From the Archives - Feb. 9, 2023

Fred Stoos (Freddie) graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1914. In high school, he was very recognizable by his "pompadour" hair! Fresh out of school he started a small creamery business to help the local farmers.

With the occurrence of World War I, Freddie was drafted. There went his hair! During his military stint, Freddie perfected his talent of drawing cartoons. His dream was to become a cartoonist. After his discharge, and back in civilian life, he again started his creamery business from scratch. Farmers became customers again, and Freddie’s booming business became the Boundary Creamery. When he decided to sell the business in 1922, it was a $27,000 business!

With his windfall, Freddie decided to go into the greenhouse business. In February 1923, he had a large greenhouse built west of Bonners Ferry. Freddie ran his first advertisement in the Herald on March 15, 1923: "Potted flowering plants — Narcissus, Daffodils, Hyacinths and Carnations — 75 cents per plant. Also many beautiful ferns. Order by mail or phone 102 — F. Stoos." This business took off as well.

By 1937, Freddie wanted to follow his dream. He leased the greenhouse to W.C. Harrison and headed to California. With his talent, Freddie was hired by Walt Disney Studios and Warner Brothers in the field of set design. Many of his drawings were used by both companies. His most notable design was the submarine "Nautilus" in Disney’s "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

In 1946, with a loan from the Veterans Administration, Wallace and Winnie Melior purchased Freddie’s greenhouse west of town. They named the business: Melior Floral and Greenhouse. Wallace planted and tended to the crops, while Winnie took care of the shop and floral arrangements. During the 1948 flood, the Meliors moved the greenhouse stock to the North Bench. Forced to move again in 1954, Harold and Eula Sims offered the Meliors a lot next to their home near Valley View School.

Tired of moving for high water, the Meliors decided to build a new greenhouse and flower shop on the South Hill. If you read "This Week in History" in the newspaper this week, it says Melior's Floral was selected to be a member of the Florists’ Transworld Delivery Association (FTD) in 1973.

In 1987, Gary and Leslie Falcon purchased Melior Floral and Greenhouse; renaming it: Falcon Floral and Greenhouse. Leslie passed away in 2007, and the Fousts purchased the greenhouse renaming it: Sugarplum Floral and Greenhouse. So, around March 15, go into Sugarplum and wish them a "Happy 100th Birthday" — maybe you could even send them flowers!

Green statement printed in 1980 by the BF Herald Print Shop.

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

Visit the museum, Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m., and you can visit the website at www.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 telephone 208-267-7720. Thank you for your continued support.