From the Archives - April 6, 2023

In 1973, Bob Spalding, Frank Spalding and Cecil Holmes purchased Cook’s Battery & Electric from Winston Cook and Raymond Houck. The three men reopened the store in the Houck Building naming it SS&H.

Bob and Frank Spalding had worked in their father’s sawmill and in the logging industry for many years.

Cecil Holmes worked at Cook’s Battery & Electric from 1947-49 and was recalled to the United States Army in 1949. When Cecil returned to Bonners Ferry in 1955, he rejoined the staff at Cook’s. He was employed there until 1973.

Bob, Frank and Cecil opened SS&H on April 1, 1973. They moved the business to the South Hill in 1980.

The Megquier-Houck Building on Main Street houses the Boundary County Museum. The Valley Studio photograph shows the front of SS&H on Main. Visible on the front of the building are the four signs (in the inset) that were donated to the museum in 2017.

The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, sponsors this column.

Visit the museum Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and you can visit the website at boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. Or we can be reached at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or by telephone at 208-267-7720. Thank you for your continued support.