Our History
The Sand Lake Merchant’s building dates to 1830 and is known as one of the earliest buildings in the Town of Sand Lake. The building operated as a general store and post office from 1830-1978 and was first owned by Albert Eugene Horton. Franklin Averill, whose family Averill Park is named after, operated the general store. In 1911 the building was acquired by Chester A. Nash and operated at Nash’s Store and Post Office until 1978. From there, the building operated as gift and consignment shops, including The Country Token, Jill’s Hidden Garden, and Park Place. In 2021, Amanda Goyer and her husband, Chris, purchased and revived the building with plans in place to honor the historic uses of the building. Today, Sand Lake Merchant stands strong in the heart of Sand Lake.
A.E. Horton’s
The building was built, and A.E. Horton’s grocery store, owned by the late Albert Eugene Horton, and ran by Franklin Averill for whom Averill Park is named for. The Sand Lake post office was located within the store from 1907-1978. Albert Horton was the postmaster from 1907-1914.
A.E. Horton’s Grocery Store — The earliest known photo of the building.
C.A. Nash Grocery & Sand Lake Post Office
Chester Nash acquired it in 1911 and was postmaster from 1914 until his death in 1949. Chester’s sons, Raymond and Walter Nash, ran it as C.A. Nash Sons, until Raymond’s death in 1965, and then Walter Nash and his sister-in-law Lillian Nash ran the store and post office until 1978.
1910 — Chester A. Nash Grocery Delivery Wagon
Nash’s General Store & Post Office
C.A. Nash Sons
Country Token
In January 1991, Country Token owner Terry Tokryman was named Sand Lake Citizen of the month for the beautiful work she and her husband did to restore and maintain the building. The Country Token was featured in Country Living Magazine’s Christmas Issue in December 1990.
Jill’s Hidden Garden
Florist and gift shop owned by Jill Quell.
Park Place Consignment
Park Place Consignment
Sand Lake Merchant
Amanda Goyer and her husband, Chris purchased the property in November 2021 with the goal of restoring the building and creating a community space where entrepreneurs can grow and flourish while honoring the history of what the building was before.
