The Fair Dept. Store

Ellisons – The Fair Department Store – The first Fair Store was opened in Minot in 1902 on Main Street, in a location next to and south of what is now Western paint. It was like most stores of the time with a 25 foot frontage. In 1910 the Ellisons moved the store a block south into a new building known as The Fair Block, just south of the intersection of Main Street and 2^nd Avenue. In 1929 a newer building was added at the corner and adjacent to The Fair Block. The new building, a large 2 story building with a basement, eventually incorporated The Fair Block in 1955 giving Ellisons a 100 foot store front on Main Street. During the Diamond Jubilee in 1961, Ellisons ran a contest to see who could bring in the oldest sales slip showing merchandise purchased at the store. The winner received a wool blanket…. Unfortunately I do not know who won or how old the receipt was.

Ellison's first Store 1902

Past Clothing Stores

More Past Businesses – KG Men’s Store – The first KG Men’s Store opened in 1955 and was in Downtown Minot on Main Street. When Town & Country Shopping Center opened in the early 60’s, KG Men’s Store moved to the center and for a brief period of time was in the Dakota Square Mall. …. Kinney’s Shoes – a full line family shoe store originally located at 200 Main Street South. Kinney’s moved to the Town & Country Shopping Center when it opened. …. Shark’s Men’s Store – On Main Street in Downtown Minot, formerly Olson’s Men’s Store .... Squtt's  Men's Wear ...  Downtown Minot

Squtt's Clothing

More Past Business in Minot

More Past Businesses – Fashion City – A ladies fashion store at 111 South Main St.  …. “Next Door to H&H Variety” – Celebrated their grand opening on October 30, 1958 – H&H Variety Store -  Located on the west side Main Street in the 1950’s ….. Diamond’s jack & Jill Grocery Store – 505 2^nd St NW (North Broadway) – In 1958 a 2 lb can of coffee was only $1.49 – 10 cans of tomato soup was $1.00 and you could get a 50 pound bag of red potatoes for 98 cents ….. Greengard – Cranston – Men’s clothing store- originally on Central Avenue before moving to Main Street

Goldberg's Furniture

Past Businesses of Minot – Goldberg’s Furniture – Located at 6 – 8 North Main, on the east side of  Main Street. Goldberg’s was open until 9 pm on Monday and Thursday. (Most stores were only open until 9 pm on Thursday. Their telephone number was 20-218 ….. Waterman Motors – Highway 83 South. Minot’s Volkswagen Dealer in 1958 ….. George Valker Floral – 216-218 South Main Street. Valker’s was located across from what is now Bray’s on Main Street ….. Bader’s – Ladies wear store located on Main Street. They advertised themselves as being “The Store of Famous Labels” …..

ward County Hospital

St Joseph’s Hospital – The Ward County Hospital was completed in 1896. In 1911 the Sister’s of St Francis came to Minot to manage the 30 bed hospital. They changed the name from “Northwestern” to St Joseph’s and began their mission of caring. In 1917 the Sisters purchased the hospital from the county for $28,000.00. The hospital grew from its original 30 beds to a 197 bed modern facility. St Joseph’s was eventually acquired by Trinity Medical Center.

 St Joe's - 1920's

St Joe's - 1910

Prairie Gardens Restaurant

Prairie Gardens Bakery Restaurant – located at 711 South Broadway in the King’s Food Host building – the building was completely remodeled – Display cases added for pastries and craft and gift area also added. Prairie Gardens also provided catering services and daily breakfast specials …. Fax or call your order to Prairie Gardens and they provided delivery service …. At one time they had over 25 employees ….. The location is now the home of McDonalds on South Broadway.

The Other PLace

The Other Place – located at 14 West Central Avenue, The Other Place opened on August 17, 1970. It was a clothing store catering to the younger female generation. The Other Place claimed to have the “Swingingest” styles in Minot. They carried everything from ponchos, floppy hats, pant suits, and gaucho pants to mini and midi skirts.  The first 500 customers received free “love” flowers and entertainment was provided by an all girl bank known as Crimson Lace. This location would be the north end of the parking lot across Central Avenue from Brady Martz.

Largest Car Wash in Three States

Harold’s Car Wash – located at 719 North Broadway the grand opening was held in May of 1971. Harold’s was completely new and the largest of its kind in a three state area. It was built at a cost of $185,000.00. Harold’s sold Gulf gasoline, had 12 pump islands, 10 vacuum cleaner drops and featured a hot wax application. They also claimed they could wash 120 cars per hour, (a feat that would be difficult to match today)… During the grand opening they gave away 2 portable TV sets, 8 oz. glasses with each purchase along with a family size bottle of coke, and 10 people won 50 gallons of gasoline.  This would have been in the area of the Westlie Auto Center on North Broadway.

Tommy Scott's Country Caravan

Wild West Show – it came to Minot in August of 1970…. Tommy Scott’s  Country Caravan and Wild West Show featuring Col. Tim MCCoy. The shows were held at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The caravan claimed to have 10 carloads of radio, TV and recording stars direct form Hollywood and Nashville. Some included The Hollywood Hillbillies, Dave DeLock, the world’s fastest six gun , sharpshooting and rope spinning act. There was also real cowboys and Indians, circus acts and funny clowns. The Masked Rider from TV fame was also appearing. Tickets were $2.00 and the show was sponsored by the Minot Sertoma Club

Minot's Truck Assembly Line

Westlie – Truck Assembly Line – In May of 1927 the Ford Motor Company stopped production of the Model T Truck to retool their plants for the new Model A. The conversion was going to be a 2 year process. During that time, Westlie Motors set up an assembly line on the top floor of its business here in Minot. The parts were ordered directly from Ford Motor Company. Westlie Motors was the only dealer in the country to do this. In the fall of 1927, 38 trucks rolled off the assembly line.  In 1928, 50 trucks were assembled. When the Model A trucks came out in late 1928, the demand for the Model T ceased as did Minot’s first and only automobile assembly line .

Westlie Motors on Central Ave.

Milton R Young Towers

1971 Major Construction Projects – one was the expansion of the Broadway viaduct. A new 2 lane structure was to be completed in the fall.  The other was the Milton R Young Towers on Burdick Expressway. A number of buildings were purchased by the city and moved or destroyed to make room for the Towers. The Samuelson home was acquired by the Historical Society, two other houses and a barn were sold and moved to other locations. The houses sold for $500 to $1000 and the barn for $102. All those sold were moved. Two houses and the barn traveled in a caravan down South Broadway to their new home.

Milton R Young Towers Construction

Salty's Beef & Fish House

Salty’s Beef & Fish House – In August of 1970 it was the grand opening of Salty’s Beef & Fish House. Located next to the Dutch Mill. The menu consisted of Fish ‘n Chips…. Salty’s Roast Beef on a Bun…. And assorted burgers.  The grand opening special was buy on and get one free on the roast beef or the Fish ‘N Chips …. The Dutch Mill is now known as the Rocking Horse Bar and Salty’s was in the small building just to the west of the Rockin Horse…. Now used as a rooming house for traveling bands playing at the club.

Dutch Mill

A New Sandwich at King Leo's

The “Big Leo” – in 1970 King Leo’s Drive In at 1734 South Broadway was advertising its new sandwich, The Big Leo. It consisted of 2 beef patties…tasty cheddar cheese… crisp, fresh lettuce… sliced pickles … all held together by a triple sliced Sesame Seed Bun  that was toasted and served with King Leo’s own special sauce all for only 55 cents. ….. Sounds a lot like the McDonald’s Big Mac….. King Leo’s also featured piping hot apple turnovers for on 20 cents  King Leo’s was in the location now occupied by Arby’s on South Broadway.

Water Follies 1970 –

Sam Snyder’s – World’s Greatest Revue in Water came to Minot in September 1970. It was help at the Municipal Auditorium in the world’s largest portable pool and stage. Tickets were $2.00 and were available at White Drug and Northwest Piano – both on Main Street at that time. The show ran for five days and was brought to Minot by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds were to go to the Ward County Mental Health Center and the Minot Area Ambulance Inc. The crew for the shoe stayed at the Clarence Parker Hotel. Local auditions to try out for the show could be made by contacting the show’s producer. If successful one could join the traveling troupe.

Before Papa John's Pizza

Minot Chamber of Commerce – New building – On Tuesday, January 13, 1959 the Minot chamber of Commerce officially celebrated the open house of their “brand new” building at 2^nd Avenue and 2^nd Street SW. (the corner of 2^nd Ave & Broadway). Contractors involved in the construction were Harry R Cook & Sons – Plumbing – Mackley Construction – Montana Dakota Utilities (even the water heater is natural gas) – Northern States Power – Holmes Electric – M&S Roofing & Sheet Metal and Fargo Glass & Paint and Johnson Concrete Products. The building was built at a cost of $60,000.00. The location is now the home to Papa John’s Pizza.

MInot Federal and More Past Business

Past Businesses of Minot #14 – Family Furniture – located ½ block north of the old YMCA on 1^st Street in Downtown Minot …..   Wylie Piano Company – 117 West Central Avenue – Authorized Baldwin dealer for western North Dakota …..  Minot Federal Savings & Loan – 24 West Central Avenue – established in 1935  ….. Mr Steak Restaurant – on top of Minot’s North Hill – Next to North Hill Bowl ….. Big Bear Store – located on North Main Street – next to what is now 10 North Main – sold western clothing and sporting goods for the hunter and fisherman. Big Bear then moved out to South Broadway at the intersection of 31^st Avenue, where the Gas Stop is now.

PW Miller Co.

PW Miller Co. – Ad Jan 1959 – In 1959 the PW Miller Company was located in the Grand Hotel Block on West Central Avenue – This is the parking lot across the street o the north of Tom’s Coin Shop. Prior to this location PW Miller was located on the west side of Main Street north of Central Avenue. In 1959 the ad for PW Miller stated “Our Inventory is up and our bank account is down”. They were advertising – boy’s suits - $6.00 … Men’s work shoes - $2.99 ….. Full size blankets - $1.00 …. Men’s Sweatshirts - $1.00 ….. Used British Parkas - $8.88 …. Marine Corps insulated boots - $6.66 pr …. PW Miller called themselves “The jacket headquarters of the Northwest” . They also sold usd items and military surplus … Later the PW Miller Company moved to 1^st Ave. SE  just west of the Clarence Parker Hotel. This location is now the home of the Olson Law Offices

 PW Miller Original Store

American State Bank and More

Truax-Traer Coal Company – Office in Minot, at one time in the First Avenue Building. Coal mine near Velva ….. Top Valu Market – 4^th Avenue and 21^st Street NW – Meats, Groceries, Frozen foods and open on Sundays – (Eventually became Heislers Market) …..  American State Bank – (now Bremer Bank) in Downtown Minot ….. Johnson Chevrolet  - Became Auran Chevrolet and then Ryan Chevrolet ….. The Corset Shop – Located at 16A South Main – either up or down a stairway between Minot Drug and Buttrey’s – The shop obviously catered to women – Hulda Hoskins was a Registered Corsetiere. 

1915 Minot History - First Buildings

1915 Tales From Old Timers #15B – First Buildings in Minot – The first bank occupied the site of Jim Johnson’s Law Office. At that time the city limits extended two blocks North, South, East and West of the Fountain on Main Street. (the fountain was in the middle of the intersection of Main St. and Second Ave.) The Fire Department was not quite up to the standard of the modern equipment, and in case of fire, the building was blown up to prevent the spread of the flames. An enormous fire occurred about this time (early 1890’s I believe) that practically wiped out the entire village. But nothing could daunt the spirit of those old timers and bigger and better buildings were erected to take the place of those destroyed. (side note: This was also the time in Minot’s history where ordinances were passed allowing only brick buildings to be built on Main Street to hinder loss due to fire.)

The First Buildings in Minot - From the 1915 History

1915 Tales From Old Timers #15A – First Buildings in Minot – The first frame hotel was managed by Mrs. W.A. Parker, and was situated on the site now occupied by the Elks home. (the southwest corner of Main St and 2^nd Ave.- now the Wells Fargo Building). Mrs. Parker is the mother of the present proprietor of the Leland Hotel. The Leland was originally started as a tent and now stands on some of the most valuable property in Minot. ( the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue – Now Artspace). The first brick building was erected by W.E. Mansfield, and used for a drug store. The first residence built is now (1915) situated opposite the Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of First Street and Second Avenue (now the northwest corner of Minot High – Central Campus).

1915 Minot History - City Ordinances

1888 Minot City Ordinances – In 1888 it was illegal to ride or drive horses in the city limits faster than a trot or 8 mph – while it sounds funny today, with no traffic signals a galloping horse was a threat to public safety …. There was a “vice” ordinance prohibiting anyone from owning or visiting a “bawdy house” or a house of “ill fame”…… Drunken or disorderly conduct was subject to a fine of not more than $19.00 and/or 9 days in jail ….. it was also illegal to keep horses, mules, cows, sheep, goats or swine (pigs) within the city limits ……

1915 Minot History - How to Overcome Boredom

1915 Tales From Old Timers #13 – The Dull Seasons --  For a number of years after the Great Northern passed through the town of Minot was very quiet. Times were dull and the citizens resorted to many strange pranks to pass the time. Mock trials were held, the prisoners were always found guilty and the penalty was usually cigars and refreshments for the entire crowd. When the boys wanted a barbecue they would shake dice and the loser had to catch one of Tompkins pigs, kill it, and prepare it for the roast. Chasing the “Pig” is popular today, but it is of a somewhat different breed. If the needed a little money to buy whiskey they would appropriate anything that was lying around and peddle it over at the bar. One day, W.E. Mansfield missed the youngest member of his family. He searched everywhere without success, so the police department took up the mystery. Imagine Mansfield’s surprise when he found the child had been peddled to a saloon-keeper for a round of drinks for the boys. He took the joke good naturedly and paid the bill before he could redeem his offspring. Thus the citizens managed to relieve the monotony of the dull period of Minot’s history.