerial view showing the curve and the first airstrip which was about where this photographer was standing, along North Navajo. See it HERE.

Okay, back to this photo. There’s a school bus there because the Butler buildings were just to the right of this picture. They housed the first Page schools and they sat on the rim. You can see them in the link I provided above. I remember being told the water tank in the background of this picture was temporary while the town’s permanent water treatment plant was being built. I think that’s the water treatment plant being built in the far background. Did you know that the first water treatment plant for the town of Page was at the bottom of the canyon? It’s no doubt what supplied water to these tanks. See it HERE. Don’t miss the guy walking away on the left edge of the picture, as well as the outhouse. This picture provides a clear look at Le Chee on the horizon.

-Mike

Friday Freebie: How To Navigate a Foot Bridge

/ Mike Adams / 2 Comments

From my archives. Undated and source unknown.

Here’s a little something to take into your weekend. Remember, always wear a helmet. Especially if you’re crossing a footbridge 700+ feet above a canyon floor, with minimal or no side rails.

-Mike

School Daze

/ Mike Adams / 19 Comments

Photo: USBR. Courtesy of Terry Edwards. Undated

This first picture is a great look inside an elementary class in the old X and Y buildings. These were the temporary buildings that were built across from the Catholic Church, but I think they pre-dated that church. Maybe you were in this picture. If so, leave a comment and let me know. This teacher looks familiar, but I don’t have a name to go with the face. I remember those light fixtures and the heaters in the corner, hanging from the ceiling. The boy and girl closest to the photographer look pretty chummy. 😉 These pictures are undated, but have to be early 60s.

Photo: USBR. Courtesy of Terry Edwards. Undated

The photo above is an outdoor shot taken from the east-ish end of the buildings, looking west. 7th Avenue (Lake Powell BLVD) and the Catholic Church are to the left of this picture. Are you in this, or do you recognize Continue reading →

Temporary Trailer Camp

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

This is a great shot of a temporary trailer park at the Glen Canyon Dam construction site. I don’t have any information about when it was built, why, or how long it was there. I do know it was temporary because it sits on part of the spot where the conveyor belts for delivering the aggregate to the batch plant were eventually built. They would have been just to the right of this picture, and probably would have extended into the picture a little.

It’s a good look at the Beehive from the north. It doesn’t look like the canyon side of the Beehive has been removed yet, but it’s hard to tell. The bridge isn’t there yet, but construction is underway. On the left side of the picture, you can see the top of the left spillway. Also, along the highway, that large building that was used as some kind of laydown yard is framed, but not finished yet. If you zoom in, you can see the water tower in town. It’s also a good shot of LeChee. The buildings on the left side of Manson Mesa may be the corals and drive-in theater.

Ok, back to the trailer park. Does anyone know what the white buildings were? I’d give good money for the Willy’s jeep. The boat without a trailer is classy. Enjoy!

Date and Photographer Unknown, but from the 1950s
Source: Terry Edwards

-Mike

Transit Homes

/ Mike Adams / 5 Comments
Photographer and date unknown.
Source: Terry Edwards

The transit homes were scattered along the rim of South Navajo Drive and Aspen Street. Even though these photos are black and white, these tiny houses made a bold statement all their own in their hot pinkish paint jobs. I’ve heard these referred to as transa homes too, but I’m sticking with transit. I hope that doesn’t drive any of you away, or to drinking. In a previous post, I mentioned these homes and you can see an aerial shot of them by clicking >>HERE<<.

This first picture is one of my favorites. The quality and detail are amazing. I’ll say a couple things about it underneath it. I give you…. the transit homes….

It looks like a serene winter day. And there just happens to be a 57 Chevy sitting there. No offense to the Rambler of course. This shot was taken looking along South Navajo Drive. In the background, you can see the houses continue along Aspen Street. Notice the dirt (sand) road and sidewalk. In the distance you can see the old X and Y school buildings and the Catholic Church. Behind that is the water tower. To the left of the X and Y buildings is the Southern Baptist Church and LeChee. The white rooftop in front of LeChee may be the Episcopal Church, but I’ve been wrong before. The building on the far left of the photo is the edge of the school D building, which would have been newly constructed about this time. Here’s another view…

Photographer and date unknown.
Source: Terry Edwards

I’m not sure if this one was taken along South Navajo or Aspen Street. But the large tank in the background that’s peeking over the roof of the closest home, caught me by surprise. I’m not sure what that was. This may have been taken the same day as the first picture. It was taken during the colder months, or the evap coolers would have been uncovered. Check out the 3rd home down the row. That round, white thing almost looks like a satellite dish! LOL.

-Mike

The Upper Footbridge

/ Mike Adams / 12 Comments
Source: Terry Edwards
Undated and the spell-checker must have been broke. :)Source unknown and photo is undated

This is a longer post than most of my others and there are several pictures. Make sure you see them all. Before and during the construction of Glen Canyon Bridge, the footbridge served as a means for foot traffic (and evidently, at least one VW Beetle) to get from one side of the canyon to the other. The footbridge was located a short distance upstream from the dam – far enough upstream to not interfere with the construction. It’s visible in several of the photos I’ve posted and I’ve mentioned it a few times in different posts. This post is solely about the upper footbridge and there are several pictures.

I don’t know the source of this first picture below or the date, but it’s a great shot of the bridge that gives you a good idea of the size and scope. This bridge was completed in 60 days.

Source unknown and photo is undated

That’s a sweet picture isn’t it. That was no small task for something that would be temporary. There’s a big part of me that wishes it was still there. Here’s another view from ground level that shows some of the parking and a dry Wahweap bay in the background.

Continue reading →

Swim Meet

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment
Undated. Photographer unknown.
Source: Terry Edwards

Here’s a cool shot of a swimming competition in the Manson Mesa Pool. This is undated, but I’m guessing very early 60s. Earlier, I posted a blog and a sweet picture of the Manson Mesa pool under construction. If you want to check out that post, click here.

Are you in this crowd? Do you remember this day? I spent many hours in this pool, but I don’t remember being there for this. This pool was on the corner of South Navajo Drive and 7th Avenue. The football field would have been behind the photographer and the Pink Sans/7th Avenue was to the right of the picture. You can see the Mountain Bell building on the left side of the picture and the hospital and USBR offices are in the background. I wrote a blog about the USBR building HERE if you want to take a look. I think the long building in the background on the right side of the picture is the old Vostron Building, which is now the Page city offices. The Manson Mesa pool is long gone.

-Mike

The Silver Screen

/ Mike Adams / 2 Comments
Photo: USBR, photographer unknown
Source: Terry Edwards

Do you remember this? I think it predates the drive-in theater that soon popped up north of town by the corrals. Those aren’t there anymore either. This makeshift theater was located behind Keisling’s gas station at the approximate location of the current radio station. The MCS apartments are in the background and there was a Little League field to the left of this picture. Did this site become an ice skating rink for a short time, or am I having a senior moment?

-Mike