Question ? Uptown or Downtown - Lehi (Day 3)

September 4, 1884 - Fairfield to Lehi (nooned) and American Fork
(Day 3 of 44 - Week 1)

Fairfield to American Fork = 21 Miles (Trip Total = 68 Miles)
Average Miles Per Day = 22.7

September 3 -5, 1884

Original Journal Entry
"We went to Lehi by noon.  I got my mule shod then we went to American Fork a distance of 21 miles from Fairfield."

Final Journal Entry
"Went to Lehi by noon - got the mule shod, then to American Fork 21 miles and camped."

It would certainly make it easier if I could summarize a whole day in one sentence like C. P Anderson.  I'm taking a long blog post to cover it.







Today was a big deal as was yesterday.  It was all about trading for a mule and getting the mule shod.  Today this would be somewhat like buying a new car and getting it prepped to drive away.  I would expect shodding the mule took some time as they "nooned" in Lehi and it would not have taken long to travel the three miles to American Fork where they camped that evening.

shoding a mule

"For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the mule was lost, for want of a mule the whole trip came to a halt."  (Terry Wagner)  Yesterday and today were important for the success of the journey to Arizona.

Visiting the Scene - Uptown

Where was the mule shod?  This is like trying to find where they slept the night before.  Yes you might say it is a slow news day, but things like this intrigue me.  But don't blame me, Grandpa Anderson gave few details.  In Lehi, I went to where the Uptown People's Co-op commenced business in 1872.   Business had come to this area when it was found the Utah Southern Railroad Depot would be put on State Street.

The success of the 1872 Co-op was so great a new two story building, with basement, was built across the street in 1878  In 1882, an addition was built to the west of the 1878-built store.  This is how the building looked in 1884 when the Andersons went through Lehi.

CO-OP Mercantile in Lehi (1884-1885) -- George Edward Anderson photograph

Notice the large tricycle and the one-house shay on the sides of the picture.  For a much better picture click this link (notice the "1878" sign top right).  You can move the photo to see all of it.   The buggy the Anderson's took on their journey may have looked similar to the model on the right.The Co-op building was built as part of a large complex that included a livery stable and blacksmith shop.  Not much different than the strip malls of today.  Is this area where Charles had the mule shod?  They had some time to hang out and Anna may have gone on a shopping spree in the store while Charles was out with the mule.

In 1890, a new brick building was built in this area, and by 1902 the largest Co-op building of all was built where Osmond Designs now stands.  This is what I saw when I visited.    This is very close if not where the picture above was taken.

I wanted to leave Lehi from this location with Charles having shod the mule, and Anna finishing her shopping at the Uptown People's Co-op, but history always comes with mystery.  There was a Downtown location as well which must be considered.  Was the mule shod there?

Visiting the Scene - Downtown

To build this scene, I went to the Southwest corner of Main and Second West which had been the center of mercantile business since 1858.  It served the huge U.S. military base at Camp Floyd in Cedar Valley visited the day before by the Andersons.  By 1868, a Co-op, the Lehi Union Exchange was started.  It was so successful Brigham Young commented on it in an 1869 General Conference speech.  It became the pattern on which Brigham Young based his church-wide co-operative merchandising plan (ZCMI)  In 1880, however the Exchange was driven out of business by the Uptown People's Co-op.  However, they obtained the building on Main Street and renamed it The Branch Store.

Branch of People's Cooperative Institution - Downtown

In 1889 the east building of the complex was demolished and a new general merchandise store built.  In 1900 the structure on the west was demolished, and a large two-story brick facility was built on the site now the west half of Colonial House.  The 1889 part of the store was demolished in 1912 and the structure is now the eastern half of the Colonial House.  For more information see this article (2nd page).  Many businesses have occupied this area.  This is what I saw.

Across the street is the Relief Society Bullding finished in 1883, the year before, the Anderson's arrived.  Maybe they purchased some Sunday eggs here (laid on the Sabbath).

Lehi Relief Society Hall - completed 1883

downtown livery near the bakery
across the street from the Co-op

uptown livery part of the 
Co-op complex

So where was the mule actually shod?   I made a trip to Lehi and visited John Haws at the Lehi Historical and Archives Society.  He found two pictures of early Lehi Liveries. 

So there you have it.  Was the mule shod near Main Street, the Downtown location of the People's Co-op (and near the bakery today), or near State Street, the Uptown location?  Where is Sherlock when you need him?  Perhaps he's still in Fairfield trying to solve the Stagecoach Inn mystery of yesterday's posting.   We may never know exactly where Charles had the mule shod. 

What we do know is the Anderson's nooned in Lehi.  I have a temporary solution.  Why don't we "noon" by walking down to the Lehi Bakery, (and near the location of the former livery) the "home of the original square doughnut." The bakery is  just down the street from the Relief Society Hall.  How convenient.

  

Then we can change the subject.  Do square doughnuts taste better than round doughnuts?  Yes, it was a slow news day when I passed through, but not back in 1884 when the shodding and shopping took place.

While in Lehi, you may want to visit Broadbents.  It is still owned and operated by the family today.  It was started in 1882 (notice the date to the right of "Broadbents" on bottom photo),  two years before the Anderson's passed through.  I went into the same store they may also have shopped in 133 years ago. A link to the past. If you want to travel to the future visit Thanksgiving Point just North of Lehi.  You could spend a day there with many interesting adventures. 

early picture of Broadbents

Broadbents as it is seen today 
opened 1882 (see sign)

Before you leave Lehi, stop at the Lehi Roller Mills store.  You can buy some great mixes and cereals here.  LRM's is where part of "Footloose" was filmed.  LRM is the oldest continuously operating flour mill in the country.  It is owned by the Robison Family who they say have "flour in their veins."  They have been operating mills for six generations. 

Lehi Roller Mills where part of "Footloose" was filmed

The Andersons camped in American Fork.  I would like to place them in American Fork Canyon, but it is most likely they camped near the route close to downtown.  They weren't on vacation.

D.U.P. Museum  
downtown American Fork

D.U.P. Museum 
downtown American Fork

First Presbyterian Church
downtown American Fork 

So there is the post covering one sentence in the journal  But there is more below.  :-).

Remember to scroll down the side so the map stays in place.

You can also use + and/or - and/or -, move with one finger, or reset the map

Go to the map section on previous days, if you have questions on how to use the map.

According to the Anderson Journal from Fairfield to American Fork was 21 Miles.  Google maps show 23 miles.  Did the Anderson's camp two miles from the Stagecoach Inn with another Young family?  Where is Sherlock Holmes when you need him?  The road has changed as well according to John Haws who works with the Lehi Historical and Archives Society.

They "nooned" in Lehi and had the mule shod, then went about 3 miles to camp in American Fork (depending on where they camped).  Click "more options"  for a larger map, and then "details" on the next screen for details on the actual route. This will help you when the route gets more complicated.

 

Lehi City Hutchings Museum (55 N Center St.)

You may want to visit the Hutchings Museum in Lehi. To tie into this post, I would recommend the pioneer section where the anvil (below) is on display, and there are many other items of interest and interactive displays as well.  For more information on the museum click the link under the above picture.

Anvil in Hutchings Museum

A Historical Note

Porter Rockwell lived in Lehi for about 8 years

I would like to add that in doing family history or genealogical research, local historical societies can help a great deal.  Many times with a simple google entry you can find the phone #, and a call to them can save many hours of research.  I have also found that for a very nominal fee they may do the research for you. 

I would like to thank John Haws of the Lehi Historical and Archives Society who was very helpful in providing some of the photos for this posting and for information about Lehi.  The Lehi Historical and Archives Society Facebook Page is very impressive.  I believe every community should have a Facebook page with regular postings placed on it!!  Lehi is leading the way.  I already feel like I am a small part of the community my ancestors visited 131 years ago.  

I'm glad my ancestors stopped in Lehi to have the mule shod.  Now I'm on my way follow their trail to American Fork, Pleasant Grove, and then Provo.  I won't stop until I get to St. Johns, Arizona.  There is still a long way to go.  

If you have a chance, comment below on the journey so far.  If I don't hear from you, I may have to assume you are bored.

Next Posting: Thursday, April 14, 2016 (Day 3) - Yesterday, Today and Mizpah

• Pleasant Grove -  Who were their old friends where the Anderson's would noon?  
• Provo - The Woolen Mill (yesterday) and other points of interest (today).  
• Discover a book in Provo with some significant Anderson family history - Mizpah (click)    

Mizpah