In February 1898, it was revealed that a site for the utopian community of Standish had been selected. It consisted of 240 acres and one of the main features was the main road from Susanville to Amedee would run through the center of the town. That road we know today as Highway 395. After the announcement everything was relatively quiet. One would think the promoters would be anxious to develop the new town. That was not the case, as it was just the opposite. The Associated Colonies who was behind the project took a slow and methodical approach. In July they stated their mission was to “To build, not to boom.”