News Stories – May 28, 1970 – On the front page of the newspaper 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 … 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 ……
Friday, December 29, 2017
Thursday, December 28, 2017
1971 Cigarette Rumor –
Trinity Hospital was the recipient of over 25,000
empty cigarette packages from all over the state. Many believed the rumors that
cigarette companies would redeem the empty packs for items such as seeing eye
dogs, wheel chairs and other medical supplies. Over 10,000 empty cigarette
packs came from the Westhope School District.
Unfortunately there was no truth to the rumor. Trinity thanked all those
who tried to help the cause. The empty cigarette packs ended up in the Minot
landfill.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Medora Musical in Minot –
on June 16, 1970 sixteen performers from the Medora
Musical were in Minot and preformed at the Municipal Auditorium…. The funds
raised were earmarked for relocation and restoration of the Teddy Roosevelt
statue in Roosevelt Park. The statue fell victim to the 1969 flood. Funds would
also be used to help straighten the river channel through the park and improve
animal pens in the zoo….. the performance was sponsored by the Minot service
clubs….
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Shirley Room Cafeteria –
Located in the basement of the Minot Savings &
Loan Building…. They claimed to have the lowest prices in Downtown Minot …. One
special in 1970 was Soup, sandwich, coleslaw, chips and beverage for on 75
cents…. You could order breakfast and pay between 35 cents to $1.15….. Dinners
were 89 cents to $1.20 …. A salad side dish was only 10 cents. ….. King Leo’s – also in 1970 for fast food
at low prices --- King Leo’s on South Broadway (now Arby’s) was offering
Hamburgers – 20 cents --- Cheeseburgers – 25 cents --- Fries – 20 cents and
Milk shakes – 25 cents … a quick meal for 65 cents……
Friday, December 22, 2017
Other 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 2nd 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 3rd 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 ….
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Tempo – Christmas Specials 1963 –
Tempo – Xmas 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 ….
Tempo – More Christmas Specials 1963 – In 1963 Tempo was featuring many toy and Christmas
specials in their newspaper ad. Kids tricycles were on sale for $7.79 ….
Regular size Christmas lights (replacement bulbs) 5 packages of 5 bulbs for 28
cents …. The Mouse Trap game - $4.22 …. A 34 inch red wagon - $7.47 ….
Christmas Tree stand – 81 cents …. A cuddly Teddy Bear - $1.68 …. A basketball,
hoop and air pump - $3.68 …. Rummy Royal card game - $1.78 …. Monopoly Game -
$2.97 …. Santa was on hand to meet the kids in Santaville located inside the
Tempo store. Tempo used the slogan – “Your Store with More at Lowest possible
prices.”
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Jupiter Christmas 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
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
1963 S&L ads –
In November of 1963 S&L Department Store
on main street was running the following items in their newspaper ads. Women’s
fleece lined snow boots - $3.99 a pair and Women’s high fashion leather boots
only $8.95 a pair. The men good purchase a pair of zipper galoshes for $4.99 a
pair or a pair of 4 buckle work overshoes for only $5.99 a pair. Women also had
the opportunity to purchase holiday print dresses for$5.98 for cotton to $14.95
for wool. In 1963 a woman’s mohair sweater was only $12.95.
Monday, December 18, 2017
1963 Cox’s Bakery Specials –
Cox’s Bakery was located on Main Street, north of Central Avenue on the
west side. The unusual thing I noticed about their pre-Thanksgiving ad in the
1963 newspaper is that it did not list their phone number or address. Some of
the specials they were advertising were: Luncheon Rolls – 5 dozen for $1.00.
Hamburger buns – 4 dozen for $1.00 and assorted cookies – 5 dozen for
$1.00. One could purchase a ½ pound of
peanut brittle candy for 39 cents. For your Thanksgiving Dinner, Cox’s Bakery
also offered pumkin pies, mince meat pies,
Yule kage, fruit cake and decorated Thanksgiving Day cakes.
Friday, December 15, 2017
The Minot Steam Plant
The Minot Steam Plant was
located west of what is now the Cenex Store on Central Avenue. It was by the
old Kedney warehouse which has also been demolished. The Steam Plant provided
heat to most of, if not all of Downtown Minot. The steam ran through pipes in a
series of tunnels throughout the downtown area. In addition to the steam
tunnels, many downtown businesses also had freight elevators on the sidewalks
in front of the store. This open basement concept under the sidewalk had a
tendency to heat the sidewalk a bit in the winter… helped snow removal. I have
been told that at times the snow in downtown Minot was covered in ash from the
smoke stacks of the Stream Plant
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Past Restaurants –
The Wooden Platter – in the late 1970’s the Wooden Platter was
located inside North Hill Bowl – Besides a restaurant menu they also offered to
bake pies – especially at the holiday seasons…… The Dog House – this was located one half block south of Town &
Country Center --- their specialty was hot dogs and sausages of all types – a
regular hot dog was 59 cents --- in a basket it was 99 cents – the basket
included the hot dog, fries and coleslaw --- The Dog House also featured
homemade chili and fish sandwiches …..
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
South Broadway Business
Mr. Taco- Mr
Taco was on South Broadway where The Adult Bookstore (Risque’s) is now
located. Mr. Taco was owned by Sam Butts or Taco Sam as many called
him. I may be wrong, but I believe the Taco Shop had the first, only and best
tacos in Minot at the time, in the late 60’s. Mr. Taco also was the first shop
to sell Grinders... Similar to a sub sandwach. Next door to Mr. Taco's
was another South Broadway “landmark”. Bennie’s Magic Mile Market or as many referred to it … the Bubble Up
Store. Bennie’s was just one of many neighborhood grocery stores in Minot
at one time. Bennie’s Store is now and oil change shop. I believe B&D
Market in northeast Minot is an off spring of Bennie’s on South Broadway.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Mitchell’s Hardware -
Mitchell’s Hardware was on the corner of
Central Avenue and 3rd Street South East, where Val’s Cyclery is
now located. Prior to Mitchell’s this
locations was the home for Oppen’s Grocery Store. Oppen’s had a lunch counter
or cafeteria in the store. I believe this was known as the Central Avenue Café.
For a while Mitchell’s Hardware also maintained the Central Avenue Café even
though it was a hardware store. One of
Mitchell Hardware’s claim to fame was a talking Myna bird named Mack. Mack had the reputation of uttering four
letter words, especially the s--- word, so many younger shoppers were not
allowed to hang out around him. After Mitchell’s and before Val’s Cyclery, this
location was the home of Ben’s Appliances.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Flat Iron Building –
The Flat Iron Building was located on the northeast
corner of Broadway and Central Avenue. It was called the Flat Iron Building
because of its triangular shape – similar to that of an old flat iron. One of
the businesses in the Flat Iron Building was the Spudnut Shop. The Spudnut Shop
specialized in hamburgers and Spudnuts. A Spudnut was a doughnut made from
special potato flour, apparently that one had to purchase from the Spudnut
Company. Reportedly the doughnuts were the best when fresh.. Another business I
remember in the Flat Iron Building back in the late 60’s was Carl’s Music
Store. Not sure when it went out of business, but he handled musical
instruments and supplies.musical instruments and supplies.
Friday, December 8, 2017
1965 - Illegal Sunday Shopping
Sunday Shopping before its time – Apparently the last Sunday of November, 1965,
Tempo, located in the Arrowhead Shopping Center and White Drug, Downtown Minot
opened their doors for business. Sunday opening was a thing of the future at
this time. The States Attorney issued a warning to both stores and any others
that Police and Sheriffs officers will be on duty in those stores. If they
opened the following Sunday, all clerks would be arrested and charged with
Sabbath Breaking. Store managers and the parent company could be charged. If
violations continue the license to operate in North Dakota could be in
jeopardy.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Past Business from the 70's
Past Business -- Maid For A Day – In 1972, two men, Arnie Merkel and Julius Jahr
started a new business called Maid For a Day. The new company would provide
cleaning af various types on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis. Maid
For A Day would clean windows, walls, carpets and floors and even do minor
household repair…. Schriok’s Lawn &
Trail – located on the 2& 52 Bypass at 10th St. SW. (now the
home of IHeartmedia) – John Deere dealer …… The Grog Shop -- $the Avenue & Valley Street (Burdick
Expressway at the west end of the viaduct)—Bottle Shop……. Fireside Lounge – inside the Sandman Hotel ( at the West Bypass and
4th Ave.) ….. Pizza Plus
(formerly Our Place) – at South Broadway and the Bypass – Pizza and
sandwich shop …..
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Minot’s First City Hall --
The
first building to serve as City Hall for Minot was the home to the Police Dept
in the basement, the Fire Dept. on the main floor and dormitory above, the
jail, magistrate’s office and the City Manager office and staff also on the
main floor. It was built in 1905 and was located mid block between Main St. and
1st St SW. (or next to the Alley behind the Montgomery Ward building
– across the street from the 1st Avenue Building). In the early
1900’s, this was quite literally the center of Minot. DA Dinnie was awarded the
bid for construction for the price of $11,171.00. The new building to be the
best facility of its kind in the country for cities the size of Minot. However
the Minot Aldermen were so disenchanted with the finished result they refused
to occupy it as they claimed it had not been built to specifications. About 6
months later they resolved the conflict and moved in.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Terhorst Manufacturing
Terhorst Manufacturing -- Started
in 1928 by brothers Harvey and Willis Terhorst, and located at 615 4th
Ave SE, (under the Burdick Expressway viaduct). Terhorst is in the business of
making molds for all types of products. The original building was expanded in
1936, 1940, 1951 and again in 1967. During World War II, Terhorst made fuse
adapters for bombs. The machines needed to make the adapters were designed by
Terhorst as they did not exist to purchase them. In the 1960’s, Terhorst got
into the plastic molding business. They still remain one of the lesser known
long term businesses in Minot.
Terhorst - 1972
Monday, December 4, 2017
Minot Eagles Club --
In
April of 1972 the new Minot Eagles Club was dedicated and opened to members.
The club was located at the intersection
of 2nd Avenue and 16th St. SW, across from
Arrowhead Shopping Center. In less than a year, the Eagles membership had grown
from 1800 to over 3200. The Minot Eagles Club was organized in 1942 and the new
home was the fourth location. Prior to this opening the club was located at 110
1st Street SE, now the home of the Chicago Club. The new club was
about 17,500 square feet and built at a cost of $483, 365.00….
Friday, December 1, 2017
December 1965 - Park & Shop
Downtown Minot 1965 – In December of 1965 Downtown Minot was
“the heart of the area’s largest and most complete shopping district. Downtown
Minot boasted 690 business firms in their trade area. Downtown Minot claimed
they gave you Variety, Service and Price… all of that added up to more shopping
pleasure. Their motto was “If It’s in Town,
It’s Downtown. The Downtown merchants also provided free parking to
customers in the Downtown Parking lots with Park and Shop. When shopping you
could have your parking voucher validated at participating merchants.