A lot of planning went into Standish Colony, and the selection of the townsite was no exception. Some of the initial work in late 1897, early 1898 was conducted by H.R.T. Coffin and Tom Barham. They had a vague idea where it might be located. Their task was to poll the area residents about a prohibition clause that would be included in the deeds. It was simple that no intoxicating liquors be manufactured or sold, and if a person violated the clause the property would revert back to the Associated Colonies.
It was Albert Halen, the civil engineer for the colony to make the final decision for the location. He selected a 240-acre site, where the Susanville-Datura stage line dissected through the middle of the townsite—known today as U.S. Highway 395 North. On February 5,1898 various members of the Standish Colony gathered at the future townsite. William E. Smythe, one of the founders of the Associated Colonies did the ceremonial cutting the sagebrush there.
In June 1898, the Associated Colonies published a small booklet “The Standish Colony in the Highlands of California. It contained this description: “The village site of Standish is located on high ground and enjoys fine, natural drainage. The sagebrush has been cleared and the streets and parks laid out in accordance with the beautiful Plymouth plan. The Colony homes will command views of splendid mountain pictures in all directions—to the east, beyond the blue sheen of Honey Lake, the towering Hot Springs Mountains,; to the north, brown heights of Shafer’s Peak and the picturesque defile which Willow Creek flows down to the valley and lake; to the south, Diamond Mountain and its sisters clothed in dark forests crowned with snow; to the west, the higher Sierras with that great Sentinel of the north—Lassen Butte—holding eternal vigil over the Sacramento Valley, on one side, and Honey Lake Valley, on the other.”