In 1906, the fraternal organization Foresters of America built a two-story hall in Standish. As was customary of the day, the first floor was rented to a commercial enterprise, which in turn the rent money used to pay off the construction debt, plus for maintenance of the property. The second floor, of course, was a hall used for various functions. However, the Foresters’ struggled with the building and they found a solution. They turned to the community to form the Standish Hall Association. The Association needed to raise $5,000 to purchase the building, sold stock to raise the funds and were successful.
One of the first tenants was Susanville merchant, Charles Emerson, who expanded his operations to have a second store at Standish. For nearly a decade, all went well. Whenever, Emerson asked for improvements, the Association refused. Emerson’s solution, by members stock to gain a controlling interest. In 1920, Emerson wrote to L.C. Stephenson to purchase his stock and wrote, “The building is practically run by an old man named Wrede. I am a rentor of the store, lower floor and pay monthly rent. The cellar is wet and small and they will not fix it. The front lets in sand and dirt when the wind blows and they will not fix it. Now I am trying to get enough stock to be able to vote and have some say.”
Emerson used the old fashioned barter system. He would give store credit to owners of shares, in exchange for their stock. Emerson was successful and eventually purchased the building.
Seasoned residents will know the building as Neil’s Mercantile, though its doors have been shuttered for decades. There have been plans for the structure, but nothing has ever materialized.