In 1891, Lehi boasted three public schools offering space for 328 students, but 482 students reported for school. Much of the overcrowding was spurred by those moving to work at the Lehi Sugar Factory. Another school, the Central School, was built and funded in part by bonding. Fifty percent of the bond was raised through levies while the other half was established by the school district. Richard Klettering (who eventually designed the Utah State Capitol building) drafted up plans for the school and it was built in 1892. The new six-room school located on the northeast corner of 600 North and Center Street- across the street from today’s Wine’s Park, (which was before, the site of one of Lehi’s earliest molasses mills). The school was renamed the Stanford School in 1898 -though still referred to as Central School by many residents.
School was closed during the ‘beet vacation’ in October so that the youth could assist in Lehi’s beet harvest. The school almost burned down in 1898 from a spark setting fire to a birds nest in the chimney. A turnout of 500 people rushed to the school to form a bucket brigade and successfully put out the fire to save the building. The Central School Bell rang twice daily from a 40ft Bell Tower (once at 8:30am and once at 9:00am) that could be heard throughout Lehi to which many citizens set their clocks to. The bell was purchased by Blanche Larsen and donated to the Hutchings Museum before the building was demolished in 1933.
Though the school was originally built as an elementary school, four rooms where added to the attic of the school in 1898 to accommodate 8th and 9th graders, 10th and 11th grades were added in 1907, and in 1908, 12th grade was added, making it a full high school. The school became known as Lehi High School when the Grammar School was completed, and the younger students moved out in 1910. The building was used as the high school until 1921 when the new Lehi High School was completed (located where Lehi Fire Station 81 currently resides). LDS Second ward ,that prevously met at the Lehi Tabernacle, moved to the building and used it as a meeting place until 1928. After which the building sat vacant until its razing in 1933.
Church meetings were held at the Savings Bank, And sometimes the old Sego Lily School before the Fourth Ward Building was created. Relief Society women held a six-day bazaar at the Lehi opera house and were able to raise $700 - enough to build the new building! Construction began in 1909 and meetings were able to be held in the basement from 1912 until the chapel was completed and dedicated in 1920.
Consisting of the chapel on the main level, and a basement that could be separated by curtains, but opened for larger gatherings such as dances and activities.
In 1918 A member of the Lehi 4th Ward, Robert Gilchrist (originally from Scotland who came across the plains with a freight company) purchased a large stained glass window for the west wall of the new church. The window was saved from the buildings eventual demolition and is still used on another church building on 900 N. in Lehi. The beautiful window features a beehive in the middle that was to remind the saints to be industrious, along with flowers, clouds and trees.
Extensive renovations were made in 1952 which included the north side addition (the right of the photo). Demolition was some time after 1985.
An oral account from Stan Russon briefly explains that timing for church was a little different back then. Priesthood meetings would be at 9:00am (which gave farmers (the majority of Lehi residents at the time) time to get the cows milked and other chores done. Then at 10:00am was Sunday School. Once a month after Sunday School would be a fast meeting but all other Sundays, Sacrament meeting was at 7:30pm! Primary activities would be on Tuesdays just after school, and youth activities in the evenings. Relief Society would be on a weekday.
In 1908, Lehi Main Street was a bustling hub of activity in the city with horse-drawn carriages, wagons, and pedestrians going about their daily activities. Sidewalks lined the street, allowing pedestrians to walk safely and browse through the various storefronts.
When the curfew bell rang (installed in the belfry of city hall in 1887) to signal a fire, the 800lb engine was first pulled by sheer man power to the emergency scene, and later on by horses. Often able bodied citizens would assist the firefighters in operating the hand pump, which was very welcome as it quickly wore the firemen out. ump and hose cart next to City hall and on 100 west.
When the curfew bell rang (installed in the belfry of city hall in 1887) to signal a fire, the 800lb engine was first pulled by sheer man power to the emergency scene, and later on by horses. Often able bodied citazens would assist the firefighters in operating the hand pump, which was very welcome as it quickly wore the firemen out.
Some time after 1915 when a new Fire Chief took over, the old curfew bell was replaced by an electric gong as the city’s fire alarm. It was operated from the Mountain Bell Telephone office at 46 W. Main street. When the call came in, the operator could not only sound the alarm, but also tell in-calling firemen the exact location of the emergency. The system was deemed unsatisfactory however, and the curfew bell continued to be used.
Under Fire Chief Royle, the city obtained their first motorized fire engine in 1916 at a cost of $2500.
You can see the old hand pump in the left of the picture, and the new motor engine shown off by the firemen.
1925 Waterous Fire Equipment on White Ford Truck. This picture was taken in front of the state capital building in 1928.
Harry Bert Merrihew, graduate of Highland Park College of Pharmacy of Des Moines, Iowa, commissioned this building in 1900 for his Lehi Drug Store. The upstairs portion of the thirty-by-fifty-foot structure served as a lodge room for the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of the World fraternal orders. The Lehi Drug Store had the finest soda fountain in the city’s history. The intricately carved walnut cabinet where soda glasses were stored is presently displayed in the Hutchings Museum. This ornate item features a large arched mirror backdrop and a marble counter top.
In 1917 Merrihew sold the Lehi Drug Store to John Franklin Bradshaw and his brother-in-law, Gerald R. Taylor. In 1919 the Lehi Drug Company traded the Merrihew Building to the Bank of Lehi in exchange for the Lehi Opera House and the Garff Building immediately west. The State Bank if Lehi then moved two doors west into the former Lehi Drug Store. To accommodate the bank’s continuous growth, a new addition was built onto the north of the building in August 1930. When the new bank building was completed in 1953, the Merrihew Building became home to Julian’s Drug Store. The upstairs portion of the building became an apartment for the Paul Julian family. A decade later, the building was purchased by Lenard and Twila Rockwell, who also located their family on the premises. The commercial portion of the building downstairs became the home of the Lehi Post Office, then later Jo’s Fashions, a beauty shop owned by JoAnn Zimmerman.
In 1973 Wes and Geraldine Dalley purchased 98 West Main from the Rockwells. Over the years they maintained a jewelry store and gift shop, Dalley’s Tropicals, and a Grandfather Clock emporium. In 1982 the Dalleys obtained a listing for their building on the National Register of Historic Places and commenced a nearly two-decade long project of restoring the stately structure. Geraldine’s Gifts of Love has been maintained in the elegantly refurbished store since then.
Living in a region dotted with restored, pioneer-built tabernacles, one might wonder why Lehi, the second-largest city in the state, doesn’t have one. The answer is easy, but in today’s perspective kind of sad.
Lehi did have a tabernacle, and it was the most iconic building in our skyline until its demise.
Much like the majestic tabernacles of Ogden, Salt Lake City, Provo and American Fork, Lehi’s tabernacle stood as a testament to the industry and fortitude of the early people of Lehi. For more than 60 years, the Lehi Tabernacle, which sat at the northeast corner of Center Street and Second North, served our community.
Although the edifice was dedicated in 1910, its first church meetings began in 1905 when the building was not fully complete. But by 1920, the four LDS bishops in Lehi determined the building was a financial burden, and it was sold to the Alpine School District for $28,000.
It became the High School Auditorium, where school, community and church events took place until 1929, when the school district announced it would no longer need the tabernacle as it would be building a new auditorium.
Just the year before, the Lehi Stake had been formed, and many Lehi residents hoped the tabernacle would be acquired to be the new stake building. But, according to Lehi historian, Richard Van Wagoner, the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City deemed the building, “unsuitable,” and Lehi’s National Guard unit leased the building from the school district instead.
Unfortunately, in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 1929, a guardman’s smoldering cigarette nearly burned down the building. More than $3,000 in damage was incurred.
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Again, in 1931, the school district offered to sell the tabernacle to the Lehi Stake for $3,500. The offer was rejected by local church leaders, thinking leaders in Salt Lake City would reject it, and the building was boarded up.
It wasn’t until 1937, that the Lehi Stake, with the help of appropriated funds from the Church in Salt Lake City, reacquired the building. Remodeling was finished in 1941.
Van Wagoner wrote, “The main tabernacle auditorium, with its comfortable theater-style seats, was the cultural center of Lehi…Organ recitals, choral performances, road shows, and Promised Valley productions entertained many. … Civic and political gatherings, Father and Son banquets, Boy Scout Courts of Honor, seminary graduations, and high school commencement exercises are recalled in fond reveries by many of us.”
And yet, in 1961, it was announced that the Lehi Tabernacle would be razed to make room for a new LDS stake center. Despite opposition, the building was razed in the fall of 1962.
Today, all that is left of the Lehi Tabernacle is the cornerstone, which cost $60 that was raised by the contributions of 1,200 Sunday school children around the turn of the century. The cornerstone can be visited at the Lehi Historical Society and Archives at 34 E. 100 North, Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 5 p.m.
Much of the information in this article was taken from Lehi: Portraits of a Utah Town by Richard Van Wagoner.
Left: The high Gothic tower of the Lehi Tabernacle put up a valiant fight before tumbling down during its demolition in 1962.
Right: In 1962, the Lehi Tabernacle was razed to make room for a new LDS stake center.
The Old Lehi Tabernacle: Persistence was key in funding magnificent building
LEE ANDERSON | THE LEHI HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND ARCHIVES
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The story of how Lehi got its Tabernacle is a tale of sacrifice and patience.
Lehi’s first meetinghouse for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was completed in 1860. With a seating capacity of 500, the building was soon outgrown, and a tabernacle was needed. But it would not come easily.
In those days, the Lehi Ward, or congregation, was part of the Utah Stake, which was comprised of all the wards in Utah Valley. When the first Provo Tabernacle was to be built, Lehi, along with all the other wards, was assessed a portion of the cost as well as the labor. Those were difficult times for the people of Lehi and most had very little extra to give.
By the time the first Provo Tabernacle was built, it was already too small for the growing membership of the stake and a second tabernacle in Provo was planned.
Once again, each of the wards in the stake was assessed a portion of the cost as well as labor. In a January 2016, Daily Herald article, Lehi historian John Haws said, “The thing about Lehi, we had a lot of great masons, stone layers…. We had architects who built all over Utah, but they would come to Lehi for the stone and brick layers.” Construction of the second Provo Tabernacle, which is now the Provo City Center Temple, was finished in 1886.
When Lehi’s assessment for that second tabernacle was finally met in 1897, the Lehi Ward began planning their own tabernacle. Richard Kletting, who also designed the Utah State Capital, was hired as the architect, and in February 1900, excavation work began on Lehi’s tabernacle, which was located at Second North and Center Street, where the LDS Lehi Stake Center stands today.
Because Lehi’s tabernacle was not a “stake” tabernacle, funds and labor were provided by only the citizens of Lehi, both members of the LDS faith and non-members. Therefore, progress was slow but steady until the Utah Stake was reorganized in 1904. At this time, Lehi became part of the Alpine Stake, and once again, Lehi received an assessment for a new tabernacle, this time to be in American Fork.
The Lehi Tabernacle suffered again due to the lack of labor and funds. In his history of the tabernacle, Lehi historian Richard Van Wagoner said, “Seriously concerned about the deterioration of the thus far completed Lehi Tabernacle, a committee of Lehi men in the spring of 1905 called on [LDS] Church President Joseph F. Smith. The group asked for and received an $4,000 appropriation to push the building towards completion.” Five years after construction began on the tabernacle, its first meeting was on Sept. 3, 1905, though the building was not dedicated until Apr. 5, 1910, when President Smith offered the dedicatory prayer.
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In the end, Lehi residents had helped fund four tabernacles.
Lehi historian Richard Van Wagoner said, “The Lehi Tabernacle was constructed of white pressed brick. The walls were 121 feet in length and 76 feet wide. The main auditorium was 80 feet by 60 feet and the main southwest tower, with an observation deck facing each point of the compass, was 112 feet high.”
The seating capacity in the main auditorium was approximately 1,100. The seats were arranged on a frontward sloping floor, which was unusual in those days. There was also a rear balcony similar to the one in the Alpine Tabernacle. In the front of the assembly hall were elevated choir seats behind a hardwood pulpit breastwork fronted by a beautifully handcrafted banister system. The giant pipe organ that was installed rivaled the one in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, according to Lehi residents.
Though its history was relatively short, the Lehi Tabernacle still has a special place in the hearts of residents of Lehi who remember this magnificent building.
In the 1890’s - Lehi was quickly outgrowing their two LDS Church buildings and settlers who resided by the railraod station would have difficulty getting all the way to church. The North Branch was organized by Bishop David Evans and became the Lehi 3rd Ward in 1893, built on 500 West.
Today the church building has been remodeled into a commercial space and is the last of of the original five ward buildings still standing in Lehi.
In 1894, the building was one long hall with a stage on one end and an open floor area. A wing of classrooms was added in to the North side in 1917.
Lehi City’s Reldon Barnes remembers attending church meetings in the old Third Ward building when he was a boy. The members of the bishopric (including his father, Harold Barnes) sat on the stage along with those who were speaking, which they did at a portable podium at center stage. The congregation sat in chairs that could be folded up and put aside when they needed the floor for dances or activities. The curtains on the stage would be drawn after sacrament meeting and the men would meet for class on the stage while the women met in the classroom addition.
LDS wards were often using fundraisers to cover expenses and the Lehi Third Ward was the first ward to sell hamburgers at the Lehi Round-Up Rodeo. Not at all an easy task because meat was rationed during WWII. Third Ward members would save and pool their ration stamps to be able to provide enough hamburgers to sell at the rodeo.
The Third Ward building was used until 1955 when a new church was built on 300 West to accommodate the growing community. Over the next decade, the Third Ward church fell into disrepair and was vandalized. Ross and Jean Lamb bought the Third Ward building in the late 1960s for their home, and restored it to the best of their abilities.
Information cited from Lehi Free Press article: https://lehifreepress.com/2017/08/11/lehis-third-ward-history/
The People's Co-op in Lehi, Utah, was a historical cooperative store that was established in 1878. It played an essential role in the early development of the community and provided various goods and services to the residents of Lehi.
The People's Co-op in Lehi was formed with the aim of providing affordable and quality goods to its members. It offered a wide range of products, including groceries, clothing, hardware, and other essential items. The cooperative model allowed members to pool their resources and benefit from bulk purchasing, thus reducing costs and making goods more accessible to the community.
Beyond its role as a store, the People's Co-op also served as a social and educational hub for the residents. It provided a gathering place where community members could exchange ideas, discuss important matters, and organize events.
The Lehi Sugar Mill, also known as the Lehi Sugar Factory, was a sugar beet processing plant. It operated from 1903 to 1924 and was an important part of the local economy during that time.
The establishment of the Lehi Sugar Mill was significant because it marked a shift in the agricultural industry in Utah. Prior to the mill's construction, sugar beets were not widely grown in the area. However, the mill provided an opportunity for farmers to diversify their crops and take advantage of the growing demand for sugar.
The construction of the Lehi Sugar Mill was initiated by David Eccles, a prominent businessman and entrepreneur. Eccles had already successfully established several sugar beet processing plants in other parts of Utah, and he saw potential in Lehi as well. The mill was built by the Amalgamated Sugar Company, which was owned by Eccles.
The Lehi Sugar Mill was a large-scale industrial facility, equipped with modern machinery for processing sugar beets into sugar. It employed hundreds of workers and had a significant impact on the local economy. Farmers in the surrounding areas were encouraged to grow sugar beets, and the mill provided a stable market for their crops.
The Lehi Roller Mills was founded in 1906 by a group of pioneers led by George G. Robinson, a prominent businessman and farmer in the area. The mill was established to process wheat grown by local farmers into high-quality flour.
In its early years, the Lehi Roller Mills played a crucial role in the local economy by providing employment opportunities and processing agricultural products from the surrounding area. The mill quickly gained a reputation for producing superior flour, which contributed to its success and growth.
Over the years, the Lehi Roller Mills underwent several expansions and modernizations to increase its production capacity and efficiency. New technologies were incorporated into the milling process to improve quality and consistency.
The Lehi Roller Mills became a cultural icon in the region, featured in various media including films, television commercials, and even on the iconic 1984 movie, Footloose . Its picturesque building became synonymous with the town of Lehi.
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, efforts were made to preserve the historic significance of the Lehi Roller Mills. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural and historical importance.
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