Where Hays Radiator was, and is, in Phoenix, Arizona


I've been collecting old photos of Phoenix for a very long time, and one of the things that really tickles me is to find that a building is still there after several decades, and even more so if the business is the same, and has the same name. I have friends that I call "PhDs" (Phoenix History Detectives) who help me on this. Sometimes there aren't many clues to go on, maybe a blurry street sign, or something like that.

The photo above, which I found in the Duke University Libraries, shows the sign for Hays Radiator in the 1960s, which was, and is, on Indian School Road and 20th Street. You're looking east on Indian School Road in the 1960s. And I just found out today that the current owner bought the business from Hay (still don't know who he was) and kept the name in his honor. I always thought that keeping a business name was a good idea - and besides, you don't have to pay for a new sign!

I've lived in the Phoenix area for so long now that I've gotten into the habit of describing places based on what used to be there. Not very helpful, I know! But if you know Phoenix, and how quickly it changes, you know what I mean.

So, if you want to see where the photo above was taken, just go to where Hays Radiator was, and is.
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Comments

  1. mswaineMarch 20, 2019 at 6:07 AM

    I too am an avid map, old photo aficionado, so I want to thank you for this post. However, wanting to see this radiator shop myself and not wanting to wander far from my desk, I went to Google maps and found the Hays Radiator Shop (behind the 7/11 on 20th-Facing 20th). But from the best trajectors I cound get, I feel the old photo is looking North on 20th Street, given that the Richfield Station may have been on the North East corner of 20th and Indian School. I do have one hesitation and that is, I don't feel that 20th Street would have had that much commercial activity going on. So the Hays shop must have been closer to Indian School than it apprears to be now. It looks like I'm going to have to get up out of my chair and wander over to the radiator shop and imagine for myself what it must have been like back then. I would welcome your thoughts in correcting my perspective.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brad HallMarch 20, 2019 at 11:58 AM

      Nice! Yes, that's history adventuring - a combination of maps and going there, and discussing it with people who love this kind of stuff!

      Delete

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