Asplund Garage –

In 1917 Albert Asplund started in the automobile repair business at 618 Second Street NW in Minot. During the year of 1918 he acquired the Pullman franchise and sold several cars. After a year of sales he dropped the franchise and went back to only repairing automobiles. His son, Wendell, always worked with his father. In 1941 they built a new building at 110-112 Second Street. Eventually they took on the Studebaker franchise. Later the Studebaker franchise was closed and Asplund’s became the first Toyota dealer in Minot

Minot Typewriter Co. –

 The Minot Typewriter Company was started in 1942 by George Osdoba. It was located at 106-A West Central Avenue. In 1944 Truman Graves joined the staff. When Osdoba retired in January 1961, Graves acquired sole ownership of the company. When the computer age started the days of the typewriter became nonexistent. I was just informed that one of George Osdoba's daughters still lives in Minot near the Arrowhead Shopping Center. Eventually a gentleman named Truman Graves gained ownership of Minot Typewriter. Graves was an avid and quite accomplished trap shooter.

Ads of Interest – November 1963

– Minot Federal Savings (Midwest Federal or the Big “M” Building) was new. During normal business hours daily tours were being offered with free refreshments and free brochures …. Arrowhead Shopping Center was advertising the fact that 2^nd Avenue was now paved all the way to the shopping center …. Prices on a local car dealer’s used car lot – 1958 Ford Fairlane - $285.00 .. 1959 Pontiac Catalina - $995.00 .. 1961 Ford Fairlane - $1065.00 …. Vince Lee’s Bottle Shop on 3^rd Street NE was advertising the right wine for any occasion …. Self Service Furniture had a Full size crib and mattress for $29.95 (They were located on South Broadway across from Ryan Chevrolet) …  And White’s Dairy was advertising BEEP – A fruit flavored, dairy processed breakfast drink …. 

Brannan Drapery Studio

Brannan Drapery Studio – Brannan Drapery Studio opened on May 1, 1957. Leo Brannan was the owner. Brannan Draperies specialized in custom made draperies, slipcovers and bedspreads. The offered their services for the home and also for office and professional buildings. Brannan Drapery Studio was located at 6 North Main Street.

Tempo – More Advertised specials – 1963 – For the automobile Tempo was offering a pair of 15 inch snow tires for $27.95 .. no more down and payments of $1.23 a week …. A 6/12 volt battery charger was $2.97 …. Gas line antifreeze – 14 cents a can …. Battery booster cables were only $1.07 ….  A wooden snow brush for 23 cents …. Tempo also had an ad running featuring winter footwear for the family …. Girl’s snow boots - $2.68 pr …. Women’s snow boots - $4.28 pr … Men’s four buckle overshoes - $4.58 pr …. Men’s insulated pac boots - $4.38 pr

Western Paint

Western Paint – Western Paint opened in 1960. They were located on First Street NE, just two blocks north of the Clarence Parker Hotel. Western Paint was the authorized dealer for Benjamin Moore Paints. They also did glass replacement on windows and mirrors handled carpet, linoleum and window treatments. This location just opened a few weeks ago as The Starving Rooster restaurant.

Specials – 1963 – The Jupiter Store in Minot was located at 8 South Main Street. The building is now the home of Western Paint Home Center. In 1963 the newspaper ad featured these specials for the Christmas shopper. A boy’s or girl’s 26 inch bicycle for $29.88…. ¼ inch electric drill - $7.72 …. 6 big rolls of Christmas wrapping paper – 88 cents …. Sorry game - $2.27 …. Monopoly game - $2.99 …. Ladies Dusters - $1.88 …. Men’s thermal sox – 2 pr – 66 cents …. A 4 foot aluminum, Christmas tree - $2.87 …. A 6 foot tree for $4.68 ….  And an 18 ounce can of mixed nuts for 57 cents

Western Paint - 1964

Minot Insurance Agency –

 Montgomery’s of Minot – In 1907 RE Barron and HW Montgomery formed a partnership to take over the insurance department of the Second National Bank. (The Second National Bank later became the 1st Nationa Bank in Minot). In 1908 they incorporated as The Minot Insurance Agency. Their office was in the Renwald Land Agency at Main Street and First Avenue SW. After a couple moves, in 1928 they finally located in the First National Bank Building on Central Avenue and Main Street. 

Olson Electric

EN Olson Electric Works – Olson Electric Works was founded on December 29, 1927  at 109 -111 First Street South East. Initially Olson Electric manufactured wind chargers and storage batteries for use on the farm. After REA’s (Rural Electric Cooperatives) became popular they switched to sales and servicing appliances and electric motors. They also repaired and did electric motor rebuilding. Olson Electric also carried a full line of appliance parts, and all parts needed for electric motor repair.

City BakeryInter

City Bakery in Minot began in 1914. In the beginning deliveries were made in horse drawn wagons by the owners, Stein Johnson and Frank Sampson. The nicest of the delivery wagons was enclosed and made in Philadelphia. There was one employee at the time, Salem Blomberg. Prior to closing, City Bakery was owned by Olger Barnsness. Their motto was “Fresh from the ovens daily”. City Bakery was located at 210 South Main Street. During the flood of 1969 the City Bakery vans were used at night to deliver food and beverages to volunteers working on the dikes.

Interior - City Bakery

Main Motors

Main Motors was located at the intersection of Main Street and 4^th Avenue. At one time Main Motors was owned by Missouri Valley Motors of Bismarck. On April 1, 1960, four people purchased the business and changed the name to Main Motors. Those four included Don Moe, Alvin Officer, Bert LaHart and Sam Marshall. In 1960 Moe and Officer bought out the other two and became the principal owners. In March of 1963 Main Motors was moved to a new location at 108 #rd St. and became Lahart-Moe Inc. The business was franchised through and sold all Chrysler products. Eventually Don Moe would buy out Lahart and move the business to 3615 South Broadway under the name of Don Moe Motors. Through other owners and name changes the business became Minot Chrysler Center and is now known as Minot Automotive Center, selling Chrysler and Toyota products. 

Main Motors - 1950's

Grow Clothing

Another business that was located on the north end of Main Street in the early 1900’s was Grow Clothing. They were across the street from the Dacotah Hotel ( about where the SOO Line Depot is now). In 1905 Grow Clothing was holding a gopher tail contest. The reason was to help the farmers reduce the gopher population that was damaging crops. The contest was open until July 3^rd with prizes being awarded on July 4^th. The winner received a $20.00 suit of clothes. Anyone turning in over 100 gopher tails was to receive a prize. In 1907 the business ran into hard times and in 1910 Grow Clothing was Purchased by the Cohn Clothing Co. In 1916 the store was purchased by MG Olson and became part of the Olson Men’s stores which had locations throughout the state.

FW Roach Elevator

FW Roach Elevator – one of the first grain elevators was built and managed by FW Roach. The earliest information I have is a picture from the early 1900’s and the article in the Ward County Independent on Sept. 27, 1905 in which he stated … “When Marketing your grain, visit the Roach Elevator and I feel certain you will be satisfied with the treatment you receive. I can guarantee to give you price equal to any in the state. I am determined as one grain man to make Minot the best marketing point in the northwest. Remember the FW Roach Elevator near the Great Northern Track in Minot.”  Roach was also one of the earlier land developers in the Minot downtown area.

FW Roach Elevator about 1900

Memories of the Past #5 -

 On the corner of Central Avenue and 1st to the East of Main there is a big brick building (across from the parking lot now that used to be the hotel) there was a discount women’s store back in the early 60's, I don't remember the name of it. Then it was a Joseph’s hairstyling college for a good number of years. Now it sits empty.

 At the turn of the century this building was home to the Grand Forks Grocery Co. . In the early 1900’s it was purchased by some local men and became the Minot Grocery co. which eventually evolved into Nash Finch.

Minot Grocery Building

Memories of the Past #4

-  Rick's Jewelers on Main Street used to be Sharks Men's Store. The American Cafe still has the same front but is Abacadabra balloons now.  I think, after looking around, that Fiancee was Bader’s Women’s Wear and the Buttrey's store was a couple of doors south. There was also Taube's somewhere on Main street. I noticed "The Fair" sign is still on Ellisons front overhang.

What used to be B&B Drug, Minot Business College, Gaffaney’s and Northwest Sporting Goods on 1st Street (west of Main) is all parking lot!! In that same block there was also the  13 Club and McCurdy’s Café. Across the Street was Toivo’s Jewelers and The Legion Club just north of American State Bank.

Memories of the Past #3

 North Main Tavern located in the same block as the First National Bank, north of Central Avenue on the west side of Main St. The Covered Wagon was located a door or two up from the American Cafe on the east side Main St, south of Central Avenue. These were the first bars to have the dancing "go go girls" in Minot. Shortly thereafter Gordon's Holiday Spot – Sundowner Lounge and the 13 Club on 1^st St. got them. Gordon's is now Hibachi restaurant. Trails West Bottle shop was I think the Sundowner and then SideKicks. Back in the middle 60's Gordon's Holiday Spot lounge-bar the band "The Evans Sisters and Carl" played. It was a pretty popular night spot at the time. 

Covered Wagon Bar

Gordons Holiday Spot Menu

Memories of the Past #2 -

On First Street,  mid block between Central Avenue and 1^st Avenue was Minot Bowling Lanes (it was upstairs also) owned by Fred George .  Harry's Tire Service was next door. )The Bowling Alley was above Harry’s Tire)…This Bowling alley at one time had human pin setters, they used to hire high school kids to do it.  (The people who ran the Bowling Alley lived in an apartment on the top floor of the building. Not sure when it closed but then in the mid-60's it was a place to take your slot car as it had a big track for racing slot cars. 

Also, just west of Woolworths on Central Avenue was the Singer Store and a Drug Store and I don't remember the name of that one. (There was also a women’s hat shop on the same block of Central Avenue, between 1^st Street Southwest and Main St.)

Central Ave. Looking east from Broadway - 1940's

Memories of the Past #1 - Carl's Music Shop was at one time The Minot Accordion Shop and it was located where I Keating is.  He sold Accordions and Guitars mainly and also gave music lessons for the accordion.  (In the mid-sixties, Carl’s Music Shop was located in the Flat Iron Building on Central Avenue).

 On the East side of First Street there was B&B drug with a cafeteria below it and it had the most luscious caramel rolls in the morning!!  On street side, one door down and up the stairs was the Minot Business College.  In the mid-60's Minot Business College moved up on South Hill to what used to be a convent.  Not sure when it closed It was owned by Lloyd Hansen. (This is now Apartments at the intersection of 3^rd Street and 14^th Avenue SE…. By Rosehill Cemetary).

Flat Iron Building - Central and Broadway

The Barrel becomes The Keg

The Barrel  Pt 5 --  After the war, when gas rationing disappeared, the Minot Barrel grew in popularity. Ruth Sethen bought the Barrel from Muzzy and added a dining room and painted the Barrel White. In 1949, Ruth sold the Barrel to her brother Robert Sethen. He operated it until 1955 when he sold it to Rodney Lovdahl, one of his employees. Lovedahl changed the name to the Keg and operated it from 1955 to 1968. The Keg was severely damaged by the Flood of 1969 and was finally demolished in 1971. The other Barrel root beer stands met the same fate. They deteriorated and were eventually destroyed. The only Barrel still in operation is in Grand Forks and it is known as the Kegs. It consists of the original Grand Forks Barrel and the one from Wadena which was moved to Grand Forks. It did survive the Grand Forks Flood of 1997.

The Keg - Barrel - Part 4

The Barrel  Pt 4 – Harry Muzzy ended up building 8 Barrel root beer stands. Three in North Dakota…. Minot, Devils Lake and Grand Forks.  One in Montana …. Great Falls.  Four in Minnesota…. Crookston, Dilworth, Detroit Lakes and Wadena.  The Muzzy’s hired local couples to supervise the root beer stand and they supervised the chain from their home in Crookston. Harry Muzzy visited each Barrel monthly and did all the repair work himself. Cecile Kerns managed the Minot Barrel and became known as the “Hamburger Queen”. After closing her stand in the summer, the Hamburger Queen and helpers would go out dancing to the sounds on the big bands in the area. When the carhops and cooks came in the music would stop and the band would play “Roll out the Barrel” in their honor.

Note - The Keg in background

The Keg - Part 3 - Minot Gets A Barrel

The Barrel  Pt 3 – Harry Muzzy built the second barrel in Minot, next to the Minot City Ballpark and across the street from the city zoo. He used 117 pieces of 1 inch by 6 inch tongue and groove lumber sixteen feet long to form the outer shell of the structure. Local lumber yards had to shape and bevel the wood in order to fit in the top and bottom hoops. It was during the time of the Depression and lumber yards and carpenters were happy to have the work. When completed Muzzy began selling soft drinks, ham sandwiches and hot dogs with sauerkraut to Minot residents. The root beer logo was Triple XXX. The logo stood out prominently on the front of the Barrel root beer stand. This logo and the novel shape attracted and kept customers.

The Keg -- Part 2 - Harry Muzzy

The Barrel Pt. 2 – The Barrel was part of a chain of barrel shaped root beer stands built by Harry Muzzy and his wife Martha in the 1930’s. Muzzy grew up in Minot, worked as an engineer for the Great Northern Railway until 1920. He moved to Crookston, Minnesota and owned a successful cigar store. He had the opportunity to start a root beer stand in Great Falls, Mt. Aware of the success of the A&W Root Beer stands in California, he thought they would be a success along Highway 2 in the northern part of the country. He built the Great Falls stand in the shape of a 2 story barrel. It was a huge success both as a root beer stand and also as a tourist attraction. Muzzy and his wife lived on the second story of the Great Falls barrel.

Harry Muzzy - One of the Original Barrels

The Keg - Part 1

. The Barrel – (the Keg) Pt 1 –This will be a five part History of the Keg

 The Barrel root beer stand was built in 1931 in Minot. It was during the great depression, a time of dust storms, drought, heat waves and crop failures. A nickel bought a root beer and a dime bought a toasted ham sandwich. Food was delivered to the vehicles by young carhops. The smiles were free. Some believe the word “carhop” was coined because the waitresses had to hop p on the running boards of the cars to deliver the food. Others say it was a derivative of  the word “bellhop” and adapted to the cars.. … Most drive-ins instructed the carhops not to stand on the running boards because it was improper and overly familiar behavior. . The first carhops were not teenage girls, but were adult women who found the tips were excellent even back in the 30’s