New York Store –

In many pictures of Minot’s Main Street one sees The New York Store. It was on the Southwest Corner of Main and Central. This location was at the turn of the century the home of Jack Doyle’s Saloon. The best known saloon in Minot at the time. Peter P Lee replaced the saloon with a general store. The building was known as the Lee Block. In 1906, Julius Fauchald bought the building and Lee’s Store became known as the New York Store. The building contained offices in the upper floors and was known as the New York Store Block. In 1912 Julius Fauchald sold the New York Store to Woolworths, which operated until 1982. Fauchald moved next door and established Fauchald’s Department Store which continued until it was sold to Abraham Bader in 1943. Originally the New York Store was on North Main St. in the area of 10 North Main.

I bring back the New York Store because next week will be devoted to the first murder in Minot and related stories.... all starting at Jack Doyle's Saloon

New York Store in original location

Samuelson Shoes -

This is a letter I received from one of my Blog followers:

A cousin of mine sent a link to your blog, and I just finished perusing it. Unless I missed it, I did not see any mention of Samuelson's Shoe Store. Established in 1899, it was a mainstay on North Main Street until moving to a mall location probably in the 1970s. I remember that at one time (late 1940s/early '50s?) they had an X-ray device there where you could see the bones in your feet. The proprietors at that time were high school classmates of my father, and we often used their store as a convenient meeting place when we had scattered in town on various errands.

 Samuelson Shoes 1902

 Samuelson Shoes - Late 1890's

Samuelson Shoes on Main Street

Parking Ramp - May 28, 1970 –

I thought this might be an interesting story to rekindle based on the proposed parking ramps in Downtown Minot now in progress. On the front page of the newspaper on MAy 28,1970 was a story about the proposed parking ramp in Downtown Minot. This ramp was to be built in the ½ block just south of the old Midwest Federal Building or just west of what is now Wells Fargo Bank. Cost to build the ramp in 1970 was $1,600,000 – the ramp was never built as some of the commitments for leasing parking in the ramp did not materialize…. also in the news was the announcement of the store manager for the new Kmart Store being built at the intersection of Highway 83 South and the 2&52 Bypass. The store was scheduled to open on July 9, 1970 – the first store manager was Roger Atkinson – The Kmart store is still in this location …… 

No Snowmobiles in City

Iin 1972 the Minot City Council debated an finally passed an ordinance allowing snowmobiles to be ridden in the city as long as they had a 5 foot pole with a red or blaze orange flag at least 10 inches square  attached to the machine. Originally the pole was to be 6 feet tall but the height was reduced by one foot as the club selling the flags only had 5 foot poles. The biggest problem was the enforcement. Those snowmobilers not in compliance were hard to catch as they usually had an easy time eluding the police. 

Minot Bars from the Past

The Covered Wagon Bar – at one time the Covered Wagon Bar on Main Street was Minot’s oldest bar opening in 1900. …. The Dutch Mill – opened in 1944 on East Burdick Expressway (Highway 2 East) at the intersection of 27^th  Street, (at one time known as Friday’s and now The Rocking Horse Bar) was the top entertainment spot in Minot.  The Little Dutch Mill – opened in 1955 just to the east of the Dutch Mill. It featured short order and curb side drive-in restaurant service. The Little Dutch Mill building is still there – it is now used a living quarters for bands playing at the Rocking Horse….. 

 Covered Wagon

The Dutch Mill

Covered Wagon

Mallard Motors –

In the 1960's Mallard Motors was located at the intersection on 4^th Avenue and 6^th Street SW in Minot. They claimed to be “Minot’s foremost dealer in fine used cars”. Proprietors were Elwood (Woody) Thorpe and Jim Weiskoph. I think about Mallard Motors often as I go up and down Broadway. They had a small building on a gravel parking lot. The location is now Prairie Federal Credit Union. At one time I had a 1958 Austin Healey 100-6. It was the predecessor to Austin Healy 3000 which Mallard Motors had in their small showroom. 

Past Business of Minot

  Harry Cook and Sons Plumbing & Heating – Their ad stated: “Just Dial TE 2-1108 and tell us your problems”. Harry started the business in 1937. In 1948 he and his two sons, Pat and Bob moved to their new location at 400 9^th St. SE. The building was best remembered for the neon sign which had a dripping faucet……  Minot Printing Company – started business in 1923. Located at 19 East Central Avenue. Phone number TE 2-6124….. ABC Cleaners – ABC Cleaners started service in their first location in Minot in 1935. Owners of the business were Bob and Bill Kondos, Jr.  As the business grew, they opened two more locations. 729 Second Street NW and 1344 Main Street South…… 

Robertson Lumber –

 The first Robertson Lumber was established by Alec Robertson in Minto, ND in 1881, before North Dakota became a state. His brother, Alvin Robertson, followed the Great Northern Railroad establishing lumber yards all along the route. By the mid 1960’s there were 24 Robertson Lumber yards in northern North Dakota and 19 in northern Minnesota. The Company also had a wholesale outlet, Lumber Dealers Supply, in East Grand Forks. They also operated two gas stations and a lumber mill in Osage, Minnesota cutting 5 million board feet annually. At one time Robertson Lumber handled all types of lumber supplies’ and was the dealer for Anderson Windows, Skil Power tools, Stanley tools and Kwikset locks.

Gusts Mobil Station

Gusts Super Service was located on the corner of Main Street and 4^th Avenue (now Burdick Expressway), next to the Empire Theater. Gust’s was a Mobil Station selling Mobilgas, mobilubrication, and Mobil Permazone Antifreeze. They were old fashioned about courtesy and the “old Fashioned” service that earned service stations their name. Note in the picture below from the 1940's, the Empire Theater was not yet built as that happened in 1952. There was a miniature golf course in the Empire Theater lot but I have not been able to find out the name of it or any information about it, although I do have a picture of it

Gust's Mobil - Main & Burdick

Miniature Golf Course - pre Empire Theater

Dinner Theater in Minot

Riverside Lodge – “Holiday in Greece” – In June of 1974 the Riverside Lodge in Minot presented the dinner show, “Holiday in Greece”. The show featured Harry Lemonopoulos, reportedly the world’s foremost Bouzouki (Greek Guitar) player. His hits included the sound track of the movie, Zorba the Greek. The touring company featured 15 dancers and singers and had performed throughout Europe and Middle East. For $12.50 you could enjoy one full hour of dinner music and a two hour floor show. The Riverside Lodge was located across from the Fair Grounds. That location is now occupied by the Holiday Inn Hotel.

Gordon’s Holiday Spot –

 In describing their business in 1964 for the 75^th anniversary of the state, The Holiday Spot read as follows: Enjoy the facilities at Gordon’s Holiday Spot where you are invited to make reservations for dinners and banquets on all occasions. The inviting atmosphere of the Continental Room is certain to please you and your wife on your night on the town. The Copper Pot coffee shop is home away from home for breakfast, lunch, coffee break or dinner. …. Come as you are. We feature the best menu in town at a reasonable price. For an evening of relaxation, bring your party to the Shangri-La Lounge. Live entertainment nightly provided by well-known professional musical talent. We also have a package liquor store and barber shop, along with one of the largest and finest motel accommodations in the northwest.

Gambles Hardware

There was a Gambles Store in Minot…. Not sure at this time where….. The first Gambles Store opened in St Cloud, Minnesota in 1925. Gamble Skogmo incorporated in 1928… The Minot Gambles Store opened in 1927.  At the time of Minot 75^th Anniversary in 1961 there were 2,367 Gambles-Skogmo associated retail outlets. The early stores catered to the Ford Model “T” owners, selling them parts to keep their automobiles running. Eventually they expanded into hardware, paint, tool and other items associated with a full-line hardware store. The Gambles store was the predecessor to Minot’s Tempo Store in Arrowhead shopping Center

Not a Gambles Store but a Hardware Store from the past

1906 - Eastwood Park Forest Festival

Eastwood Park Forest Festival –

Forest Festival Held in 1906.

In August, 1906, the Women's Club of Minot held a benefit for building a YMCA building in Minot. The Celebration, called the Forest Festival, was held in the newly opened residential district of Eastwood Park.
According to a story in the Minot Daily Optic, Eastwood Park's beauty was greater than any roof garden in New York or palm garden in St. Louis. Japanese lanterns were hung everywhere and flashes of Roman fire added mystery to the evening. There was everything from a full-fledged vaudeville performance to games of chance in a tulip bed. Popcorn, ice cream, and Russian tea were served. Many visitors wore costumes ranging from a Puritan maid to a flowery Geisha. The weather was beautiful. Thousands of visitors attended the festival, many of whom came in free buses from the Leland and Morrill Hotels.
The cost was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.
The Festival raised over $500.00 for the YMCA building project.
Even from it's very beginning, Eastwood Park has attracted crowds to it's beautiful streets.
(by Steven Cameron)

Humpback Bridge Off 6th Street

Early Picture of Eastwood Park - 9th St ??

Businesses You Might Remember

Do – It – Yourself Auto Repair…. Located on Highway 83 south in 1961…. Allowed people to rent a space and equipment if needed to do their own car repair. There were mechanics on site to offer advice if needed. They were open evenings also…… King Koin Launderette – located at 514 3^rd Street NE . They were open 24 hours and catered to both men and women. …. Pierce Trailer Sales – Highway 83 South. Minot oldest dealer at the time for mobile homes, founded in 1939. Wally Iverson was the manager in 1961 and Pierce featured Gold Seal mobile Homes ….. Mellberg’s Jewelry and Pawn Shop  Located at 114 ½ West Central Avenue. …  

JJ Newberry’s Department Store –

JJ Newberry opened its department store on March 19, 1964 in the Town & Country Shopping Center. The store inventory featured 54 departments including  appliances, men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, housewares and a cafeteria. I knew the Cafeteria well as it was here that I took my second job in Minot in 1965 at the amazing wage of $1.00 per hour. I was one of the cooks on the grill. The Newberry Cafeteria also featured a daily steam table ….This cafeteria ended up being the place where most of the people working in the Town & Country Shopping Center would meet for coffee, lunch and dinner.

Alm’s Milk Products –

In 1961, Alm’s Milk products featured the only plastic, no wax carton in Minot. Alm’s also featured Ice Cream along with their Grade “A” milk. Alm’s also had home delivery available. Alm’s milk bottles were sealed by special machine with heat settings up to 1500 degrees. Under the bottle caps were a heavy a cardboard bottle top with premiums printed on them. One could save the bottle tops and redeem them for a “Treasure of fine premiums”. Such items included a Pen Portrait for a picture you sent in, A flourentine silver spoon set, a Black Forest Wall Clock, 6 personalized pencils, and at one time the bottle tops could be redeemed for admission to the matinee shows at the Empire Theater.

Alm's Dairy Downtown

Top Picture is Am's Dairy - Drive-In

Western auto Parts

– Western Auto Parts started in 1930 with one store. It was established by J.M. Zuzlin. By the mid 1960’s Western Auto Parts had 9 locations in North Dakota. The North Dakota stores were in Grand Forks, Fargo, Mandan, Jamestown, Dickinson, Devils Lake, Bismarck, Williston and Minot. Total employees of the corporation numbered 100. The Minot location was managed by W.H. Wheeler. Western Auto specialized in machine shop services. They did all services needed to rebuild automobile engines as well as starter and generator services. Western Auto was also the distributor for Green Rocket remanufactured engines, Delco batteries, Walker mufflers, Sherwin Williams paints and glass windshields.

77 Years of Shoes

Anderson’s D&S Bootery – The Original D&S Bootery was founded in 1938 by Percy Doyle and Theodore Solomon.  Prior to opening in the Jacobson Block their location had housed a billiard parlor next to B&B Drug. The Jacobson Block was on the North East corner of First Avenue and First Street SW. It also was the home to B&B Drug. In 1948, Solomon’s interest in the store was purchased by Arthur Anderson. Eight years later, in 1956, he bought our Doyle’s interest and added his son as a full partner. When the Jacobson Block was purchased to be demolished for a parking lot, Anderson D&S Bootery moved to Main Street, across from Ellison’s Department Store. It remains in the Anderson family to this day

Hugh-Nelson Motors –

Ted Hugh and Mark Nelson started a partnership in 1938 at 515 Second Street NW (North Broadway). They were known A “Ted and Markies”. In 1940 they were appointed the “Nash” dealer for northwest North Dakota. Business was suspended in April of 1943 until October of 1945 as the owners went off to serve in WW II. Business resumed on January 4,1946 at a service station at First Avenue SE in downtown Minot. They moved back to what is now North Broadway in 1948 and built a new building. At one time they were the dealers for Nash, Rambler, Hudson and eventually American Motors. The location is now the home of Westlie’s Tire Center.

Nelson Motors - 1976

Super Grill –

 The Super Grill was located on North Broadway, next door to the Northwest Super Valu. They were open 24 hours a day. The Super Grill started operation in 1955. They claimed to be home for the finest in Steaks, Chicken, Shrimp, Short orders, Bar-B-Qued Ribs and fountain drinks. One of their specials in 1961 was One-half chicken fried golden brown with toast, salad, French fries  and coffee for only 89 cents.

Super Grill in forefront - next to Super Valu