From the Archives - Dec 18, 2025

Today, December 18th, is "National Bake Cookies Day". It's a day to bake, share, and enjoy cookies, and smell the aroma while baking at home. You can host a cookie exchange, or give cookies to friends, family, community members, or the volunteers at the Museum!! (ha ha)

One of the important jobs in the school is the making and serving of meals for students. Known as the "Lunch Lady," Evelyn Eby cooked at Valley View School for more than 23 years. The children loved her, and thanked her every day for the food she so lovingly created for them.

After her retirement, Evelyn came to the Museum, in 2008, and donated her Valley View Recipe Box. She hugged that box as she handed it over to Sue, Curator. As one of her most treasured items, she was told the Museum would be honored to care for the box of loved and well used recipes.

Each recipe is on a standard typed card provided to school districts. Designed to maintain the proper "food chart" diet, the recipes are created showing how many portions are needed for school students. Evelyn, however, had handwritten on many of the cards, variations for the recipes; along with larger amounts of ingredients for bigger portions to be made.

Sharing the cookie recipe Evelyn had tucked in the front of the box. It must have been one of her favorites to bake. The original recipe made 100 cookies. Evelyn baked 500 using these measurements - Plain Cookies: 15 cups butter, 5 quarts sugar, 40 eggs, 11 and one quarter cups flour, (baking powder, salt, vanilla).

"Thank You" to Evelyn Eby and all the cooks who have served meals to the youth of Boundary County for many years!

The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column. 

Visit the museum, Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or visit the website at boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The museum can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 208-267-7720.