House Ads - 1959

Times have changed. In 1959 some of the classified ads in the newspaper for housing were as follows: #1 – 2 bedroom home with furnished basement apartment to sublet - $125.00 month –#2 -  Three bedroom duplex apartment - $105.00 month -- #3 – two bedroom house with coal heat $75.00 month (maybe had to shovel your own coal) -- #4 – oone could purchase a new Capp Home – custom built on your lot and foundation for as low as $3489.00 .

TBA Wholesalers – TBA offered a discount card for fuel to any who had five or more gasoline operated units. If you had a TBA Fleet Card you were entitled to purchase gasoline at wholesale prices. In 1955 TBA started including farmers and ranchers in the TBA card program. TBA Wholesalers of Minot was located at 14 Second Street NE…. their phone number was TE 7-1158.

Tent Town

Minot Early rival – in late 1886 Minot seemed to have a rival city in Tent Town…. This was the temporary camp set up at the Gasman Coulee near the railroad bridge that was being built. Rumor had it that the railroad planned to build a city at the second crossing of the Mouse River. The first crossing of the Mouse was near Towner. Many thought the city would be “at the big bridge”. Some started building make shift wooden buildings in anticipation of the city growing there. The decision to establish the city at the Minot location had been made but kept secret for a while. When word got out, the city of Minot grew and Tent Town remained through the construction of the bridge as many workers wanted to live close to the job site. Pictured below are the original Gasman Coulee wooden tressel, after the wind storm blew it down (1898) and supplies for the railroad construction - possilble for the tressel (1896)

Past Businesses - 1960's #10

Granite Springs Water & Ice Co. – located in northwest Minot on 4^th Avenue and 21^st Street. ….. Hap’s Plumbing & Heating – 313 6^th Avenue NE – featured 2 way radio controlled trucks for fast and efficient service…… Minot Bible Book Store – Located in the Kermott Professional Building at Main Street and 4^th Avenue (Burdick Expressway) – Featured Sunday school supplies, sacred recordings and religious films. ….. The picture below does not relate to any of the businesses listed but I thought it was cool. I purchased this postcard on ebay. The photo is from the 50's I believe and I can remember when Speedway did look like this

Past Businesses - 1960's #9

Western Auto Parts Co. – At one time located on 3^rd Avenue and 3^rd Street SW…… Byorum’s S&Q Hardware Store – Started business in 1956. Located on the West Side of Main Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenue. 212 South Main Street. Phone TE 7-0161….. Baders Women’s Wear – The Store of famous Labels. Baders started serving the clothing needs of women in Minot in 1926. Originally in the Waverly Block until it burned down, Baders bought the Fauchald’s Department Store building, remodeled it and moved to its final location in 1957…… Fairway Foods – Super Fair – beginning in 1931 Fairway Foods was located on 2^nd St NW, Below the Broadway Viaduct and the other location was in the Garden Valley Area. Jet Stamps were given out with every purchase…. Byorum's Hardware would have been across the street from the Piggly Wiggly store.

Early Churches in Minot

After the original town site of Minot was established, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists were the first  congregations to take advantage of free lots offered to churches. Within two years after the town had started and as early as 1884, these three denominations all had houses of worship within a block of Main Street on 2^nd Avenue in Downtown Minot. The Methodists formed the first congregations held the first church services…. The Presbyterians were the second to form a congregation and the first to erect a building in the city….. the Baptists were the first to build a brick walled church. By 1887 the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches were established in Minot also. Shown below are the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and St Leo's Catholic Church in about 1908 as the steeples are being built. The Methodist church was on the corner of 2nd Ave. and 1st St. SE..... the Presbyterian Church was on the corner of 2nd Ave. SW

Bridgeman Creamery

Bridgeman Creamery in Minot prided itself on continuously pioneering advancements in quality control and sanitation techniques. Bridgeman Creamery was the first in the area with Bulk Tank Trucks to move products from the farm to the Creamery. They were also the first and only creamery with an In-the-Plant Laboratory and Chemist to test and insure the quality of its products. Bridgeman’s also had the first and only All-refrigerated trucks for home delivery and product delivery to retail businesses. Bridgeman Creamery was located on Third Street Northeast at the south side of the Third Street overpass. Shown below is a milk bottle cap. Some were collected and could be redeemed for passes to shows at the Empire Theater.

Mann's Automotive Supply

Mann’s Automotive operated four stores in western North Dakota, Minot, Dickinson, Watford City and Bowman. The business was started by Paul Mann and his son Kenneth in 1943. The Minot Store opened in 1955 in the Roosevelt Hotel Building on the corner of 2^nd Street (Broadway) and 1^st Avenue in Downtown Minot. In 1958,  Mann’s moved to Highway 83 South, at 16^th Avenue and Broadway.  Mann’s had over 900 accounts including service stations, car dealers, repair shops, implement dealers and hardware stores. Mann’s stocked over one million parts and also had a complete automotive machine shop. Mann’s Automotive is now the home to Hedahl’s Auto  parts. Roosevelt Hotel shown below

House Update 2-20-12

I have had people wondering about the house. Here is the latest update.... Pat the Sewing Lady has moved back home with her sewing business. The up stairs, (top floor), where we had lots of "stuff" stored is almost live-able again.
The steps in the back entry are in and waiting to be stained. That will happen after the floor in the basement hallway is repaired. We have a small area of concrete overlay that did not bond to floor below. it has to be chipped out and replaced. The heating guys are supposed to return this week to finnish installing the master controll for the heating zones and to install the covers on the vents. When the weather warms we are going to rototill the lawn and plant grass. I have been in contact with the painter to repaint the bottom 8 feet of the house. The house was repainted the fall of 2010. We have the garage to re-do.... looking into the possibility of raising the roof and adding a second story. Also we are thinking of moving my woodworking shop out to the garage.... after insulation and heat are added. Picture below is of one of my clocks I make when not restoring our flood damaged house.

St Croix Motors

Charles St Croix started in the automobile business as a car salesman in 1934.  He started St Croix Motors in 1948 to distribute and sell Kaiser automobiles. The Kaiser franchise was soon dropped in favor of Hudson and Rambler in 1952. In 1957 St Croix Motors opened in a new location on Highway 83 South, part of the Magic Mile….. now the Dakota Boys & Girls Second Hand Store. When  they opened in this location the decision was made to devote full time to used vehicles. In the early sixties St Croix also advertised “truck hoists installed while you wait”. Later St Croix motors would handle some lines of motor homes and motorcycles

Drawz Stoker Mfg. Co.- Update

This was submitted by one of my readers so I am passing it on to all.....In the summer or early fall of 1976 Kentucky Fried Chicken (MarDon Enterprises, Ltd.) owned by Peggy and Don Kimball rented the north half of Drawz's steel building. The front half was used for office space for the three KFC locations in Minot and the one in Devil's Lake. The back half was used as a warehouse for non-perishable goods for the three Minot stores. I don't remember what year my Mom and Don closed the office and warehouse, but I remember when we first opened it, as I worked there then. The owners at Drawz were awesome people.

Minor Boxing Club

In the early part of the 1900’s Minot was home to the Minot Boxing Club. One of the main boxing attractions in 1905-1906 was Mark Nelson. He fought professionally in the  lightweight and a welterweight classes. In August of 1908, Minot banned professional boxing. Nelson claimed to have lost only 6 of 206 fights. In 1906 the Minot Athletic Association was established mainly to promote Nelson’s fights. Early matches were at times help at the Minot Opera House on main Street. Boxing made a resurgence in the 1930’s. The Minot Boxing Club at that time was based out of the Parker Auditorium where they held their amateur matches. The Parker Auditorium was on 1^st Avenue Southeast in Downtown Minot across from what is now the Blue Rider Bar.

Mitchell Hardware & Cafe

The only hardware store in the territory where you can buy a good t-bone steak AND the only steakhouse in the territory where you can buy good hardware!. Established in 1948 Mitchell’s Hardware and Café was located at 222 East Central Avenue…. Now the home of Val’s Cyclery. Mitchell’s was the authorized sales and service agents for Monarch Ranges, Hank’s Paints, Stanley Tools, Glodblat’s Masonary Tools and McKAy’s water Treatment. Mitchell;s at one time had a talking Myna Bird who was prone to uttering cuss words so many young people were not allowed to go near him. The Myna Bird’s name was Mac

Drawz Stoker Mfg. Co.

In August of 1928, Roy Drawz was tired of shoveling coal so he applied for a patent on the Drawz Stoker. In 1951, needing more room, Drawz Stoker moved to a new location on Highway 83 South of Minot. Shortly thereafter a steel building was added to accommodate more expansion and growth. The building still stands and is across the road from the Gas Stop on South Broadway. Other lines carried were Moncrief furnaces, gas conversion burners, oil burners, Dura-Vent metal gas chimneys and Minneapolis-Honeywell products. Pictured below are people affiliated with Drawz-Stoker 

Eagles Club

Fraternal Order of the Eagles – The Minot Eagles Club was organized on August 3, 1941 with 108 charter members. In the 60’s and 70’s the Minot Eagles Club #2376 was one of the most active fraternal organizations in Minot. The original Eagles Club was in Downtown Minot on 1^st Street South East, now the home of the Chicago Club. The Eagles later moved to their location at 16^th Street and 2^nd Avenue SW, behind Harleys and across the street to the east of the Arrowhead Shopping Center. The first president of the Eagles Club in 1941 was E J McIlraith.

Seebby's House of Tile

Sebby’s was located on  “Minot’s magic Mile”. The street is known today as South Broadway. In the 50’s and 60’s The businesses were only listed as being on Highway 83 South. Sebby’s was across from what is now Ryan Chevrolet on the corner of South Broadway and 19^th Avenue. Sebby’s carried carpeting, formica and asphalt and asbestos tile (before it was found to be hazardous). The also carried inlaid linoleum, Lion Brand Paints, Plastic Wall Tile and Vacuum cleaners….. Motto – Sebby’s Gives you more at REALISTIC PRICES in floor Covering

Past Businesses - 1960's #8

Past Business of Minot #10 – Sunshine Grocery – located at 836 9^th Ave NW (just west of Minot State), was a local neighborhood grocery store that featured groceries, quality meats, fresh produce, soft drinks and ice cream….. Riverside Lodge and Motel – Highway 2 east across from the Fairgrounds, (now the home of the Holiday Inn). It was built in 1946 and acclaimed for its superb cuisine, efficient service and comfortable accommodations in the motel….. Central Pharmacy – Bill Utke was the proprietor. Central Pharmacy was located at 19 West Central Avenue…. Ace Hardware – Located on the east side of 1^st Street SE, one half block north of the Post Office (now the Federal Building). Started in 1933, Ace Hardware prided themselves as a complete hardware store featuring America’s best known brand names …. Shown below - Sunshine Grocery on 9th Ave NW and Ace Hardware

Edsel Showing

On Friday, Oct 31, 1958 (Halloween) the 1959 Edsel, an exciting new kind of car, was making its debut showing at Westlie Motors. Coffee and donuts were served and at that time, Westlie’s claimed to be North Dakota’s largest auto dealer. ….. the Edsel claimed to be the car that looks right, works right and was priced right. The Edsel was luxurious without overdoing it. Roomy with out useless length. Powerful without hogging gas and styled to last.  The Edsel line featured 10 different models with 4 different motors . The Edsel was only around for about 3 years ….. maybe they should not have had their premiere showing on Halloween.

Clarence Parker Hotel

The Clarence Parker Hotel was originally built to be an office building. The original owners were Vaulker and Christenson. When the economy slowed in the 30’s and the outbreak of Work War II, the building sat empty for about 20 years. It was often referred to as the Sparrow Hotel as the top 4 or 5 floors were just steel girders, inhabited by birds of the area. After the War, Clarence Parker bought the building and finished construction, turning it into the 250 room Hotel that was named after him. In 1961, at the Diamond Jubilee, and in honor of the Dakota Territory’s Centennial celebration, the new Lounge was named the Centennial Room. In the 50's when Eisenhower came to see the Garrison dam, he and his entourage stayed in a block of 20 rooms at the Clarence Parker Hotel.

The Hotel Leland

Parker Hotels – The Hotel Leland – in 1904 the Hotel Leland had 110 rooms that were steam heated, electrically lighted and finely equipped. The Leland also had a large, pretentious dining room that could seat 1oo people. One of the specialties was  buffalo steaks from the Parker’s famous bufflo herds on their ranch in the Des Lacs Area. The Leland Hotel building also was the home to many other businesses on Main Street over the years. The location of the Leland Hotel is now a parking lot on the north end of Main Street at Central Avenue. Pictured below is the Leland Hotel in the 1950's and also in the early 1900's.

The Leland House

Parker Hotels – Minot’s first hotel was The Leland House, built in 1886 on the north end of main Street. It was built by Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Parker, parents of Clarence Parker. Fire destroyed the hotel in 1890. In 1896 the Parkers leased the Leland House from the original owner, Allen Tompkins and bought it from him in 1898. The Leland House was located on the Soutwest corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. It was Minot’s first brick building and boasted 10 rooms with a bath. The Leland House also had its own sewer system as the city council back then voted down a proposal for city sewer.

Past Businesses - 1960's #7

Eatmore Sausage & Packing Co. – starting in a tiny one room building in 1934, Eatmore sausage had a line of products that included smoked meats, all kinds of sausage and all grades of beef, veal and pork. Eatmore was a local company that employed all local help. They purchase all their meat products from local feedlots and sales rings. …. Collins – Russell Mortuary – Owned by Harlan Russell and Chester Collins, it was located in Green Valley o Souris Drive, directly south of the Fairgrounds. The location is now a church

Oak Park Liquors

Located just one block west of the Oak Park Piggly Wiggly on the southeast corner of 16^th St and 4^th Ave NW. Oak Park Liquors opened for business in 1958 as Minot’s first packaged liquor Supermarket. Some of the reasons given to shop Oak Park Liquors were: Convenient drive-in… parking for 50 cars…Most popular brands…Carload capacity cooler … Chilled soft drinks and mix … All occasion gift wrap … Free ice cubes … one of the finest liquor stores in the nation….. and it was air conditioned.

Legal Hanging

Hans Thorpe will go down in history as the only person to be legally hanged in Minot. Thorpe drifted into Minot in 1898 and was reported to be quite a handsome guy and quite a lady’s man. Shortly after arriving in town he met and married a Minot girl…. Then his trouble began.  Thorpe and his wife got into a terrible argument one evening at the dinner table. In her room, the house keeper heard shots and when she ran into the dining room found Mrs. Thorpe dead of gunshot wounds. She also found Thorpe lying in his own blood as he had then turned the gun on himself. He did not do a very good job of shooting himself as he recovered and had to face his trial for murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged which happened on September 14, 1900. The gallows was just east of Minot on Valley Street, (about at the intersection of Valker Road, or at the bottom of the truck stop hill). Thorpe was reported to have wondered why everyone was in such a big hurry to get to the hanging, as “Nothing will happen until I get there”. Reports state that Thorpe was taken to Rosehill Cemetary and placed in an unmarked grave…..