Historic Downtown Salem #41: H.L. Stiff Furniture Building

450 Court Street NE

H.L. Stiff Furniture Building on September 4, 2006

This three-story building was originally constructed in 1916. In 1921 it became home to the H. L. Stiff furniture store, which remained here for over 50 years. In 1965, the furniture business was purchased from Mrs. H.L. Stiff by seven of the store’s employees. Four of the employees formed a new corporation: president Virgil Starr of H.L. Stiff Inc. who had been with the store for 32 years, manager William Kaufman who had been with the store 29 years, assistant manager Alien J. Clark who had been with the store 23 years and office manager Ethel Bollier who had been with the store 48 years. In 1980 the Wills Music Store was located here. It is currently home to a book store called the Book Bin. The arch over the alley connecting the building to the annex of the Odd Fellows Hall was built in 1986-1987 as part of a city-initiated urban renewal project.

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