Swiss Colony in Minot

Plywood Dakotas --  on the 2 & 2 Bypass East – in the area of the truck stop – cabinets, flooring and construction supplies. ….. Valley Sports Ski Shop – 16 West Central Avenue in 1978  ….. The Cloth Haus --  located on main Street in Downtown Minot – fabric and notion store that also sold Viking sewing machines……. Rebel Jeans --- 1977 a store that specialized in Levi Strauss clothing – locate at 400 20^th Ave SW …….. Swiss Colony --- back in the 1960’s Swiss Colony had a permanent store located in the Town & Country Center – Now Swiss Colony shows up a between Thanksgiving and Christmas in a kiosk in Dakota Square Mall

Harrington Brothers Livestock

 Public Finance Corp. – located at 19 First Street SW … Above B&B Walgreen Drug Store. ….. Harrington Brother’s – The Minot location was opened in 1933 at the Great Northern Stockyards. It was at one time, one of the largest livestock rings in the state, holding auctions every Friday…..  Shark’s Clothiers – Herman Shark opened his first store in 1908 in Devils Lake. Besides Minot and Devils Lake Sharks Clothiers had stores in Fargo and Bismarck….. Diamond’s Department Store – Originally on North Broadway, Diamonds expanded to a second location in the Arrowhead Shopping Center. In 1961 you could get boy’s jeans for $1.19 a pair. The original store at one time became the Corner Pocket Pool Hall and is now the home to The Barley Pop Bar……. 

 Harrington Brothers Livestock - 1951

Diamonds Dept. Store - 1961

What's at the Movies 1961

 Showing at Theaters – August 19, 1961 – At one time there were a number of theaters in Minot. At the Outdoor Theater there was a double feature. Charlton Heston in The Naked Jungle and the other show was Elizabeth Taylor in Elephant Walk. The next show was going to be Portrait in Black starring Lana Turner and Anthony Quinn….. At the Empire Theater on Main Street was The Pleasure of His Company with Fred Astaire, Debbie Reynolds and Tab Hunter….. The Town Theater was showing Atlantis- The Lost Continent, plus cartoons. … The newspaper had a section devoted to the theaters and what was showing with a synopsis and picture of the movie….There was also stock car racing at the Fairgrounds and a dance at the Central Parking lot sponsored by the Western Plains Timing Association. Gordon’s Holiday Spot featured the “Lillian Raye Duo” in the Shangri-la Lounge.

 Lobby of Empire Theater

Starlite Outdoor Theater

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 Bar

 Dutch Mill

Town Theater

Mallard Motors –in 1961 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…… Town Theater.. … located in Downtown Minot…… Import Motors – located on South Broadway. They were Minot’s authorized Volkswagen dealer…… Larson’s Food Store – “Serving Minot and the area with Quality and Reliability in Foods”. Larson Foods began operation in 1933 and were located at 213 4^th Avenue SE. Now this area is the parking lot West of the Courthouse on Burdick Expressway….. 

ABC Cleaners

 – Minot Printing Company – started business in 1923. Located at 19 East Central Avenue. Phone number TE 2-6124….. 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…… 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……

 South Main and 14th Ave

 Arrowhead 

 Oak Park

Gross Printing Company –

Gross Printing was established in 1913. In 1941,  Harry L. Johnson became the manager. Gross Printing prided itself in keeping pace with the demands for skilled printing service. Gross Printing included in their shop up-to-date facilities including a complete set of off-set equipment. They also did letter press printing.  Gross Printing was located at 507 West Central Avenue and their telephone number was Temple 2-7125

Coast to Coast

Buttrey’s Ladies Wear – Downtown Minot on main Street…… Grand Photography Studio – 108 west Central Avenue ……  Coast to Coast Store – 14 First Avenue SW. Coast to Coast started in business in 1957.  They were home owned and home operated. The owner of the Minot store was Glenn Simard. Coast to Coast carried items for the farm, sportsman, and the car.  Eventually Coast to Coast moved to the sout end of the Arrowhead Shopping Center….  Hoiland’s Floor Service – Odin Hoiland was the manager and owner. Hoiland’s Floor Service was located on Highway 2 East and specialized in ceramic and plastic wall tile, Armstrong Linoleum, and Formica Counter tops.. They did both commercial and residential installations.

Gust’s Service 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

New Inventions 1972

1972 Calculator – an article in the newspaper on August 16, 1972 by columnist Sylvia Porter was devoted to the joy she was experiencing because she had just purchased a new calculator in 1970 (battery operated and from Japan) that could do all her calculations and be carried in her purse. It was about 5 inches by 9 inches. The price at that time was $390.00. In the fall of 1972 an American company was producing a similar calculator for about $100.00. Sylvia also went on to explain how to use the calculator and also gave a number of calculations to try in the new machine to make sure it was accurate. On a side note – in 1972 at Christmas when I was working for Kmart one of the hottest gifts was a similar portable calculator on sale for $89.99 (each). We could not keep them in stock. Another item at the same time was an LED watch that only told the time for the same price, $89.99

Past Business of Minot

Olson’s Men’s Store (The Better Clothiers) -  at one time known as Borene’s Men’s Store was Minot’s oldest men’s clothing store beginning business in 1916. Olson’s featured Hart Schaffner & Marx, Stetson Hats, Arrow Shirts and Florsheim Shoes…… Ann’s Fashions – “Women’s fashions for the young at heart”. Started in 1957 Ann’s was located at 117 South main Street. ….. Big Red Furniture Warehouse – Located 2 blocks east of the Clarence Parker Hotel on Third Street SE by the railroad tracks. Big Red Furniture featured warehouse style selling which they claimed eliminated the middle man and saved the consumer money.

Toivo's Jewelry

The Bon Ton Shop – There motto was “Smart Clothes for Better Dressed Women”. The Bon Ton Shop opened in 1942 on Minot’s Main Street. They also prided themselves as being “Minot’s Smart Shop for Correct and Becoming Fashions” ….. Brannan Drapery Studio – Owned and operated by Leo Brannan they provided home fashion service to the area since 1957. Brannan’s was located at 6 North Main… phone number Temple 6-5233……Toivo’s Jewelry – in 1961 they were located one block north of  the Post Office at that time (now the Federal Building in Downtown Minot. They specialized in jewelry and watch repair. 1 week service guaranteed…. Short jobs the same day. Toivo’s also sold Black Hills Gold Jewelry.

Past Businesses in Minot

Mellberg’s Jewelry and Pawn Shop  Located at 114 ½ West Central Avenue. …  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. The mechanics were there 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 in1961 and Pierce featured Gold Seal mobile Homes …..

Ace Hardware - Apple Days –

Back in the late 60’s, 70’s and into the 80’s Ace Hardware held Apple Days. At that time there was an Ace Hardware at Broadway and Burdick, (later it became Scheels and now is Zimmerman’s Furniture. In early December, 1970 the Apple Days special was 1/3 bushel of apples for only $1.53. Limit was one box to a customer and cash and carry only. No phone orders accepted. During Apple Days, Ace Hardware claimed to have over 20,000 items in stock…. Some of those were major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers

Alm’s Dairy

 – 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 millk 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 Foredty 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.

Leslie & Benton Contractors –

This company was located 1 mile Southeast of Minot on old Highway 52. Their phone number was Temple 7-4106. Leslie and Benton claimed they were equipped with the know-how to meet all your needs in Industrial, Commercial and Home Construction. They began operation in1947. The owners were Lloyd J Leslie and Arthur C Benton. Some of the projects they did included The Starlite Club, St Croix Motors (on South Broadway), Minot Lumber Company (on South Broadway), Eddy’s Bar, Self Service Furniture, Carl’s Radiator Shop, Purity Dairy and an addition on the Gelking Motel. Leslie & Benton were also the regional headquarters for Safway Scafolding

1972 Snowmobile Ordinance –

 in 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's First Grocery Store??

 One of Minot’s earliest business establishments was a small grocery store, owned and operated by Carl Aurland. The store began operation in 1886. Besides running the grocery store Aurland also bought and sold buffalo bones, a thriving business in the early days on Minot. By night he studied law in the backroom of his store and by 1890 he was admitted to the North Dakota Bar Association. For many years he operated a law office in Minot as well as managing farm and other interests in and around the town. He and his wife Josie were married in 1891 and made their first home on the 100 block of 4^th Avenue SE. Eventually they built a large house at 120 4^th Avenue SE (now known as Burdick Expressway). The house would have been in the area of M&H Gas.They had two daughters, one of whom taught in the Minot School System for close to 20 years.

Alma Shop –

The Alma Shop was located at 104 4^th Avenue SE, in the Van de Streek – Furs Building.  According to an ad in the 1961 Diamond Jubilee newspaper, Alice and Madge were the proprietors of the shop. Apparently the Alma Shop specialized in a variety of patterns, sewing machines and fabrics in a complete array of colors and designs. The Alma Shop started operation in  1955. The boasted that “With today’s easy to follow patterns and time saving sewing machines, even the teenager can sew fashions for herself.

Oct. 15, 1962 - School Explosion

Nedrose School Explosion October 15, 1962 – Five people were hospitalized in Minot after an explosion heavily damaged Nedrose School. Two others were treated and released. The explosion heavily damaged the six room grade school located 3 mile east of Minot. A Parent Teachers Association (PTA) was meeting at the time the explosion occurred. The explosion occurred in the furnace in the furnace room. It is believed to have been caused by a leak in a propane tank that supplied fuel to the hot water heater used in the building. Walls and many windows were blown out by the explosion. Desks in the classroom next to the furnace room were tossed about like a tornado went through the room.