 |
| Robert Spalding, in the blue Navy cap, right, chats with museum guests today about his time in the early 1970s when he was one of the esses when SS&H was in the Megquire-Houck Building. |
As the Ford touring car dealer and distributor of Fisk tires, Megquier had already presold touring cars in anticipation of the new site. Due to harsh weather, construction was postponed to the following spring.
In 1917, construction resumed on the building with modern amenities; a seven room residence consumed the entire second floor, complete with indoor plumbing, which pleased Megquier’s wife, Annie. The street front allowed for automobiles to pull up for gasoline, tires and tune ups.
The Crescent Garage became a booming business. An addition to the Crescent Garage was added in 1920.
From 1917 to the present, many businesses have occupied the space of the Megquier-Houck building, including the Crescent Garage, Traver’s Garage, Bonners Battery & Ignition, Blackburn’s Electric, H. E. Clack, Co., Cook’s Battery & Electric, SS&H, BG Auto, Lowe’s Natural Foods, South Hill Furniture Annex, Gini Knits, Callie’s Niche, Boundary Computer and the Boundary County Museum.
The building has seen many changes over the years: a lean-to addition at the back; upstairs made into three apartments; gasoline tanks removed; the store front enclosed; new concrete floors poured over top of the original floors; original doorways bricked up between the two buildings - only to be reopened again; two run-away truck crashes through the north wall; roof supports installed in 1996 and 2012; just to name a few!
In 2006, the Boundary County Historical Society, through a bequest from the Mary Ellen Thomason Estate, purchased the two buildings to house the museum.
July 21, 2017, marked the 100th Birthday of the Main Building of the Museum, and today, as with any birthday, a party was held with cake, camaraderie, many shared memories, and not so usual, a special song written just for the occasion, "An Ode to Charles Megquier" led by Dottie Gray and sung to the tune of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm:
| Charles
Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! It started on a steamboat line, Yes indeed it did! With a partnership here And a steamer there, Here a lake, there a river, Everywhere the steamboats favor Charles Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! He bought Howe's Transfer Company, Yes indeed he did! With some horses here And some wagons there, Here some freight, there some travelers Every day his stage line transfers! |
 |
 |
Charles
Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! Horse and wagons were replaced, Yes indeed they were! As a Ford dealer here, And a repair service there, Here a car, there a part Everywhere his cars ran near and far. Charles Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! And in that dream he saw a plan, Yes indeed he did! With an auto stage here and a dealership there Here the Bonners Ferry stage There the Port Hill stop was made! |
| Charles
Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! To have a building of his own, Yes indeed he would! With a new brick shop, and a house on top, Here a pump, there an air hose, Every day his business grows! Charles Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! And for his house he had a plan, Yes indeed he did! With seven rooms here And indoor plumbing there, Here a porch, there a view Everything was very new! |
 |
 |
Charles
Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! The Crescent Garage became a boom, Yes indeed it did! With a new addition here Some buildings had to go, Here a showroom, there a repair shop Everywhere his cars were tops! Charles Megquier had a dream, Yes indeed he did! And then museum found a home, Yes indeed it did! With display cases here, White Caribou Bar there Here an exhibit, there a display Everywhere our history lay! |
| Charles
Megquier built our dream, Yes indeed he did! |
 |
