Max and Lydia Palmer: Builders of Boats, Bungalows, and Businesses

Dozens of boats and homes have been built by Max Palmer and Lydia, his right-hand man in the course of their 68 years of marriage. They first met in SJH (when school was in the administration building) and according to Max, "that was all it took."

His love of building began in 7th grade when Ken MacDonald was his shop teacher. He asked the boys what they wanted to build and most picked simple things like bird houses and stools but Max wanted to build “a big boat.” Mr. MacDonald taught him first how build a support frame on pillars. Max built the bottom first; then they turned it over and finished the top. In the course of the next 30 years, Max built many cabin cruisers in this same manner. His professional boat building began in California and the boats became fancier and larger. He even entered them in the annual Los Angeles big boat show. He also bought an old Army jeep, tore it apart, and resurrected it to its former glory, then sold it.

While in California, Max also trained as an oral roentgenographer in a dental laboratory in Whittier. He learned to take and analyze x-rays mainly for orthodontists or for head injuries. When they moved to Paradise Valley in Arizona, Max set up an x-ray lab in Phoenix using his x-ray skills. They eventually moved to Idaho, then Cedar Mountain where Max built 3 cabins.

One Christmas, Lydia bought a fancy Santa Claus suit for her husband. They went to Duck Creek Village and rented a snowmobile for Christmas. They had made dozens of popcorn balls to surprise his family who had no idea that Santa was coming. Santa Max delivered treats while son Tony kept the machine running. Christmas cards were in a gift can for his parents, Glen and Helen and the rest of the family. He tossed the gift can to his dad and quickly left so no one could find Santa even though they tried! When they returned to Blanding they delivered more treats to Melvin Wright, Clessa Black, Clarence and Reva Rogers and other friends. Eventually the Palmers moved back to Blanding where he built dozens of homes. Lydia’s job was positioning wood for sawing, holding it when it was nailed and keeping their children involved and out of trouble. San Juan Builders was their go-to for supplies and tools and Scott Hurst was a valued friend who gave him excellent advice. However, building boats was a trickier job and required a special kind of mahogany so they moved to California where this wood was available. He built over a dozen cabin cruisers.

One of the homes they restored was the Louella and John Rogers home on Main Street & 5th south. Max designed a strong wall and Charlie Sipe made the frame. Max also worked with Jeff Rogers on his home and in the mid-70’s built the home where Julene & Scott Christensen now live. Max and Lydia used petrified wood to embellish both fireplaces. Because she loved red, it was the dominant color of bricks, paint, and counters in that home. The Palmers planted lots of apple trees on their Dairy Lane property now owned by Wesley Hunt. Max also built a small A-frame there as well as a large home on the rim of Long Canyon with decking on all sides. These homes were built right and made to last. As you drive around San Juan give a salute to this master builder and his family for homes and boats that have stood the test of time.