Lolo Sporting Goods - Dying Breed

[North Fork]

Elmer Keith house in North Fork is still there. Not to far from my house

 

[Brians356]

I still have a box of Hornady 6mm bullets from Buttery's. They cost me $3.17.

That was "Buttrey's" supermarket. I assume by "bullets" you mean cartridges? Here's a box of ammo my dad bought at Buttrey's in probably 1964, for $3.29.

PS Oh, and the town is spelled "Juliaetta" after two sisters "Julia" and "Etta". Nice little burgh, on the Potlatch river.

 

[timeout]

Great thread! Thanks for the history lesson!

 

[6MMsteve]

That's the kind of gunshop I like

 

[Brians356]

In the fall of 1964 my dad won a new rifle from Lolo in an airshow raffle at the Lewiston airport. He was on volunteer fire duty, and I recall us both standing in the shade of the firetruck as his name was called out over the PA. I was 9 years old, and it seemed like a dream. Door prizes and raffles were popular then, but no one in our family ever seemed to win one. I'm sure dad had only bought one raffle ticket that day, too.

The next day dad arrived at Lolo to pick up his prize, and they handed him a brand new Model 70 - in 270 Winchester, which was very popular there in Jack O'Connor country.

Dad wrinkled his nose and said "Thanks, but would you happen to have one in 30-06?"

"Well, yes we do, but it's last year's [1963] model, a Model 70 Featherweight."

"Yep, I'll take that one."

I still have it, a little beat up and not in a collectible caliber, but I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China.
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[Will Henry]

That was "Buttrey's" supermarket. I assume by "bullets" you mean cartridges? Here's a box of ammo my dad bought at Buttrey's in probably 1964, for $3.29.

PS Oh, and the town is spelled "Juliaetta" after two sisters "Julia" and "Etta". Nice little burgh, on the Potlatch river.

View attachment 1030382

No, they are Hornady 87 grain spire point BULLETS. From the same store I also bought a Ruger 77 in 284 Winchester (135.00). This was in 1971; just after I got out of the Army. The point is, at that time, you could buy rifles, handguns, and reloading supplies almost anywhere. On payday weekends, I almost had a route I followed through the various stores. On alternate weekends we were likely to go up through Moscow and hit Tri-State on our way to visit my in-laws in Potlatch or grandparents in Harvard. Such was life for the gun nut. I bought my T/C Hawken from Lolo, a Ruger No.1 and a H&R Shikari (45/70) from Fred Warren and the aforementioned 77 from Buttreys. The only one I still have is the T/C.
I thought I might be spelling Juliaetta wrong but didn't worry too much. For the first year that I moved down there (from Troy), I lived in Kendrick; about three miles further up Potlatch Creek. There was a hardware store there which also, naturally, sold rifles. I remember one 788 which intrigued me, a 44 mag. It was only 73.95 but I passed on it. Sounds cheap but that was better than two days pay (I was a sawmill worker) so probably a little better than 550 bucks in today's money.
I occasionally travel through this area on the way to Lewiston now and, at a glance, it hasn't changed much. The sawmill is long gone but the town is much the same. In fact, the trip is pretty well unchanged until you get to the confluence of Potlatch Creek and the Clearwater. Even then, it's only the highway which has been upgraded a bit. WH

 

[Brians356]

No, they are Hornady 87 grain spire point BULLETS. From the same store I also bought a Ruger 77 in 284 Winchester (135.00). This was in 1971; just after I got out of the Army. The point is, at that time, you could buy rifles, handguns, and reloading supplies almost anywhere. On payday weekends, I almost had a route I followed through the various stores. On alternate weekends we were likely to go up through Moscow and hit Tri-State on our way to visit my in-laws in Potlatch or grandparents in Harvard. Such was life for the gun nut. I bought my T/C Hawken from Lolo, a Ruger No.1 and a H&R Shikari (45/70) from Fred Warren and the aforementioned 77 from Buttreys. The only one I still have is the T/C.
I thought I might be spelling Juliaetta wrong but didn't worry too much. For the first year that I moved down there (from Troy), I lived in Kendrick; about three miles further up Potlatch Creek. There was a hardware store there which also, naturally, sold rifles. I remember one 788 which intrigued me, a 44 mag. It was only 73.95 but I passed on it. Sounds cheap but that was better than two days pay (I was a sawmill worker) so probably a little better than 550 bucks in today's money.
I occasionally travel through this area on the way to Lewiston now and, at a glance, it hasn't changed much. The sawmill is long gone but the town is much the same. In fact, the trip is pretty well unchanged until you get to the confluence of Potlatch Creek and the Clearwater. Even then, it's only the highway which has been upgraded a bit. WH

Sorry, I honestly didn't think Buttrey's sold bullets, or firearms for that matter. I was a kid then, and not yet even aware of what reloading was. I do remember ammo being sold in most stores, but reloading components I would have thought more commonly in drugstores like Payless. Buttrey's was primarily a grocery store as I recall. Thanks for the re-education!
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[hoz53]

Lolo Sporting Goods is on E. Main Street in Lewiston, Idaho - home of Speer Bullets and CCI (nee Cascade Cartridge.) Here you once might well have bumped into Vernon, Dick, or Raymond Speer, or Jack O'Connor who lived his later decades in Lewiston (now home of the Jack O'Connor Hunting Heritage and Education Center.) I was born, raised, and graduated high school in Lewiston, the "Gateway to Hell's Canyon", where The Palouse region meets The Clearwater Country.

Incidentally, the "sporting goods" at Lolo are only those goods that count - guns, ammo, reloading components, books, and tools. Reminds me of "Fast Eddie" Felson entering mythical Ames Pool Hall in the film "The Hustler":

Eddie: What, no bar?
Cashier: No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames, mister.

If you're in the area, stop in and step back in time at Lolo. "This is Lolo, mister."
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wish there was a shop like that where i live

 

[Brians356]

No, they are Hornady 87 grain spire point BULLETS. From the same store I also bought a Ruger 77 in 284 Winchester (135.00). This was in 1971; just after I got out of the Army. The point is, at that time, you could buy rifles, handguns, and reloading supplies almost anywhere. On payday weekends, I almost had a route I followed through the various stores. On alternate weekends we were likely to go up through Moscow and hit Tri-State on our way to visit my in-laws in Potlatch or grandparents in Harvard. Such was life for the gun nut. I bought my T/C Hawken from Lolo, a Ruger No.1 and a H&R Shikari (45/70) from Fred Warren and the aforementioned 77 from Buttreys. The only one I still have is the T/C.
I thought I might be spelling Juliaetta wrong but didn't worry too much. For the first year that I moved down there (from Troy), I lived in Kendrick; about three miles further up Potlatch Creek. There was a hardware store there which also, naturally, sold rifles. I remember one 788 which intrigued me, a 44 mag. It was only 73.95 but I passed on it. Sounds cheap but that was better than two days pay (I was a sawmill worker) so probably a little better than 550 bucks in today's money.
I occasionally travel through this area on the way to Lewiston now and, at a glance, it hasn't changed much. The sawmill is long gone but the town is much the same. In fact, the trip is pretty well unchanged until you get to the confluence of Potlatch Creek and the Clearwater. Even then, it's only the highway which has been upgraded a bit. WH

We should probably take this offline, but most of my people on both sides are from Troy, and the great-grandfather with my surname is buried in Potlatch. A close relative owned the grocery stores in both Kendrick and Troy when you lived in those towns. The list of our common acquaintances is possibly long.
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[centerlineseal]

You guys probably remember when the only highway to Moscow was the Lewiston Grade, a narrow, curvy two laner, ... well before the current 4 lane expressway. I still drive that when up that way. Same as Whitebird Grade.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I love reading these posts. Sounds like a great time in our past. I grew up in Tillamook Oregon, bought my first 22lr rifle from the sporting goods store down town. Remember all the 55 gallon drums that were placed all over town during hunting season by the Elks club to collect skins that they would sell and donate the money to charity. Won't see that any more.

Live in Everett Washington now, might be a great little trip over to see Idaho and possibly Lewiston. Sounds like it would have been a great place to grow up.

 

[DIBBS]

I lived in Pullman for a while taking a class at U of I, went to a few trapshoots in Lewiston (Camas Prairie Trapshoot), and spent a fair amount of money in the process at Lolo Sporting goods. Neat place for dang sure! Unfortunately they don't make places like that anymore.

 

[Brians356]

You guys probably remember when the only highway to Moscow was the Lewiston Grade, a narrow, curvy two laner, ... well before the current 4 lane expressway. I still drive that when up that way. Same as Whitebird Grade.

Sure, they built the new Lewiston Grade just as I was leaving for good, to college. I had grandparents living in Moscow, so many a trip on "The Spiral Highway". It had old wooden posts and cables for "guardrails" back then, and on days like today (freezing rain) there were white knuckles. My dad worked with a guy at the paper mill who moved out from Kansas, and he could not bear to drive on the hairiest grades around Lewiston, including Greer, Rattlesnake, Old Winchester, Harpster, and Whitebird grades.
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[Brians356]

I lived in Pullman for a while taking a class at U of I, went to a few trapshoots in Lewiston (Camas Prairie Trapshoot), and spent a fair amount of money in the process at Lolo Sporting goods. Neat place for dang sure! Unfortunately they don't make places like that anymore.

Did you know the Lewiston Gun Club (founded 1881) was the oldest continuously active trap/skeet facility in the country? It's gone now, due to airport perimeter expansion after 9/11.
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[Idaho-45]

Brians356, One thing you forgot to mention about Lolo Sporting Goods , is the old wooden floor in that shop that "Creaks" when you walk in!! It's definitely a nice "old-school" sporting goods store. Not a new, fancy, store for sure. People coming into Lewiston should take a few minutes to check it out. Idaho-45

 

[Will Henry]

The only store I've visited in recent years which reminded me of Lolo in many ways was the Epps store in Orillia, Ontario. I find it interesting how stores like Cabellas and Bass Pro struggle to try and recreate, by artificial means, the atmosphere of these old, rustic shops. WH

 

[Brians356]

Brians356, One thing you forgot to mention about Lolo Sporting Goods , is the old wooden floor in that shop that "Creaks" when you walk in!! It's definitely a nice "old-school" sporting goods store. Not a new, fancy, store for sure. People coming into Lewiston should take a few minutes to check it out. Idaho-45

I thought about the floor, but decided the interior photo said it all. Here's a pic of the floor I left out. My dad told me most such floors around here were made of red fir.


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[6ShotsOr5?]

I thought about the floor, but decided the interior photo said it all. Here's a pic of the floor I left out. My dad told me most such floors around here were made of red fir.

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Next time one of y’all are in there take a picture of those signs on the right just below the checkout counter, they look interesting.

 

[drover]

I used to stop in Lolo Sporting Goods anytime I went through the area in the 70's an 80's, they had pans of Speer seconds that you could buy by the pound, it made pretty cheap shooting. Once a friend and I stopped in and by the time we left there were enough bullets in the trunk that the rear end was sagging a bit. The last time I stopped there a few years ago it had changed ownership and they no longer sold the Speer seconds.

There was a Buttreys Supermarket in Great Falls, Montana that had a nice selection of new rifles, reloading supplies, loaded ammo and camping gear - usually at very competitive prices. IIRC it seems to me that they dropped that part of the business around 1980.

Lots of drug stores and cafes and grocery stores in the smaller towns of Idaho and Montana quite often had guns, ammo and components for sale. In the 60's - 70's there was a cafe called Moon's in downtown Boise, Idaho that had a lunch counter and a great selection of sporting goods - it was always one of my favorite places. There are still a few around like that but it seems there are less every year - a sign of changing times.

drover

 

[Gun Smith]

I stopped in the Lolo Gunshop years ago on my way from Moscow. My first thought was "wow, a REAL gunshop"!
Took highway 12 to Missoula afterwards. That's one windy road, but a beautiful drive.