After the turn of the century, the Swatara General Store was a bustling place for commerce and socializing. Early settlers of the area, Ace Young and Jim Boyd, had joined forces and finances to build a lumber mill, sawmill, shingle mill and a planing mill in the area, as well as several logging camps.
In addition to the logging operation, the business partners operated a large warehouse and a store where they supplied loggers and the rest of the community with supplies. In 1916, they relocated the store to Swatara, calling the establishment Boyd and Young’s Big Store.
The store was to be of significant importance in the early life of the community. Boyd and Young built the large 60′ by 24′ two-story building in Swatara, and it became the heart of the town. The first story was used for grocery and hardware, and the second floor served as a community hall. For many years this was the center of all community activities. It served on Saturday nights as a dance hall, and on Sunday mornings and afternoons as a Sunday school and for church services.
When the railroad left, the town and store fell into decline. In the 1970s, Swatara was considered as a potential location of the Minnesota Experimental City. The experiment was envisioned to house 250,000 people and would use cutting-edge technologies and methodologies including moving walkways and monorail systems and a transparent dome encapsulating the city. Residents, however, did not go for that at all. They preferred their simple lifestyle, and new owners attempted to make a go of the Swatara General Store, but the town’s population just couldn’t support the business.
As the building lay vacant, reports of orbs and strange ghostly appearances circulated. An investigation into paranormal activity was performed in the store, and you can decide for yourself if you believe the place is haunted. Check out this youtube video by NLPSghosthunters.
So if you are looking for a haunted general store for sale, this might pique your interest.
38841 610th St, Swatara, MN, 55785 $25,000
REALTOR COMMENTS
Fixer upper property being sold completely as is Older Store, no value. only value is Garage, Drilled Well & Septic. Located on Soo Line in Town of Swatara. Septic System in compliance.
