Higby Mercantile

1992 photo of the Higby Mercantile before demolition.

Louis Richard Higby opened the Higby Mercantile on July 6,1907 in Greenland. His father, John William, owned  similar stores in Eastonville and Monument, Colorado. The store handled general merchandise, gas, Deering farm equipment, model T Fords, plus the store wholesaled farm produce. It was certainly the mainstay and meeting place for the community. A large root cellar, located southwest of the store, stored potatoes and vegetables and was later used to store milk waiting for shipment. An ore cart affair on rails carried the supplies over to the building. On the northwest corner was located a hand pump for gas. Later an automated pump was added in front and the hand pump was used for kerosene. The store was continuously operated until 1938 when it was sold to Douglas County to store road maintenance equipment.

Circa 1927 - Photo of  Mr. Paul Norwood, proprietor with son Dale. Paul and Pauline Norwood purchased the Higby Mercantile in early 1923 and managed it until 1927 when it was sold. The store ledger showed that ranchers such as Noe, Best and Quick were customers among many others.