Clothing Stores from Days Gone By

KG Men’s Store – The first KG Men’s Store opened in 1955 and was in Downtown Minot on Main Street. When Town & Country Shopping Center opened in the early 60’s, KG Men’s Store moved to the center and for a brief period of time was in the Dakota Square Mall. …. Kinney’s Shoes – a full line family shoe store originally located at 200 Main Street South. Kinney’s moved to the Town & Country Shopping Center when it opened. …. Shark’s Men’s Store – On Main Street in Downtown Minot, formerly Olson’s Men’s Store

Flash from the Past

Fashion City – A ladies fashion store at 111 South Main St.  …. “Next Door to H&H Variety” – Celebrated their grand opening on October 30, 1958 – H&H Variety Store -  Located on the west side Main Street in the 1950’s ….. Diamond’s Jack & Jill Grocery Store – 505 2^nd St NW (North Broadway) – In 1958 a 2 lb can of coffee was only $1.49 – 10 cans of tomato soup was $1.00 and you could get a 50 pound bag of red potatoes for 98 cents ….. Greengard – Cranston – Men’s clothing store- originally on Central Avenue before moving to Main Street

 Main Street in the 50's

Greengard's on Central Ave. just west of 1st National bank

Valker Floral & More

Goldberg’s Furniture – Located at 6 – 8 North Main, on the east side of  Main Street. Goldberg’s was open until 9 pm on Monday and Thursday. (Most stores were only open until 9 pm on Thursday. Their telephone number was 20-218 ….. Waterman Motors – Highway 83 South. Minot’s Volkswagen Dealer in 1958 ….. George Valker Floral – 216-218 South Main Street. Valker’s was located across from what is now Bray’s on Main Street ….. Bader’s – Ladies wear store located on Main Street. They advertised themselves as being “The Store of Famous 

Ward County Hospital

The Ward County Hospital was completed in 1896. In 1911 the Sister’s of St Francis came to Minot to manage the 30 bed hospital. They changed the name form “Northwestern” to St Joseph’s and began their mission of caring. In 1917 the Sisters purchased the hospital from the county for $28,000.00. The hospital grew from its original 30 beds to a 197 bed modern facility. St Joseph’s was eventually acquired by Trinity Medical Center.

Prairie Gardens

Prairie Gardens Bakery Restaurant – located at 711 South Broadway in the King’s Food Host building – the building was completely remodeled – Display cases added for pastries and craft and gift area also added. Prairie Gardens also provided catering services and daily breakfast specials …. Fax or call your order to Prairie Gardens and they provided delivery service …. At one time they had over 25 employees ….. The location is now the home of McDonalds on South Broadway.

The Other Place

Located at 14 West Central Avenue, The Other Place opened on August 17, 1970. It was a clothing store catering to the younger female generation. The Other Place claimed to have the “Swingingest” styles in Minot. They carried everything from ponchos, floppy hats, pant suits, and gaucho pants to mini and midi skirts.  The first 500 customers received free “love” flowers and entertainment was provided by an all girl bank known as Crimson Lace. This location would be the north end of the parking lot across Central Avenue from Brady Martz

Harold's Car Wash

Located at 719 North Broadway the grand opening was held in May of 1971. Harold’s was completely new and the largest of its kind in a three state area. It was built at a cost of $185,000.00. Harold’s sold Gulf gasoline, had 12 pump islands, 10 vacuum cleaner drops and featured a hot wax application. They also claimed they could wash 120 cars per hour, (a feat that would be difficult to match today)… During the grand opening they gave away 2 portable TV sets, 8 oz. glasses with each purchase along with a family size bottle of coke, and 10 people won 50 gallons of gasoline.  This would have been in the area of the Westlie Auto Center on North Broadway

Wild West Show 1970

it came to Minot in August of 1970…. Tommy Scott’s  Country Caravan and Wild West Show featuring Col. Tim MCCoy. The shows were held at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The caravan claimed to have 10 carloads of radio, TV and recording stars direct form Hollywood and Nashville. Some included The Hollywood Hillbillies, Dave DeLock, the world’s fastest six gun , sharpshooting and rope spinning act. There was also real cowboys and Indians, circus acts and funny clowns. The Masked Rider from TV fame was also appearing. Tickets were $2.00 and the show was sponsored by the Minot Sertoma Club

Hot Pants on Main Street

in the 1970’s  Hot Pants for young girls were the fashion rage. The reactions to the style were mixed among women and girls of all ages and also among men. On very attractive college senior decided to test people’s reactions on a nice sunny day in April of 1971. Attired in a pair of hot pants she strolled up and down Main Street over the noon hour with a photographer snapping pictures. The reactions were varied. Most older women surveyed did not approve while younger women and girls were going to get a pair themselves. The reactions from the male population was more than positive. Note the past businesses in background

1971 Major Construction Projects

One was the expansion of the Broadway viaduct. A new 2 lane structure was to be completed in the fall.  The other was the Milton R Young Towers on Burdick Expressway. A number of buildings were purchased by the city and moved or destroyed to make room for the Towers. The Samuelson home was acquired by the Historical Society, two other houses and a barn were sold and moved to other locations. The houses sold for $500 to $1000 and the barn for $102. All those sold were moved. Two houses and the barn traveled in a caravan down South Broadway to their new home.

 Milton R Young Towers Construction

 Moving houses on South Broadway by the Post Office

Broadway Viaduct Construction

Salty's Beef & Fish House

In August of 1970 it was the grand opening of Salty’s Beef & Fish House. Located next to the Dutch Mill. The menu consisted of Fish ‘n Chips…. Salty’s Roast Beef on a Bun…. And assorted burgers.  The grand opening special was buy on and get one free on the roast beef or the Fish ‘N Chips …. The Dutch Mill is now known as the Rocking Horse Bar and Salty’s was in the small building just to the west of the Rockin Horse…. Now used as a rooming house for traveling bands playing at the club.

The Big Leo

 in 1970 King Leo’s Drive In at 1734 South Broadway was advertising its new sandwich, The Big Leo. It consisted of 2 beef patties…tasty cheddar cheese… crisp, fresh lettuce… sliced pickles … all held together by a triple sliced Sesame Seed Bun  that was toasted and served with King Leo’s own special sauce all for only 55 cents. ….. Sounds a lot like the McDonald’s Big Mac….. King Leo’s also featured piping hot apple turnovers for on 20 cents  King Leo’s was in the location now occupied by Arby’s on South Broadway.

Water Follies - Show

1970 – Sam Snyder’s – World’s Greatest Revue in Water came to Minot in September 1970. It was help at the Municipal Auditorium in the world’s largest portable pool and stage. Tickets were $2.00 and were available at White Drug and Northwest Piano – both on Main Street at that time. The show ran for five days and was brought to Minot by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds were to go to the Ward County Mental Health Center and the Minot Area Ambulance Inc. The crew for the shoe stayed at the Clarence Parker Hotel. Local auditions to try out for the show could be made by contacting the show’s producer. If successful one could join the traveling troupe.

Chamber of Commerce

New building – On Tuesday, January 13, 1959 the Minot chamber of Commerce officially celebrated the open house of their “brand new” building at 2^nd Avenue and 2^nd Street SW. (the corner of 2^nd Ave & Broadway). Contractors involved in the construction were Harry R Cook & Sons – Plumbing – Mackley Construction – Montana Dakota Utilities (even the water heater is natural gas) – Northern States Power – Holmes Electric – M&S Roofing & Sheet Metal and Fargo Glass & Paint and Johnson Concrete Products. The building was built at a cost of $60,000.00. The location is now the home to Papa John’s Pizza

Family Furniture and More

Family Furniture – located ½ block north of the old YMCA on 1^st Street in Downtown Minot …..   Wylie Piano Company – 117 West Central Avenue – Authorized Baldwin dealer for western North Dakota …..  Minot Federal Savings & Loan – 24 West Central Avenue – established in 1935  ….. Mr Steak Restaurant – on top of Minot’s North Hill – Next to North Hill Bowl ….. Big Bear Store – located on North Main Street – next to what is now 10 North Main – sold western clothing and sporting goods for the hunter and fisherman. Big Bear then moved out to South Broadway at the intersection of 31^st Avenue, where the Gas Stop is now. 

Ribbon Cutting at opening of Mr. Steak

P W Miller

In 1959 the PW Miller Company was located in the Grand Hotel Block on West Central Avenue – This is the parking lot across the street o the north of Tom’s Coin Shop. Prior to this location PW Miller was located on the west side of Main Street north of Central Avenue. In 1959 the ad for PW Miller stated “Our Inventory is up and our bank account is down”. They were advertising – boy’s suits - $6.00 … Men’s work shoes - $2.99 ….. Full size blankets - $1.00 …. Men’s Sweatshirts - $1.00 ….. Used British Parkas - $8.88 …. Marine Corps insulated boots - $6.66 pr …. PW Miller called themselves “The jacket headquarters of the Northwest” . They also sold usd items and military surplus … Later the PW Miller Company moved to 1^st Ave. SE  just west of the Clarence Parker Hotel. This location is now the home of the Olson Law Offices

Business from the Past

Truax-Traer Coal Company – Office in Minot, at one time in the First Avenue Building. Coal mine near Velva ….. Top Valu Market – 4^th Avenue and 21^st Street NW – Meats, Groceries, Frozen foods and open on Sundays – (Eventually became Heislers Market) …..  American State Bank – (now Bremer Bank) in Downtown Minot ….. Johnson Chevrolet  - Became Auran Chevrolet and then Ryan Chevrolet ….. The Corset Shop – Located at 16A South Main – either up or down a stairway between Minot Drug and Buttrey’s – The shop obviously catered to women – Hulda Hoskins was a Registered Corsetiere. 

American State Bank - 1960

Lobby - American Stare Bank - 1950's

Ordinances and a Zoo

1888 Minot City Ordinances – In 1888 it was illegal to ride or drive horses in the city limits faster than a trot or 8 mph – while it sounds funny today, with no traffic signals a galloping horse was a threat to public safety …. There was a “vice” ordinance prohibiting anyone from owning or visiting a “bawdy house” or a house of “ill fame”…… Drunken or disorderly conduct was subject to a fine of not more than $19.00 and/or 9 days in jail ….. it was also illegal to keep horses, mules, cows, sheep, goats or swine (pigs) within the city limits ……

Minot’s Zoo – in 1914 the decision was made to open a zoo in Minot. The Park Board decided to purchase two buffalo from South Dakota, a bull and a cow, at a cost of about $600.00. Five acres was to be fenced for the buffalo. A Menagerie will be started in the area. Some of the animals will be coyotes, foxes, bears and raccoons. A monkey cage will be added and the park already has a number of squirrels in the park, however, boys are shooting the squirrels. Fines and jail terms were to levied on anyone carrying guns in the parks. $1.00 to $19.00 and 1 to 15 days in jail. At one time tourist cabins were available i the Park

Tourist cabins in the park

Original Bear Castle

Past Auto Dealers

1960’s – 1970’s --- Auran Chevrolet – Highway 83 South -- 18^th Avenue and South Broadway – (now Ryan Chevrolet) ……. Ted Schweigert Saab ( a division of Ted Schweigert VW) – 1420 South Broadway (now Prairie Federal Credit Union) ….. Alhood Motors – South Broadway at 31^st Ave. – in 1972 the Mercedes Benz dealer in Minot – featuring the Mercedes diesel cars – uncommon in 1972 ….. Parker Motor Company – established in 1922 – located on 1^st Avenue SE (across from the old YMCA). On the top floor of the Parker Motor Company was the Parker Auditorium. The Auditorium was the home to many conventions and when not used for that had a roller skating rink. 

Parker Auditorium - Burned in 1960's

Parker Motors Showroom

Minot Truck Assembly Line

In May of 1927 the Ford Motor Company stopped production of the Model T Truck to retool their plants for the new Model A. The conversion was going to be a 2 year process. During that time, Westlie Motors set up an assembly line on the top floor of its business here in Minot. The parts were ordered directly from Ford Motor Company. Westlie Motors was the only dealer in the country to do this. In the fall of 1927, 38 trucks rolled off the assembly line.  In 1928, 50 trucks were assembled. When the Model A trucks came out in late 1928, the demand for the Model T ceased as did Minot’s first and only automobile assembly line .

1961 - Future Gadgets

 In 1961 NSP placed an advertisement in the newspaper predicting some of the things that would come to be in the future….. some of these were Instant checkout in stores – Electronic devices will scan purchases and add the bills to give you your total due ….. Automatic Cleaner – A machine that will vacuum, wash, rinse, dry and wax floors by itself then scoot back to the its niche in the baseboard , empty any waste and wait for the next job…… Automatic Wall Painter – Walls will be built with panels that incorporate a chemical that will change color when electricity is applied….. change your wall colors to match your mood……. Cooling Blanket – A blanket that will heat and/or cool at your discretion ….. Make Disposable Tableware - with a touch of the dial and throw them away afterwards – or If using your finest china, you will be able to clean and sterilize in 3 minutes with ultrasonic waves.