History of Lock's Electric

There's a proverb by John Heywood that reads "When the sunne shineth, make hay."  That's a very fitting expression in the business community in Wallace County where the people are so close to the land.  Each business is directly linked to the main industry of the area, agriculture, and all which entails living in a rural county.

One such story is about a Wallace County business starting very modestly in a backroom of a pool hall.  This is an account of how John and Lenetta Lock nurtured and built a well-grounded business that is operating today.

In 1955, John Lock started repairing radios in a small room off the pool hall, (presently Pete Bussen's Goofy Slope Museum) he was managing in Wallace.  During the latter part of that year he rented a building from Granville Moore (presently the Wallace Post Office) and started selling small radios and appliances.  Within three to four months he knew his sales couldn't pay the rent so in early 1956 he moved across the street to the west side of Johnny Lucas' garage.

Goodland television went on the air in 1957.  John established an account in Wichita with RCA Whirlpool, Zenith, and Motorola to purchase televisions.  The agreement read that the payment was placed up front before the televisions were purchased.  Therefore, the business had to request the customer to pay first before the television was shipped.  Johnny Lucas purchased the first television that year.

In 1958 John's Electric was established west of the garage in a 15 foot square store.  Larger appliances were added to the line of radios and TV's.  Loyal Morse purchased the first Whirlpool refrigerator.  During that year John Cutter, a junior in high school, asked for a part-time job.  He was trained in electronics by his employer and worked weekends and after school until his graduation.  The young man continued his formal education in electronics and returned in 1963 to work for John's Electric.

One of the section houses from McAllister was secured and was moved under an old cottonwood tree in Wallace.  Lumber was purchased from the elevator and space was added to the west and north sides of the section house.  In 1960 John's Electric moved back across the street to the larger, remodeled building.  On November 30, 1961, RCA Whirlpool awarded a free trip to Puerto Rico to John and Lenetta for selling their quota of appliances.

In 1963 the Floyd Carter building in Sharon Springs (presently Rita Williams CPA Office) was rented for $100 per month.  John, with the help of John Cutter, operated the new branch while Nettie continued operating the store in Wallace.  In 1964, a 25 foot x 75 foot building at the present day location, owned by Kermit and Ruth Sanders, was offered to the business for $4500.  Again, ready capital was not available so an agreement was made: the building was traded for electrical appliances.  (Note: all the same appliances are being used today with the exception of the dishwasher.  It was replaced in January, 1991.)  The Wallace store was closed when Lenetta started working for the Peoples State Bank in January 1965.

The decade of the 70's brought new challenges.  In 1971, within 2 weeks apart, two robberies took place, creating a setback.  Then on February 1, 1974, a large fire forced the business to return to Wallace.

The decade of the 70's brought additional changes.  In 1973 David, John and Lenetta's son, joined the business and it was incorporated as Lock's Electric, Inc.  In 1976 B&B Gas, owned by Richard Heyl, merged with the business as L&H Gas and Electric, Inc.  A new store was rebuilt in Sharon Springs and in March of 1977 the business returned to Sharon Springs.  The corporation was dissolved in 1979.  Today the business continues to be as busy as ever!