HENRY FLAMM CO. LTD.

Jacob Heinrich (Henry) Flamm was born in Germany on Nov. 27, 1837. Henry immigrated to New York City in 1853 after the death of his mother. He was 16 years old at the time. One day on the streets of New York he was given a pamphlet by Mormon missionaries and subsequently joined the Mormon church. In 1862 Henry joined the Ansel P. Hanson Company of Mormon pioneers and traveled to Utah. He settled in Logan, Utah and began working for the Logan branch of the Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution (Z.C.M.I.). In 1883 Henry was called to serve the church as the 1st Counselor of the newly formed Bannock Stake which was to have it's headquarters in Rexburg, Idaho. Since Rexburg didn't exist at the time it was really a call to help establish a Mormon community in the Upper Snake River Valley of Southeastern Idaho.

Henry left Logan, Utah in March of 1883 with three of his older children and was the first family to arrive in Rexburg. Thomas E. Ricks, who was called to be the Bannock Stake President was already there along with several other men laying out the future townsite. Henry returned to Logan in July of 1883 to get his wife and the rest of his family. Returning back to Rexburg they began building a home and began a farm. Henry's wife Heline died in November of 1883 and was the first person to be buried in Rexburg.

In the fall of 1887 Henry along with two of his sons and a son-in-law formed a partnership and established the Henry Flamm Co. They traveled to Logan, Utah for supplies which they brought back to Rexburg for resale. They built a small log store in 1888 on a lot at the SE corner of 1st East and Main which soon became a successful mercantile business. In 1896 they started building a new two story rock building on the same lot to accommedate their growing business. The upper floor was used as an opera house and community center for dances and other social functions in Rexburg for many years. They also ran an Undertaker business in a part of the store and in 1903 they leased a portion of the store for the formation of a new state bank. In 1907 this became the Idaho First National Bank. The bank eventually built their own building to the west side of the Flamm store on the corner of 1st East and Main. The original Flamm store and the bank building were eventually torn down and were replaced by a new building which now houses Key Bank.

The Henry Flamm Co. was a leading mercantile store in Rexburg and the surrounding area for many years. In 1905 the company was reorganized as a corporation and changed it's name to the Henry Flamm Co. Ltd. Henry Flamm served as the president of the business and his son H. J. or Henry Joseph Flamm became the general manager. In 1913 Henry Flamm was in failing health and resigned from the company and his son H.J. became the president and general manager of the business. Henry Flamm died on August the 18th of 1913.

The store continued as a leading business in Rexburg until 1925 when bank failures caused it to close. H.J. Flamm restarted the business in 1926 at a different location with more emphysis on furniture. In 1929 the business moved into a building on West Main and continued in business there until the 1980's. The building currently houses the Bingham Furniture Company. The undertaking or mortuary portion of the business branched off in 1928 and became the Flamm Funeral Home which is still in business today. (2008)

There are three different types of tokens that I know of that are related to this business. The first type is a bi-metal set of trade tokens dated 1913. The grandson of Henry Flamm as a complete set of five of these tokens. The set consists of a 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c and $1.00 denominations. I have a $1.00 example of these bi-metal tokens in my collection which is pictured with this article. According to John Mutch there are two 5c, one 10c, three 25c and one 50c denominations in other collections. They are all round with brass on the outside and an aluminum center. My $1.00 token is "Good For / $1.00 / In Merchandise" and measures 38 mm. The 50c token measures 31mm, the 25c measures 27mm, the 10 cent measures 24mm and the 5c measures 19mm.

The next token I know of that was issued by the Henry Flamm Co. says "Good For / $1.00 / On A Gents Or / Ladies Suit / At The / Henry Flamm Co. // Good For / $1.00 / On A Suit". It is round, aluminum and measures 38 mm. There is only one example of this token that I know of and it belongs to Henry Flamm's grandson.

The third token related to the business is a modern token that says " Flamm Furniture / $1.00 / 1887 / Rexburg, Idaho // Good For / $1.00 / in / Merchandise / Serving / Since / 1887 / FLAMM FURNITURE". It is round, brass, 32 mm and it is pictured with this article. It was given to me by Henry Flamm's grandson and is the only one I know of although there must be more of them hiding somewhere in Rexburg.

Back