1850: Israel Evans has a plan

Israel Evans emigrated to Lehi in 1850 making him and his wife, Matilda Thomas Evans, some of the first citizens of Lehi. In 1853, Evans was sent on a mission to the United Kingdom where he observed English cooperative stores and thought the same style of business could benefit his town.

1868: Grand Opening

In 1868, the Lehi Union Exchange opened its doors making it the first cooperative store to open in Utah. The little store found its home on Third West and First South Street, but it would soon expand because of its historic success. For example, in its first year of operation the store was so successful that it caused some of Lehi’s founding businesses, like the T & W Taylor mercantile store, to close or be purchased. 

1868-1880: Competition on the Rise

In 1868, the Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) in Salt Lake City opened its doors and began to expand across the state. The Union Exchange became a branch of the new organization, even though it had technically predated it. However, the success of Lehi’s first Co-Op did not last due to two reasons, the excessive credit system and the establishment of the People’s Cooperative Institution, or the People’s Co-Op, in 1871 on 189 W Main Street. In fact, in 1880, the Union Exchange was sold to People’s Co-Op and became both a branch store of the ZCMI and its younger competitor. The advantage that the People’s Co-Op had over the Union Exchange was that it was located closer to the new Utah Southern Railroad station on 225 East State Street. 

1893-1903: Left in Good Hands

In 1893, Thomas R. Cutler, who had been manager of the store since 1871, stepped down and his assistant manager William E. Racker took charge of the store. Unbelievably, Racker made the institution even more profitable and oversaw the construction of the new People’s Co-Op building on 151 East State Street until 1903 when he was called on a mission to Denmark and had to leave the business to his own assistant manager Samuel I. Goodwin. The new building on 151 East State Street is where the People’s Co-Op would stay for the rest of its life. The old People’s Co-Op located on 189 W Main Street would become the Racker Mercantile named for manager and owner William E. Racker. The new building at 151 East State Street was much bigger than the old building, and its grounds were made up of the main Co-Op, a lumberyard, coal yard, feed store, livery stable, harness shop, hotel, drugstore, and blacksmith shop.

1904-1916: Age of Innovation

It was one of the first buildings in Lehi to receive electricity, an Alexander Graham Bell telephone system, a pneumatic tube system, and concert sidewalks. The Co-Op’s Bell telephone system is especially significant because it was one of the first systems in Utah. The People’s Co-Op was not immune to fluctuating markets and new technological advancements that would eventually render it obsolete. In 1916, two gas pumps were installed in front of the Co-Op, and despite the store’s attempt to adapt to the cars/automobiles, it would ultimately spell the end of the business. Cars made it easier for people to travel to other towns for better priced or more exotic items. The Great Depression was another factor that led to the closure of the Co-Op because people were much less likely to spend any money on unnecessary items. Additionally, the Co-Op’s parent company, ZCMI, was also struggling for the same reasons in Salt Lake City.

1937: The End of an Era

Both ZCMI and the People’s Co-Op closed its doors in 1937 after not being able to make a profit across the state of Utah or in Lehi specifically. While some cooperative stores would come back to Utah after the Great Depression ended with World War II, the People’s Co-Op would never re-open.

1939: A New Life

151 East State became a roller-skating rink in February of 1939. "The Niagara," with a new hardwood floor, advertised "Come to the Niagara and watch the falls." In the fall of 1940, the place was the Lehi Roller Skating Rink, operated by the Smuin brothers. In November of 1944 James Comer purchased the building for a farm machinery display room. He was killed in an automobile accident before the business got started, however, and his widow Frances re-leased it to the Smuin brothers for a skating rink. 

As It Stands Now

In July of 1948 Harry Grass leased the place and established Grass Furniture, which featured household furnishings, carpeting, drapery, and the slogan, "Oh, Go to Grass." In 1955, a wholesale war surplus store was opened.  In 1960, Christensen Department Stores purchased the building and operated a wholesale warehouse for their chain of stores and also for 65 other establishments throughout the western states. On Mar. 4, 2005, Osmond Designs opened for business in the historic building on State Street and remains there today.