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Show Sugar Factory caused same stir as in belli Micron By TOM McHOES The Daily Herald About a century before it became "Micronland." the city of Lehi was developing into a booming railroad town with a large sugar factory and the same kind of community bu. that envelopes it today. Not since the 1890s. when the large Lehi Sugar Factory was constructed, has big business caused this much excitement in the community. According to a collaborative tourism publication of the Lehi Lehi Commission. Historical Chamber of Commerce and the Utah County Travel Council, at the time of the Sugar Factory construction. Lehi was known for its colorful visitors coming through the city on the railroad. S' O -- P " s$fe (gilaa cs&Eb Completed in 1891. the factory was responsible for a population increase of 400 during that year alone and for the establishment of 30 new M businesses between l8lH)and Because of the Sugar F actory, the town prospered throughout the next two decades, eventually achieving the status of being the leading industrial city in north Utah County. Hotels were erected, niercantiles expanded and the population grew by leaps and bounds. But during that era. as so often happens when a community experiDue to the Sugar Factory, Lehi became the leading The population increased by 400 and 30 businesses ences dramatic economic growth, industrial city in north Utah County during the 1890s. opened between 1890-9many considered it to be both the best the train. and worst of times. University and other technologically-advance- d editor in the May 29. 89 . edition of d The city's industries and was resigned Yes. the prosperous circumstances the Lehi Banner regarding the Ucal prosperity and booming businesses were great, would continue for the next several to the status of an obscure residential excitement of the time: "All thi has but the roughians and consequent years only to see its depletion. The and small business tow n. caused a boom here such as Lehi has in It looked as if its founder to Factory Sugar began wiih them did never known before," wrote (he edionly contempolifestyles they brought 192 when the workers went on rary claim to fame would be that tor identifed as editor Webb as he not sit well with many of the older strike. actor Wilford Brimley was one of its described a scene cutrent residents in citizens who were residents. the community. Factory workers returned a week can relate to. later but another four years later, it That was until the big announcewhen Utah First became By "Every man has plenty of work to was forced to close w hen farmers did ment in March that Micron, the do, and a state, saloons and hotels had been you see no loafers on the erected to accommodate the wants of not raise enough sugar beets because largest semiconductor company in streets...Real estate is rising rapidly, thousands of acres had been infested the world, would be traveling salesmen. Sugar Factory coming to new buildings are being erected in all launch Lehi out of obscurity - and by parasites. workers and railroad patrons. parts of the town...carpenters are kept As for Lehi's success as a railroad w ith it. create 6.(XX) According to "Lehi: Portraits of a jobs. busy from day light till dark." town, it was in the 1920s that the The same kind of anticipation Utah Tow n." w ritten by authorhistoNow, as it approaches another turn which has been generated through of the rian Richard Van Wagoner, with big train was replaced in travel popularicentury, the city is on the erge business and the railroad in place, the ty by the automobile and the airplane. recent events parallels the feeling that of becoming the fertile economic And in later years, the city would encompassed Lehi 100 community became a years ago. power in Utah Valley that early The tourism publication quotes an boom town enveloped by the aura of be overshadowed by Brisham Youns Spanish explorers envisioned it to be. the Wild West. For example, the establishment of the I'nion Hotel, which coincided with the development of the Sugar Factory in 1891. was a sign that Lehi w as becoming one of the more popular business locations in the state. But things began to happen which LAURIE WILLIAMS SOWBY Lehi natives were not used to. celebrated. That's when women's and attended the ball and other events to The Daily Herald fashions started follow ins men's." that kicked Special celebraIn 1905. a man summoned the off the year-lon- g she explained, "and todav. 90 tion. w marshall the hotel interThere as an assortment of state to percent lobby, only ot women's clothing i's based on to swallow a cyanide pill in front of esting outfits at Utah's Statehood Tanner already had the correct men's." him. The man died instantly. Centennial Ball, said Provoan Carina shirt and shoes, said Anderson, so she Anderson has made it her to In 1894. a group of unemployed job de Jong Anderson, a recognized made his coat and tie a la 1896. Men know about clothing styles, and peorenegades, called "Coxey's Industrial authority on period costume. who were then wearing want to be accurate in their But few of the outfits accurately ple Army." were on their way to portrayal of a time period come to lounge coats that were slightly fitted that D.C. demand reflected the to styles of 1896. she said; her. jobs Washington and curved on the front edge. The in fact, many were from a decade be created. One of those who came recently coats had rounded collars and small While camped in Lehi, the group later, including the huge hats some was Provo legislator Jordan Tanner women wore. stole a locomotive at Lehi Junction who serves on the Utah Statehood lapels that were sometimes edged "And the blouse-and-ski- rt and headed to Provo. They were thing Centennial committee. He and his with silk tape. "And men had won- eventually stopped when thcjstale. didn't start until the turn of the centu- - wife, Pat. wanted to nok py rode the 18. JIwaJ k! H il r r 6. 1 new-foun- 1 18. once-peacef- ul Women's fashion started following men's at the turn of the century single-breaste- t QtmXfmn d |