Mercantile Hotel

 I know it was on South Main Street but not exactly sure where. In 1903 their ad stated it was the BEST $1 a day Hotel with plenty of room and pleasant surroundings. The weekly price was $4.50. The Hotel was owned by a Mr August  Benedett. His ads encouraged people coming to Minot to shop to stay at the Mercantile Hotel. The picture is from a post card collage of hotels in Minot in the early 1900's 

Dacotah Hotel

Angus McDonald was one of the early developers in Minot who did well and became quite wealthy. In Minot’s early days he bought two lots with a total frontage of 80 feet. On these he built the Dacotah Hotel. One lot was purchased from the Great Northern Railroad the price was $350.00 for one lot and $400.00 for the other. These lots are on the east side of Main Street and as far north as one could go. In 1913 the two lots with the Dacotah Hotel were valued at $40,000. I also came across a story about the Dacotah Hotel being robbed in the early morning hours. The thieves got away with $34.00. 

Dacotah Hotel in the forefront - picture time frame estimated between  1895 and 1905

Water Fountain Saga - Part 5 - Permanent Home

History Of the Downtown Minot Water Fountain…

Part 5 -  The Fountain gets a new permanent home. In 1987, after 50 years on the college campus the fountain became an integral part of Minot’s history. The city was celebrating its Centennial and the Downtown merchants requested that the fountain be returned to Downtown Minot. The College Board of Regents agreed under certain conditions. The missing lion head had to be replaced, the fountain would be fixed and function again and the granite had to be polished. All conditions were agreed to and with the help of Monarch Concrete it was disassembled into its five pieces and moved to a slab that was poured on the corner of Main Street and 1^st Avenue. In front of what was then B&B Drug. The fountain still stands there today. I would guess that many people drive by it and don’t see it and many more know little if anything of the History of the Fountain. I don’t know how many of the 100 built in 1910 are left but I do know that ours is secure on Main Street once again

Fountain Saga Part 4

History Of the Downtown Minot Water Fountain…

Part 4 – Jump ahead to 1922. More and more people were driving and few horses were seen in Downtown Minot.  Because of  its size it became difficult for people to maneuver around it. As time went on the fountain was causing many traffic problems and accidents.  In 1922 the fountain was moved over by Bridgeman Creamery but still it was causing traffic problems. The grain trucks hauling to the nearby elevators had trouble getting around it so in 1937 it was moved again. This time the fountain was moved to Minot State College, (not yet a university). The fountain was place in the area of Dakota Hall, a women’s residence hall. While at the College one of the brass lion’s heads was stolen and the fountain never worked. It became a lawn ornament, usually filled with geraniums and petunias. This is where the fountain resided for 50 years.

Fountain Saga Part 3

History Of the Downtown Minot Water Fountain…–

Part 3 --  At a Meeting of the City Commissioners the decision was made to accept the fountain and abide by the requirements. The Fountain cost the New York Humane Alliance $1250.00. It is made in five pieces from granite quarried in Maine, polished and trimmed with bronze. The total weight is over five tons. The height is 6 feet 8 inches and the bowl is 6 feet in diameter. The fountain held the equivalent of 24 common buckets of water and the bowl was high enough so horses could drink from it while still harnessed. Originally there was a cluster of electric lights on the top of the fountain which Minot Light & Telephone agreed to provide at no expense to the city.

Water Fountain Saga Part 2

 I have come into the possession of copies of the original letters and newspaper clippings about the fountain in downtown Minot … its history and how it came to Minot.

Part 2 – Mr Lewis Seaver and the National Humane Alliance of New York decided to send the Fountain to Minot provided certain conditions were met by the city . 1. The City of Minot had to unload the fountain from the rail car – freight was pre-paid. 2. The City of Minot had to transport and locate the fountain on the designated site. 3. The City of Minot had to provide a good, continuous water supply to the fountain and 4. The City of Minot had to provide permanent, proper care and maintenance for the fountain. Minot was the smallest city in the United States to receive a fountain. Because of the rapid growth the city was experiencing at the time, Minot received a fountain.

Fountain in Downtown Minot - Saga Part 1

History Of the Downtown Minot Water Fountain…– I have come into the possession of copies of the original letters and newspaper clippings about the fountain in downtown Minot … its history and how it came to Minot.

Part 1 – the year was 1910.. For the past two years Mrs. Alex Scarlett had been corresponding with Mr Lewis M Seaver who was the Secretary Treasurer of the National Humane Alliance of New York. She had been asking his organization to donate one of the 100 fountains they were giving away to the City of Minot. The Fountains were to provide water for horses and small bowls at the bottom would supply water for dogs. Mr Seaver was traveling to Denver and decided to stop in Minot on the way to look over the situation. Seaver was entertained by the Scarletts and other City Officials at the Commercial Club as the proposition was discussed. Collectively the Minot group along with Seaver decided the fountain should be located at the intersection of Main and Third Street … (in the early years of Minot the streets ran east and west and the avenues ran north and south. First Street was Central Avenue, which means that Third Street then is Second Avenue now)

Fountain on Main 

Neighborhood Grocery Stores #5

Small Family Grocery Stores – Through the years and before the large chain grocery stores came into being, Minot as had many small, local, family owned neighborhood grocery stores. In 1967 there were 8 neighborhood grocery stores in the city. Some of these are from the 1960’s and others from years gone

Eastwood Park Grocery – 528 East Central Ave – operated by William Kandas .. on Central Avenue next to the Hump Back Bridge which is closed to vehicle traffic

Model Market – 1304 4^th Ave SE – owned by Tilman D Thompson – building has been demolished

Bischke Grocery – 823  4^th Ave SE – east side of the Burdick Expressway Overpass – converted to a Paint and Glass Store –

Paul’s Grocery – owned by Paul Brogolius at 805 2^nd St NW ( North Broadway) … later became the home of Jack’s Pizza

Linnertz Grocery – 331 2^nd Ave NW (North Broadway) … building torn down when Broadway Overpass went to 4 lanes

Hiawatha Grocery – 920 Valley St. – owned by Joseph Gavett … also had a gas station in conjunction with the grocery store…

Heislers  -  On 4th Ave. NW - in the 60's I believe this was the only grocery store open on Sunday.

 Eastwood Park Grocery

Heisler's Grocery

Neighborhood Grocery Stores #4

Small Family Grocery Stores – Through the years and before the large chain grocery stores came into being, Minot as had many small, local, family owned neighborhood grocery stores. In 1967 there were 8 neighborhood grocery stores in the city. Some of these are from the 1960’s and others from years gone by:

Liberty Grocery – 510 4^th Ave NE – across the street from the Liberty Tavern …. Owned and operated by George Voregarethhsos… At one time the Sears warehouse was across the street to the north

Model Market – 1304 4^th Ave SE – owned by Tilman D Thompson – building has been demolished

Bischke Grocery – 823  4^th Ave SE – east side of the Burdick Expressway Overpass – converted to a Paint and Glass Store –

Quality Grocery – 721 6^th Ave NE – operated by Clara Roberts and then by Katsu Yanagita .. who later returned to Japan …

Paul’s Grocery – owned by Paul Brogolius at 805 2^nd St NW ( North Broadway) … later became the home of Jack’s Pizza

Liberty Grocery

Neighborhood Grocery Stores #3

Small Family Grocery Stores – Through the years and before the large chain grocery stores came into being, Minot as had many small, local, family owned neighborhood grocery stores. In 1967 there were 8 neighborhood grocery stores in the city. Some of these are from the 1960’s and others from years gone by:

Gar’s Grocery – 427 2^nd Ave NW – owned by Gary Vardsveen and formerly known as Virg’s Grocery when Virgil Nordstrom owned it

Schrepel’s Grocery – owned by AE Schrepel at 205 3rd Ave SE – now the location of the YWCA

Hillside Grocery – operated by Albin Willenbring – 400 South Main – building bought by Trinity Hospital

Chelgren’s Grocery – owned by Henning A Chelgren at 715 Valley St. – store closed and building converted to apartments

Wagner’s Grocery – owned by Perley E Wagner – 1217 Valley St. – also had a gas station in addition to groceries … Converted to a family dwelling

Bondly’s Grocery  -- Otto Bondly owner – 1614  4^th Ave SE – Grocery business closed – converted to a Beauty Salon

Gar's Grocery

Neighborhood Grocery Stores #2

Small Family Grocery Stores – Through the years and before the large chain grocery stores came into being, Minot as had many small, local, family owned neighborhood grocery stores. In 1967 there were 8 neighborhood grocery stores in the city. Some of these are from the 1960’s and others from years gone by:

Helm’s Grocery  -- 603 8^th Ave NE – owned by Dale Helm and his brother Howard – east of  Trinity Nursing Home.

Sunshine Grocery – 836 9^th Ave NW – operated by Arthur Johnson and his wife – west of Little Flower Church

Warren’s Grocery – 322 7^th Ave NW – owned by Barbara T. Dignan..

Handy Grocery – Ross Peterson owner – was located where the Minot Daily News is now.. the building was moved to Northwest Minot and was converted to apartments

Beckland Grocery – 920 4^th Ave Se (East Burdick Exp.) …. Owned by Carl Beckland … building was demolished for the Parkway Motel … which in turn was demolished for expansion of Coca Cola Bottling

Oak Park Grocery – 422  2^nd Ave NW …. Owned by Christian Schmelling … I believe this was converted to a residence

 Helms Grocery

 Oak Park Grocery - 1923 Flood

 Oak Park Grocery - 1923 Flood

Sunshine Grocery

Small Family Grocery Stores – Through the years and before the large chain grocery stores came into being, Minot as had many small, local, family owned neighborhood grocery stores. In 1967 there were 8 neighborhood grocery stores in the city. In 1968 I was running a delivery route for the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and delivered soft drinks to most of these locations

Larson Grocery – 213  4^th Ave SE. Owned and managed by Clarence Larson and his son Duane had the longest tenure of any neighborhood grocery store. Larson owned the business and leased the 16 by 30 foot building from Ida Hagen Lee and at the end from Ward County who purchased it from the Lee estate. Larson Grocery was open every day except Sunday from 9:30 am to 9 pm. The store took many phone orders and delivered groceries all over Minot.

South Hill Grocery – 212 8^th Ave SE – owned at one time by Kenneth Yetter – at the top of the hill at the intersection of 2^nd St and 8^th Ave … above M&H Gas.

Add caption

Main Street 1890

 In the picture of Main Street in 1890 the teams of wagons belong to local Indians and are filled with buffalo bones which were traded to merchants for groceries and other merchandise. The bones were taken to a railroad spur and eventually shipped to St Louis to be used in refining sugar. The bones were worth ten to fifteen dollars a ton. The small building on the left is the Post Office. Next to that was the office of J.B. Rourke, Justice of the Peace. The taller building was a drug store owned by W. E. Mansfield. This is the intersection of Main Street and 1^st Avenue. The two story brick building was a large general store owned by the Strain Brothers. North of Strain Brothers was John and Peter Eher’s meat market. The original Jacobson Hardware was a few doors down the street and at the end of the street is the Great Northern passenger depot.

Scandinavian Hotel

John Strommen came to the United States from Norway about 1880. In 1887 he and his family settled in the Mouse River Valley and built a sod house in the general area of Minot Central Campus. John stayed in Minot after the rest of his family moved on. For many years he ran a successful dray business.  He built the Scandinavian Hotel, owned a café and Johnny’s Confectionary which was a ice cream and candy store. Strommen also built many homes in Minot and organized the first volunteer fire department. He was recognized for his many years of service on the fire department in 1917…. 

Picnic in January

1892 Picnic -- On a mild day in January of 1892, almost the entire population of Minot enjoyed an outdoor picnic without having to bundle up in warm clothing. The scene is near the Great Northern Railroad Bridge across the Mouse River. At the time of the picture, the picnic grounds were outside the City Limits of Minot. This site is very close to where the Minot Flour Mill would be built. In the picture are C. A. Johnson, principal of the school and some of his students. One of those students was Joseph Rowan who went on to become and undertaker and owner of Rowan’s Funeral Home on Main Street. The Funeral Home was an establishment involved in the illegal booze running during the prohibition days.

Skateland - Fire 1962

 Skateland was located in the auditorium portion of the old Parker Motor building located at 113 1^st Avenue SE. Early in the morning of Sunday, Sept 23, 1962, the upper portion of the building was destroyed by fire. About two years previously the building had been purchased from the Parker Corporation by Dr. Ringo. The building also house the California firm of Ets-Hokin-Galvin Inc. They were involved in laying cable for the Minute Man missile project in the area. By the time the firefighters arrived there was to chance to save the roof and upper story. Damage to the rest of the building was limited as the auditorium had a double layered wooden floor. There had been a dance in Skateland the evening before which may have contributed to the cause of the fire. The building is still there and is used as a parking garage.

 Interior of Parker Auditorium / Skateland

Parker Motors and Auditorium middle of block

Jundt's Westland

Thursday, September 27, 1962 was the opening of a new Westland gas station on the magic Mile in Minot, (the Magic Mile being South Broadway). The proprietor of the new station was Leo Jundt. Prior to operating this location, Jundt operated a Westland Station on East Central Avenue. The new station on South Broadway was built at a cost of $85,000.00. It featured a 25 foot canopy in the front that extended over the gas pumps. The station also housed two service bays, each with a single post hoist. The “Selectane” gas pumps were new in design and could dispense nine different grades of gasoline to match the gas to the octane requirements of the vehicle

Remember These From the Past?

 Arrowhead Record Discount Center – Besides Records they also sold stereos – many in furniture styled cabinets ( in the 60’s – before the days of  cassettes, cd’s and mp3’s) ……. Diamond’s Department Store – Mainly clothing in two Minot locations – Arrowhead Shopping Center and 437 2^nd St NW (N. Broadway) …… Arrowhead Drug – in 1963 – Minot’s newest drug store ….. H&H Variety – located at 109 South Main St …. Coast to Coast Store – 14 1^st Ave SW – Northwest Piano Co. 121 South Main St …. Also sold radios and TV’s and had a complete radio and TV service Dept…..Shark’s Mens Store – corner of 1^st Avenue and Main St. – home of Rick’s Jewelry repair …. Deardurff’s Hobby House – 111 West Central Ave.—used to hold model contests – 3 Divisions – Cars, Ships and Airplanes ….. 

Jan 1963 - King Leo's Opens

King Leo’s opens in Minot ….. the ad in the newspaper on January 22, 1963 proclaimed that King Leo’s was open for business. They billed themselves as the “Aristocrat of Hamburgers)…. King Leo’s was open Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to Midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 1 am… The opening menu featured Hamburgers - 15 cents …..  Cheeseburgers – 19 cents ….. French fries – 12 cents …. Soft drinks 10 and 15 cents ….. hot chocolate – 12 cents and triple thick milk shakes – 20 cents …. All burgers were made with 100% US Gov’t. inspected ground beef…. King Leo’s was located on the Magic Mile (south Broadway – where Arby’s is now).

 King Leo's - Not Minot Restaurant

Great Northern Bank

1st National Bank was originally known as the Great Northern Bank when it was established in 1897. The building was constructed of brick made in a brickyard just west of Minot. This building stood until it was demolished in 1929 to make room for the new building. The bank was name the Great Northern Bank in honor of Jim Hill who was a close friend of Joseph Roach, one of the founders of the bank. Later the name was changed to the 2^nd National Bank and eventually to the 1^st National Bank.  In 1887 the Bank of Minot was formed and eventually became the 1^st National Bank. In the early 1900’s there were two banks chartered under the name of the 1^st National Bank. Both of these failed, hence the name 2^nd National Bank for a period of time. No affiliation with the failed banks was wanted. In the early days, trees were planted in the boulevard to the south of the bank. They grew to be quite tall before they were cut down due to the paving of the streets.

 

Great Northern Bank - 2nd National Bank

1st National Bank

News Arcade II

 In the Wednesday, January 30, 1963 newspaper there was an ad announcing the Grand Opening of the News Arcade II. It was located at 214 South Main St. They were open until 10:30 pm nightly. The News Arcade II claimed to have Minot’s most complete supply of paperback books. They also sold newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, and North Dakota Souvenirs…. And they did some photo finishing. … News arcade was also a drop off point for ABC Cleaners. Clothes in by 9 am would be ready by 5 pm.