Even before the first rails were laid on the Fernley & Lassen Railroad, those along the right of way knew exactly where it would be located. B.F. Gibson and his associate, Los Angeles promoter, B.F. Jackson had an initial plan for a new townsite, not too far from Standish. The new railroad was going through Gibson’s Ranch and its location in that part of the Honey Lake Valley made it a ideal place for a combination townsite and railroad shipping point.
As Standish was less than three miles away, Gibson offered that community free lots for those willing to relocate, which he dubbed his enterprise, New Standish. However, his offer was not well received, so Gibson named is his new town, Litchfield, in honor of pioneer settler and his father-in-law, Andrew Litch.