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The name of Falk is inseparably associated with the history of mercantile development in Boise. No story of commercial progress here would be complete without extended reference to the establishment which stands as the oldest and largest mercantile house of the city and to its founders and promoters. Today Leo J. Falk is president of the Falk Mercantile Company, of which his father, Nathan Falk, was one of the organizers. The latter was a youth of but fifteen years when he came from his native land of Bavaria in 1864 and took up his abode in Boise, where he spent his remaining days. He became one of the city's pioneer merchants and remained a prominent factor in the commercial life of the capital until his demise.
It was on the 19th of September, 1868, that David and Nathan Falk, brothers, opened a little mercantile establishment in a small building on Main street a few feet, from the corner of Eighth street, under the firm style of David Falk & Brother. The beginning was a most modest one. The stock was limited and Boise at that time was a little frontier town. The firm used a wheelbarrow for the delivery of goods and there was little to foreshadow the greatness which the establishment was to reach in the future. The methods of the Falk Brothers, however, were most progressive, and they
catered to the support of, the public through honorable dealing and an earnest desire to please their patrons. The trade steadily grew and after fifteen years, or in 1873, they were joined by their brother, Sigmund Falk, who was admitted to a partnership. From the beginning the firm maintained a most progressive policy and by 1891 their trade had increased to such an extent that a corporation was formed to carry on the business, this being The Falk-Bloch Mercantile Company, with Nathan Falk as the president, I. Bloch, vice president, Sigmund Falk, treasurer, and William Stark, secretary. A change in the personnel occurred in 1900, when Mr. Bloch disposed of hip interest to the other active members of the firm and the firm style of the Falk Mercantile Company was adopted. In 1903 Nathan Falk after thirty-five years' continuous connection with the business, passed away and was succeeded in the presidency by Sigmund
Falk, at which time Leo J. Falk of this review became treasurer and William Stark, general manager. In 1915 another change occurred when Sigmund Falk sold his entire interest in the business to the present owners and his nephew, Leo J. Falk, was elected to the position of president. Max Mayfield remains as the vice president and William Stark is secretary and general manager. Thus a continuous growth in the business has followed the establishment of Boise's oldest mercantile house. Continued watchfulness and the utilization of every available legitimate opportunity characterized the founders of the business, who did everything possible to promote the trade and give to the city an establishment of which from the first it has reason to be proud.
Leo J. Falk, now at the head of the company, was born in Boise, September 24, 1882. The public school system of the city afforded him his early educational opportunities and he afterward attended the Mount Tamalpais Military Academy at San Rafael, California, for three years. Throughout his entire business career he has been identified with the Falk Mercantile Company, for with his return from the academy at the age of eighteen years he entered the department store at the corner of Main and Eighth streets. This was in 1900. He made it his purpose to thoroughly learn every phase of the business and to fill positions in each department in order that he might familiarize himself with every branch of the trade. Upon his father's death in 1903
Mr. Falk became treasurer and continued as such for twelve years. In 1915 he was elected to the presidency and is now the controlling spirit in this large establishment, which occupies a three-story building with large plate glass display windows on the first floor on both Main and Eighth streets, where for more than a half century the business has now been carried on. Within this time the company has had to enlarge its quarters on various occasions. It was installed in part of its present location in 1868, increased its floor space in 1888 and again in 1897 and eventually enlarged the
building to its present extensive proportions. On the I9th of September, 1918, the company celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the business, making it a memorable occasion in the commercial life of the city. The store was beautifully decorated with autumn leaves and fall flowers, and a most cordial welcome was extended to old and new patrons and to all who cared to visit the establishment. The company has always held to the highest standards in the line of goods carried, in the personnel of the house and in the conduct accorded its patrons.
Leo J. Falk has not only been active in the management and control of the Falk Mercantile Company for a long period but in many other ways' has also been a factor in the business development of Boise. In 1909 he organized the Owyhee Hotel Company of Boise and built a fine modern hotel valued at over four hundred thousand dollars. The entire capital was subscribed by Boise citizens and from the beginning Mr. Falk has been president of the company. The hotel was opened May 10, 1910. Mr. Falk is also the president of the Falk Wholesale Company, a dry goods and grocery concern of Boise; is the vice president of the Star Orchard Company, which owns and conducts a large apple and prune orchard near Star, Idaho; and in the past has had extensive mining interests. He is likewise a director of the Boise City National Bank and is the treasurer of the Nampa department store at Nampa, Idaho.
On the 3d of February, 1914, was celebrated the marriage of Leo J. Falk nnd Miss Helen Friendly, of Elmira, New York, and they are now parents of two daughters, Elaine F. and Jane. It would be an inadequate sketch of Mr. Falk if one did not speak of his active service in behalf of the city in which he has so long made his home. His cooperation can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. He was one of the organizers of the Boise Commercial Club and served on its first board of directors, while for two years he was its chief executive officer, filling the chair of president in a most capable manner and greatly promoting the interests of the organization while in the office.
History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 2 by James H. Hawley 1920
Excerpt provided by Amanda Fox.
_________________________________________________
The name of Falk is inseparably associated with the history of mercantile development in Boise. No story of commercial progress here would be complete without extended reference to the establishment which stands as the oldest and largest mercantile house of the city and to its founders and promoters. Today Leo J. Falk is president of the Falk Mercantile Company, of which his father, Nathan Falk, was one of the organizers. The latter was a youth of but fifteen years when he came from his native land of Bavaria in 1864 and took up his abode in Boise, where he spent his remaining days. He became one of the city's pioneer merchants and remained a prominent factor in the commercial life of the capital until his demise.
It was on the 19th of September, 1868, that David and Nathan Falk, brothers, opened a little mercantile establishment in a small building on Main street a few feet, from the corner of Eighth street, under the firm style of David Falk & Brother. The beginning was a most modest one. The stock was limited and Boise at that time was a little frontier town. The firm used a wheelbarrow for the delivery of goods and there was little to foreshadow the greatness which the establishment was to reach in the future. The methods of the Falk Brothers, however, were most progressive, and they
catered to the support of, the public through honorable dealing and an earnest desire to please their patrons. The trade steadily grew and after fifteen years, or in 1873, they were joined by their brother, Sigmund Falk, who was admitted to a partnership. From the beginning the firm maintained a most progressive policy and by 1891 their trade had increased to such an extent that a corporation was formed to carry on the business, this being The Falk-Bloch Mercantile Company, with Nathan Falk as the president, I. Bloch, vice president, Sigmund Falk, treasurer, and William Stark, secretary. A change in the personnel occurred in 1900, when Mr. Bloch disposed of hip interest to the other active members of the firm and the firm style of the Falk Mercantile Company was adopted. In 1903 Nathan Falk after thirty-five years' continuous connection with the business, passed away and was succeeded in the presidency by Sigmund
Falk, at which time Leo J. Falk of this review became treasurer and William Stark, general manager. In 1915 another change occurred when Sigmund Falk sold his entire interest in the business to the present owners and his nephew, Leo J. Falk, was elected to the position of president. Max Mayfield remains as the vice president and William Stark is secretary and general manager. Thus a continuous growth in the business has followed the establishment of Boise's oldest mercantile house. Continued watchfulness and the utilization of every available legitimate opportunity characterized the founders of the business, who did everything possible to promote the trade and give to the city an establishment of which from the first it has reason to be proud.
Leo J. Falk, now at the head of the company, was born in Boise, September 24, 1882. The public school system of the city afforded him his early educational opportunities and he afterward attended the Mount Tamalpais Military Academy at San Rafael, California, for three years. Throughout his entire business career he has been identified with the Falk Mercantile Company, for with his return from the academy at the age of eighteen years he entered the department store at the corner of Main and Eighth streets. This was in 1900. He made it his purpose to thoroughly learn every phase of the business and to fill positions in each department in order that he might familiarize himself with every branch of the trade. Upon his father's death in 1903
Mr. Falk became treasurer and continued as such for twelve years. In 1915 he was elected to the presidency and is now the controlling spirit in this large establishment, which occupies a three-story building with large plate glass display windows on the first floor on both Main and Eighth streets, where for more than a half century the business has now been carried on. Within this time the company has had to enlarge its quarters on various occasions. It was installed in part of its present location in 1868, increased its floor space in 1888 and again in 1897 and eventually enlarged the
building to its present extensive proportions. On the I9th of September, 1918, the company celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the business, making it a memorable occasion in the commercial life of the city. The store was beautifully decorated with autumn leaves and fall flowers, and a most cordial welcome was extended to old and new patrons and to all who cared to visit the establishment. The company has always held to the highest standards in the line of goods carried, in the personnel of the house and in the conduct accorded its patrons.
Leo J. Falk has not only been active in the management and control of the Falk Mercantile Company for a long period but in many other ways' has also been a factor in the business development of Boise. In 1909 he organized the Owyhee Hotel Company of Boise and built a fine modern hotel valued at over four hundred thousand dollars. The entire capital was subscribed by Boise citizens and from the beginning Mr. Falk has been president of the company. The hotel was opened May 10, 1910. Mr. Falk is also the president of the Falk Wholesale Company, a dry goods and grocery concern of Boise; is the vice president of the Star Orchard Company, which owns and conducts a large apple and prune orchard near Star, Idaho; and in the past has had extensive mining interests. He is likewise a director of the Boise City National Bank and is the treasurer of the Nampa department store at Nampa, Idaho.
On the 3d of February, 1914, was celebrated the marriage of Leo J. Falk nnd Miss Helen Friendly, of Elmira, New York, and they are now parents of two daughters, Elaine F. and Jane. It would be an inadequate sketch of Mr. Falk if one did not speak of his active service in behalf of the city in which he has so long made his home. His cooperation can always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. He was one of the organizers of the Boise Commercial Club and served on its first board of directors, while for two years he was its chief executive officer, filling the chair of president in a most capable manner and greatly promoting the interests of the organization while in the office.
History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 2 by James H. Hawley 1920
Excerpt provided by Amanda Fox.
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