Lehi Main Street 1908

 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. 

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.

 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.