Lara Bangerter on Lehi History, Heritage Day & Preserving the Past

Lara Bangerter on Lehi History & Heritage Day | Roots & Branches

Lara Bangerter of the Lehi Historical Society shares stories of pioneer sacrifice, Heritage Day, historical markers, and why every life should be documented.

Lara Bangerter on Lehi History, Heritage Day & Preserving the Past

From Journalism to Lehi's Archives

The George Goates Sugar Beet Miracle

William Hadfield's Christmas Eve Delivery

The Book Brigade

The Handcart Rocking Chair

Documenting Modern Lehi

Fort-City Layout Still Visible

Neighborhood Stores for Every Ward

Sugar Beet Farming Built the Economy

The 1918 Flu Epidemic

The 1983 Flood

Parades Since the Fort Days

Volunteerism Built the Archives

Digital Archives Since 2020

Pioneer Families of Lehi

Lehi Rodeo & Community Traditions

Preserving Historic Homes & Buildings

Local Museums & Archives

Growth & Modernization

Family History & Genealogy

Historical Society Interior

Historical Markers

Old Main Street Photos

Handcart Rocking Chair

Heritage Day Events

Marker Unveilings

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A journalist-turned-archivist shares how the Lehi Historical Society collects, preserves, and shares the stories that make Lehi, Utah feel like home — from pioneer handcarts to modern Heritage Day.

In this episode of Roots & Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Lara Bangerter , manager of the Lehi Historical Society, to explore the archives, stories, and traditions that have shaped Lehi, Utah from its pioneer founding to its modern growth. With a background in journalism and a passion for meaningful work, Lara has spent more than seven years preserving and sharing the community's rich history — from pioneer-era families and local businesses to modern-day traditions that continue to define Lehi's identity.

Lara shares how the Lehi Historical Society works behind the scenes to collect, archive, and organize thousands of historical records, photos, and personal stories. From helping residents restore historic homes to assisting families in discovering their roots, the organization plays a vital role in keeping Lehi's past alive and accessible. Through projects like historical markers, Lehi Heritage Day, and a growing online archive at lehihistory.org , they are helping both longtime residents and newcomers connect with the city's heritage.

This conversation highlights why understanding local history matters — especially in a rapidly growing city like Lehi. Through powerful stories of the George Goates sugar beet miracle , the William Hadfield Christmas delivery , and families who once formed a "book brigade" to move the library by hand, Lara reminds us that Lehi's strength has always come from ordinary people doing small, meaningful things over time. Her work ensures those stories are not forgotten, and that future generations can continue building on the same foundation of community, service, and connection.

Watch the full conversation above, or scroll down to explore highlights, stories, and the complete transcript.

Lara explains the mission and daily work of the Lehi Historical Society, founded in 2016 by John H.

The powerful story of George Goates during the 1918 flu epidemic, when neighbors harvested his sugar beets after he lost four family members in one week.

The William Hadfield Christmas Eve postal delivery miracle, reuniting a struggling family with their distant son.

How the Lehi Historical Society is installing 36 large historical markers across the city with QR codes for deeper stories.

The role of Lehi Heritage Day in honoring past and present contributors, with a different theme every year.

The growing Online Library at lehihistory.org, making thousands of photos and documents searchable.

Insights into Lehi's original fort-city layout , still visible in today's street grid.

Opportunities for community members and youth to get involved through photography, archiving, and service projects.

Lara wanted to do something meaningful when returning to work. A part-time job posting from her ward led her to the Lehi Historical Society, where her journalism background became the perfect tool for writing captions, organizing collections, and making history accessible. Just one week after she started, founder John H. passed away — but not before cheering her on and saying, "You can do it."

During the 1918 flu epidemic, George Goates lost four family members in a single week. After building coffins and burying his loved ones, he and his surviving son went to check their sugar beet field, expecting ruin. Instead, they found every last beet already harvested by neighbors who had quietly worked together to save his crop. As one account records, it was the first time George cried that week — not from grief, but from gratitude.

William Hadfield delivered mail across Lehi for two decades in a figure-eight wagon route. One Christmas Eve, after dark, he felt compelled to deliver a package to a struggling family. That package, sent by their estranged son, became a Christmas miracle — giving the children gifts and reuniting worried parents with news of where their son had gone.

When Lehi moved its library from the old Carnegie building to a new location, residents didn't hire movers. They formed a human chain — a "book brigade" — and passed the books hand-to-hand down the street. It remains a powerful symbol of Lehi's hands-on community spirit and willingness to show up for one another.

A recent donor gave the Historical Society a rocking chair built from the actual wood of a pioneer handcart — a tangible bridge between the earliest settlers and present-day Lehi. Artifacts like this, alongside Fourth Ward Store cash registers and other neighborhood relics, help residents touch the past.

The Historical Society isn't only looking backward. Through liaisons like Michelle Stallings, they are actively documenting modern events like the school district split, current businesses, and community changes. History, Lara reminds us, is happening right now — and it deserves to be preserved for those who come next.

Lehi was originally laid out as a fort city, and much of its layout still follows that original design — one of the only cities in Utah where the pioneer fort walls still echo in the modern street grid.

Early Lehi neighborhoods each had their own store. The Fourth Ward Store was literally called "Fourth Ward Store," and the Historical Society still has its cash registers and artifacts.

Agriculture, particularly sugar beet farming, played a major role in Lehi's early economy — a legacy still remembered through stories like the George Goates marker.

The influenza pandemic hit Lehi families hard. The Goates story reveals how neighbor-to-neighbor mutual aid helped the community survive unimaginable loss.

Major runoff in 1983 required the entire community to come together to fight floodwaters. A new historical marker will soon commemorate that cooperative effort.

Lehi has held parades since the earliest settlement days inside the fort. Heritage Day continues that tradition by honoring both historical and modern community builders.

From the book brigade to modern service missionaries, volunteer labor has always been the engine that preserves Lehi's history. Today, five service missionaries help scan, upload, and catalog materials.

Before 2020, there was no real digital search system. In just a few years, the Society has cataloged thousands of items — with 5,000 new additions in the last year alone — making lehihistory.org a growing window into the past.

We collect, preserve, organize, protect, and share anything and everything Lehi.

We make people happy every day with what we've got.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could continue to carry on that spirit?

If you understand how people have behaved before, it can inspire you to behave similarly.

Every life should be documented.

By being normal and just trying to live your best life, in the end it's quite impressive.

Small things grow into big things.

There's a lot to be proud of living in Lehi.

We're a window into Lehi's past.

This episode connects to the broader Roots & Branches of Lehi archive. Explore how these topics weave together across interviews:

The Goates, Hadfield, and other early families whose everyday lives built the foundation of modern Lehi.

How serving together at the rodeo hamburger stand became a multi-generational friendship ritual.

From the Fourth Ward Store to the Old State Bank, how physical spaces anchor community memory.

The difference between the Hutchings Museum and the Historical Society Archives — and why both matter.

Balancing rapid development with the need to remember what came before — including documenting today's changes.

How Lehi's uniquely dense records help descendants reconnect with homes, jobs, and daily life across generations.

Explore more stories from the archive:

To enhance this community profile, the following images would add depth and local color to the page:

Archive room, filing systems, and service missionaries at work

Goates Farm, Lehi Roller Mills, Wines Park, and train depot unveilings

Early business facades, street views, and neighborhood stores

Close-up detail shots of pioneer-era artifacts and donated heirlooms

Parade floats, quilt displays, cowboy exhibits, and honoree celebrations

Community gatherings at train depot, Broadbent store, and Cutler Mansion

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Preserving Lehi's stories and helping the community connect with its roots through the Roots & Branches of Lehi podcast archive.

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