Remember When?

HOWARD R. & SYLVIA M. (GRANT) SAINT

From Pioneers and Early Settlers of Thompson Falls

Howard Robert 'Bob' Saint was born February 16, 1914, the son of Ben & Laura Fern (Fulk) Saint. Sylvia was born March 3, 1914 in Missoula to Alexander William and Alta Marie Grant. She was graduated from Stevensville High School. After school she went to work as a telephone operator until her marriage to H. Robert Saint in 1939.

Following the wedding, Bob and Sylvia lived in Fort Benton until the untimely passing of Bob's Father, Ben F. Saint, when they returned to Thompson Falls. Sylvia, along with her husband, owned the apartment building on Haley and Cedar Street, Saint's Motors and gas station, repair shop and Kaiser dealership where the Chinese restaurant burned. In addition to the gas station, the Saints also operated a dry cleaning business in the same building.

Sylvia also worked for the First State Bank, and later the U.S. Postal Service. She retired from all these ventures in 1977 and settled fully on the ranch on Cherry Creek which the family had purchased in 1953.

Bob died March 27, 1991 and Sylvia died September 7, 2008. They were survived by their two children, daughter, Inez Saint Garrett and her son, William (Bill) Saint and his wife, Heather. Many locals will remember Bill as our amicable postmaster for many years.

Bill told me he believed his father Bob built the service station in the early 1940s. He hand dug the basement where the repair garage was. The entry was in the alley and could fit two logging trucks in it. Bill believes the hoist is still down there. In addition to automotive repairs, the Saints sold Conoco gas and had the Kaiser automobile dealership. You will notice in the picture that the gas pumps were up on the sidewalk. People would pull up beside the pumps and an attendant would come out, pump gas, check the oil and clean the windshield. Back in those days there were more than seven gas stations in town. Motors Garage, owned by the Vaught brothers, Harold and Wilbur was on the east end of the same block and the Husky station was kitty-corner to the east. The gas stations in town took turns being open on Sundays.

1941 – NEW MODERN CONOCO SERVICE STATION SOON TO BE CONSTRUCTED

Donald Saint Appointed Conoco Dealer in Thompson

Effective May 27, Don Saint was appointed Conoco bulk plant representative and exclusive distributor in this territory, which extends west from Thompson Falls 60 miles to the Idaho state line. His brother Bob will be in partnership with him.

Don Saint has been employed by the Montana Power Company on Crow Creek for the past 18 months. He resigned last week.

For the purpose of exclusive distribution in Thompson Falls they will undertake immediately the construction of a large, modern service station with ample storage room and display cases, including hydraulic pumps, etc. This investment will run around $5,500. They have purchased the ACM lots west of the forest offices (now the First Baptist Church).

The Saint brothers will first erect pumps and then commence construction. They will continue to handle paints and hardware and building supplies and will branch into auto accessories, tires and, later, a car agency.

Don and Bob Saint are two hustling young men and we predict they will meet with success. Bob formerly worked for the Woodward store chain at Fort Benton.

Don for many years helped his father build up the business of Saint and Sons, before his father's death last fall. His father, formerly a forest ranger, left a large two-story apartment house, a commodious home, the business of Saint and Sons, considerable insurance and other assets in his estate.

40 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 30, 1980

MOUNTAIN BELL TO ELIMINATE 8-PARTY LINES

Improved telephone service for rural customers and elimination of all eight-party service is in the offing for telephone users of the Thompson Falls, Plains and Noxon exchanges according to Dick Brown, Missoula manager for Mountain Bell.

The changes and improvements in rural telephone service in Sanders County are part of a $65 million plan for improving service throughout Montana submitted to the Public Service Commission recently.

The service improvements will affect 232 customers in the Noxon exchange, 200 rural subscribers at Plains and 337 at Thompson Falls.

The Plains and Noxon improvements will be completed in 1982 and the Thompson Falls work in 1983.

The program is aimed at providing "our rural customers with the same kind of service we provide customers who live in town," said Dick Remington, Montana general manager for Mountain Bell.