Time Line of the Huntsville Mercantile
- Early 1890’s – Mercantile built & operated by Soren L Petersen
- Two stories with dance hall on top floor – entrance thru door on east side of building. Dances, basketball games, parties, etc. were held at the town center.
- Early 1910’s – Owned & operated by Ed Jesperson (originally Jespersen & McEntire Mercantile then Jespersen Mercantile).
- Circa 1920’s – East and west windows and entry doors abandoned and boarded up. Mezzanine constructed and shoes sold from mezzanine.
- 1930’s – Ed Jespersen’s son-in-law Red Knapp took over operation of the store.
- Condition of building declined over the next couple of decades.
- 1950 – Red Knapp became afflicted with cancer. He gave Leon Sorensen the keys and said, “If you don’t run it, then it closes.” Leon was on annual leave from the Soil Conservation Service, and helped Red out.
- Leon & Bonnie Sorensen bought the store and business with the help of a silent partner; then, bought the partner out a few years later. They ran the store until 1990.
- 1950-1960 – Sorensen began remodeling the decrepit building. Covered rough, old fir floor with subfloor and commercial tiles, plastered over boarded-up windows to protect against burglary and to create more wall space, added new storefront, added more gas pumps to west side of building, etc.
- Circa 1957 – Refrigerator fire caused smoke and fire damage to the interior. Merchandise was essentially a total loss and sold for pennies on the dollar.
- 1965 – Top story had become unstable and was removed. Bricks used to fill in window & door openings.
- 1965-1988 – Business thrived and was doing over $1,000,000 worth of business per year by the mid 1980’s. Many said, “If Leon doesn’t have it, then you don’t need it.” They sold groceries, gas, dry goods, horse tack, hardware, animal feed, kerosene, toys, and much more.
- 1988 – Sorensen’s retired, and sold the business to the founders and proprietors of the Timberline in Eden (now Maverik).
- Early 1990’s – Business sold to Woods family of Liberty. The name subsequently changed to Wood’s Market.
- 2001 – Store closes
- 2002-2016 – Ogden Valley Community Church occupies building.
- 2016 – Richard and Regen Sorensen begin restoration project.
- 2018 – Building begins new era as a reception & events center.
