In 1870, entrepreneur William Ajax accomplished an impressive feat with only a shovel and a wheelbarrow. He created a two-story underground store that quickly became a popular shopping destination for nearby farms, ranches, and mines. The store offered a wide variety of merchandise, including food, clothing, housewares, hardware, tools, and medicines, all arranged in a department store style. The estimated value of the merchandise was over $70,000, a significant sum for the time. The store operated for over four decades until 1914 when William Ajax’s family liquidated the store. Today, the underground store serves as a unique and fascinating attraction for visitors interested in the region’s rich history and entrepreneurial spirit.
