Mercantile at Link Lake (A Chronicle of Place, People, and Purpose)

A forgotten building, a buried past—and a small town full of stories waiting to be uncovered.

In The Mercantile at Link Lake, bestselling author Jerry Apps weaves together past and present in a rich tapestry of small-town life, historical legacy,and community resilience. When Chicago-based writer Susan Frederick is assigned to write about a decaying mercantile building in rural Link Lake, Wisconsin, she arrives expecting a brief, forgettable assignment. Instead, she uncovers a trove of stories that stretch from the Civil War to Prohibition, filled with unforgettable characters, local lore, and spirited debate about whether to preserve or demolish the building. As the town wrestles with its future, Susan finds herself unexpectedly drawn to its past.

Told through multiple perspectives and timelines, The Mercantile at Link Lake brings to life a bygone era while exploring urgent contemporary themes—rural identity, the power of storytelling, and what it means to protect history. Rich in Wisconsin heritage and driven by heartfelt characters like Fred and Oscar, two retired farmers with deep roots in the community, the novel pays tribute to the role local landmarks play in shaping collective memory. It's a deeply human story about connection, preservation, and finding meaning where you least expect it.