The building at 151 E. State St. once housed a lumber yard, a hotel, a drugstore, a butcher shop, a theater, and a grocery under one roof. On Friday, July 31, the Lehi Historical Society unveiled its 22nd marker there, honoring the People's Co-operative Institution as the commercial engine that shaped downtown Lehi for more than six decades.

Founded in 1872, the People's Co-op grew alongside the Utah Southern Railroad into Lehi's largest mercantile business. By 1903 it had completed a 22,000-square-foot headquarters featuring electricity, telephone service, a pneumatic tube system, and the city's first concrete sidewalks, according to Lehi Free Press.

"The People's Co-op wasn't simply a place to shop," said Lara Bangerter, director of the Lehi Historical Society. "It represented a community working together to build opportunity. This marker celebrates the vision of local leaders who embraced innovation while creating a business that became the commercial heart of Lehi for more than six decades."

The co-op also operated a livery, a blacksmith shop, and other services that made the State Street location a one-stop destination for residents across southern Utah County.

Susan Colledge, the event organizer, said she wanted attendees of all ages to imagine what visiting the Co-op felt like more than a century ago. Activities and refreshments inspired by the golden age of the general store followed the unveiling remarks.

The marker is the latest in the Lehi Historical Marker Program, which aims to install 36 markers citywide. It follows the 21st marker unveiled July 18, which honored the Lehi Union Exchange and Racker Mercantile. Together, the two markers trace Lehi's cooperative commerce tradition from the 1860s through the early 20th century.

To mark the occasion, the Historical Society debuted a limited-edition three-pin collector set featuring three historic People's Co-op buildings that still stand. Lehi City Council member Heather Newall created the set, which is valued at $32 and available at an introductory price of $19.

The event was free and open to the public. The marker program's next major milestone is Lehi Heritage Day on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at the new Lehi Civic Center at 131 N. 100 East, where the Historical Marker Quest scavenger hunt culminates with 26 markers represented.