Stearn's Motors Pt 3

Beer & Wine Wholesale Business  -- Bill Langer, former Governor of North Dakota,  was instrumental in helping Lou Stearns in getting his license to start his wholesale business, Minot Beverage Company. According to one of his past office managers, part of the deal was that Langor received a payment of 5 cents for every bottle of beer or wine distributed. However the checks were always sent to a judge in New York rather than to Bill Langer. One would suppose that the money eventually reached him.

Stearn’s  Apartment Rental Business – There were three apartments on the top floor of Stearns Motors. Lou Stearns lived in the largest one with his girlfriend Florence Brown. Lou and Florence had a turbulent relationship. At one time they were going to be married in Minneapolis, but by the time they arrived on the train, they had a terrible disagreement and fight. Both returned to Minot, but on separate trains. There is a story that whenever Florence would go Minneapolis, Lou would load a car on a flatbed rail car and send it to her destination so she would have something to drive.

Minot Beverage Co. trucks

Stearn's Motors Pt. 2

Stearn’s  Auto Repair Business –

Jack Foley was the Service Manager of  the automobile repair shop affiliated with Stearn’s Motors. At one time there was a gas station out in front of the building. The gas station was on the southwest corner of the intersection of 2^nd Street and Central Avenue.  In those days there was a ramp that went west from Central Avenue down to the Great Northern Depot. One day a minister pulled up and was having his car filled with gas. He jokingly told Jack to charge the gas to the Lord. Jack replied without batting an eye, “Send him down to sign for it and I will.”

Stearn’s Auto Storage and Parking Business – One of the main parts of the operations at Stearns Motors was the parking and automobile storage. Stearns Motors was at the north end of Minot’ infamous High Third Street. This area of Minot was known for its after hour bars, houses of prostitution gambling rooms and at one time opium dens. Many of the prostitutes would rotate in and out of Minot about every two to four weeks. Some arrived by train, some by bus and some by automobile. Many of those arriving by car were brought to Minot in large, fancy vehicles owned by their pimps. While the car was in town it was probably stored inside at Stearns Motors

Stearn's Motors

Stearns Motors -- Lou Stearns was the owner of Stearn’s Motors. In its day Stearn’s Motors was a automobile repair shop and also a garage to park and store automobiles. There were actually five businesses in Strearn’s Motors. The Auto Repair, the Auto Storage Business, a soft drink bottling and wholesale business, a beer and wine wholesale business and apartment rentals. Lou Stearns was reported to have been a generous man. If someone he knew came to him and was down on their luck he would give them a five dollar bill. In those days that was a decent sum of money.

The Soft Drink Business – The soft drink business started in the Stearns Motors building as part of Minot Beverage Company. My understanding is that at one time there was a bottling operation in the basement of Stearns Motors. This was eventually moved to South Broadway and became Northern Bottling Company, which is still in business today

Stearns Motors is now the home of I Keating Furniture

Volunteers of America

The Great Depression of the 1930s stretched the nation's private social welfare system almost to the breaking point. Volunteers of America mobilized to assist the millions of people who were unemployed, hungry and homeless. Relief efforts included employment bureaus, wood yards, soup kitchens and "Penny Pantries" where every food item cost one cent.  The Volunteers of America in 1932 were serving several hundred meals a week to school children at their food station on Second Avenue Southeast. Children sent to the food station are selected from various schools in Minot, according to Capt Richard Das.  Volunteers of America was founded in 1896 by social reformers Ballington and Maud Booth (pictured). They envisioned a movement dedicated to “reaching and uplifting” the American people. On behalf of the organization, the Booths pledged to “go wherever we are needed, and do whatever comes to hand.” In turn-of-the-century America, there was no shortage of work to do. The Volunteers moved into tenement districts to care for people in poverty. They organized day nurseries and summer camps, provided housing for single men and women, and established the nation's first system of halfway houses for released prisoners.   

Walter's Women's Wear

The first Walter’s Women’s Wear opened in July of 1955 at 115 South Main Street. The store was formerly known as Zollie Vida’s. Walter’s was owned by Mr & Mrs Walter Feldman. In 1961 they leased the Bon Bon Store across the street at 114 South Main and opened as Walter’s Bon Bon. Additional departments were added including a Children’s Dept, Lingerie  and shoe department. In April of 1964, Walter’s expanded to a second location in the Town & Country Shopping Center. In March of 1974, Walter’s added The Attic to the downtown store. The Attic featured styles for young, juniors and teens.

Town & Country Shopping Center

Valker Floral and Jupiter

Past Businesess – ….. Geo. E Valker Floral – 216 South main St…. Now the parking lot for Wells Fargo bank ….. Northland Archery – 10-A 1st St SW – Above Harry’s Tire Service (When Harry’s was Downtown) – Indoor archery range and product sales ….. Spinning Wheel – Yarn and sewing shop located in the basement of Northwest Music on main Street in Minot ….. The Al-Ma Shop – fabrics and accessories – 108 4th Ave SE – (new Burdick Expressway ….. Jupiter Discount Store grand opening was in February 1963– Main Street in Minot – Formerly SS Kresge and the forerunner of Kmart – (Western Paint Home Center and now Downtown Books in this store)

 Early Delivery Van

Greenhouse Interior

Outdoor Picnic in January

1892 Picnic -- On a mild day in January of 1892, almost the entire population of Minot enjoyed an outdoor picnic without having to bundle up in warm clothing. The scene is near the Great Northern Railroad Bridge across the Mouse River. At the time of the picture, the picnic grounds were outside the City Limits of Minot. This site is very close to where the Minot Flour Mill would be built. In the picture are C. A. Johnson, principal of the school and some of his students. One of those students was Joseph Rowan who went on to become and undertaker and owner of Rowan’s Funeral Home on Main Street. The Funeral Home was an establishment involved in the illegal booze running during the prohibition days.

News Arcade II

News Arcade II – In the Wednesday, January 30, 1963 newspaper there was an ad announcing the Grand Opening of the News Arcade II. It was located at 214 South Main St. They were open until 10:30 pm nightly. The News Arcade II claimed to have Minot’s most complete supply of paperback books. They also sold newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, and North Dakota Souvenirs…. And they did some photo finishing. … News arcade was also a drop off point for ABC Cleaners. Clothes in by 9 am would be ready by 5 pm.

Main Street - 1960

Remember These Busineses??

Past Businesses – Cloth Haus – Fabrics and Notions – on Main Street in Downtown Minot ---- American Lifestyles --- 1906 South  Broadway (Now  CompuTech) – Sold waterbeds and bedroom suites ---- Minot Outdoor Theater --- on the corner of Highway 83 South and County Road 14 – (now the home of Cartiva and Enerbase- Across from Minot Chrysler Center) They occasionally featured “Buck Nite” - $1.00 per car admittance ---- Wylie Piano Co. --- 117 West Central Avenue – Dealer for Baldwin pianos …… The Meat Shoppe – Located in the Mar-Son Distributor Building just east of the Riverside ( on 8^th Ave or Valker Road) …. Trestle Valley Ski – In the hills by the train trestle west of Minot….

Merck's Twist Inn

Twist Inn – an article in the Newspaper on August 7, 1969 stated that Arnold Merkel and his wife Beverly had taken over owner ship and management of the Twist Inn located at 800 North Broadway. They purchased the business from Norel Carlson. The new name will be Merk’s Twist In. the new hours were to be 11 am to 11 pm seven days a week. Two more waitresses were added to the staff. Merk was previously employed as a sales representative for KMOT-TV. Grand opening Spcials included 5 hamburgers for $1.00 --- Malts and Sundaes – 2 for 1 and an eight piece bucket of chicken with jo-jo potatoes for $1.95 --- a 16 piece bucket was only $3.95. ... I have no pictures of the Twist Inn... Here is a list of Restaurants in 1954

Minot Jaycee's

Jaycee Week – January 1963 --- The Jaycees were a strong organization in the 50’s and 60’s….. some of these people you may remember as Jaycee’s – Young men who could change Minot ---Harvey Zimmer – Manager of the Minot Firestone Store – Dale Norgard – Office Manager and Wayne Krefting – Parts manager at Krebsbach’s Inc on south Broadway --- Richard Muus and Jerry Hahn -  Minot Federal Savings --- Paul Schell – Office Manager at White’s Creamery --- Bill Spicer – Manager of Kedney Waershouse – Allied Vab Agents --- Jim Bennett – outside salesman for Clute Office Equipment ---- Virgil Frost and Robert Zaback – American State Bank

Some Events in Minot from Days Gone By

Events from the Past – World Heavyweight Boxing Match – Closed circuit TV at Minot Auditorium – Floyd Patterson vs Sonny Liston – Thursday – Sept 25, 1962 – Tickets - $4, $5, $6 – reserved seating …. Country & Western Show – Feb 3, 1963 – this show featured Ray Price, “the Cherokee Cowboy”, George Jones, Bill Anderson, Hank Cochran and Loretta Lynn – Tickets $1.00 in advance and $1.75 at the door….. Nazareth – in concert at the All Seasons Aren – special guest – Sammy Hagar – Wednesday, March 15, 1978….. Roy Orbison – in person at the Minot Municipal Auditorium – Wednesday, August 26, 1964 – dance from 9 pm to midnight …..

Past Business

Past Businesses --- Dacotah Homes – offices in the Arrowhead Shopping Center – 3 bedroom home as low as $13,900.00 – with custom fireplace as low as $23,500.00 ….. Parkway Grocery – Open seven days a week featuring a meat department, Fruit and vegetable (produce dept) and a complete stock of nationally advertised groceries….  Hardware Hank – 2105 North Broadway – Across from the old Hardees and Hwy 2 East – ¾ mile east of Fair Grounds….. Past Businesses -- Singer Sewing Center – 13 West Central Avenue – Authorized center for the sales of Singer Sewing Machines ……

Main Street - 1950's

Skateland Fire

Skateland Fire – Skateland was located in the auditorium portion of the old Parker Motor building located at 113 1^st Avenue SE. Early in the morning of Sunday, Sept 23, 1962, the upper portion of the building was destroyed by fire. About two years previously the building had been purchased from the Parker Corporation by Dr. Ringo. The building also house the California firm of Ets-Hokin-Galvin Inc. They were involved in laying cable for the Minute Man missile project in the area. By the time the firefighters arrived there was to chance to save the roof and upper story. Damage to the rest of the building was limited as the auditorium had a double layered wooden floor. There had been a dance in Skateland the evening before which may have contributed to the cause of the fire. The buiding is still there and is used as a parking garage.

Parker Auditorium - Home of Skateland

Jundt's Westland Gas Station

Jundt’s Westland Gas Station – An article in the newspaper on Thursday, September 27, 1962 proclaimed the opening of a new Westland gas station on the magic Mile in Minot, (the Magic Mile being South Broadway). The proprietor of the new station was Leo Jundt. Prior to operating this location, Jundt operated a Westland Station on East Central Avenue. The new station on South Broadway was built at a cost of $85,000.00. It featured a 25 foot canopy in the front that extended over the gas pumps. The station also housed two service bays, each with a single post hoist. The “Selectane” gas pumps were new in design and could dispense nine different grades of gasoline to match the gas to the octane requirements of the vehicle.

Business From Days Gone By

 Arrowhead Record Discount Center – Besides Records they also sold stereos – many in furniture styled cabinets ( in the 60’s – before the days of  cassettes, cd’s and mp3’s) ……. Diamond’s Department Store – Mainly clothing in two Minot locations – Arrowhead Shopping Center and 437 2^nd St NW (N. Broadway) …… Arrowhead Drug – in 1963 – Minot’s newest drug store ….. H&H Variety – located at 109 South Main St …. Coast to Coast Store – 14 1^st Ave SW – Northwest Piano Co. 121 South Main St …. Also sold radios and TV’s and had a complete radio and TV service Dept…..Shark’s Mens Store – corner of 1^st Avenue and Main St. – home of Rick’s Jewelry repair …. Deardurff’s Hobby House – 111 West Central Ave.—used to hold model contests – 3 Divisions – Cars, Ships and Airplanes …..

Devious Methods - Minot Becomes County Seat

Minot becomes County seat for Ward County – Through some rather underhanded maneuvers by Minot officials and the railroad, Minot edged out Burlington as the county seat of Ward County. It appears that when the vote was to be taken by county residents, Minot officials demanded a polling location at Lone Tree, which is west of Des Lacs…. The Lone Tree precinct was approved as the railroad had dropped off an old boarding car and plugged it into the telegraph line to prove its existence. At election time, 143 votes were cast at the Lone Tree location where two weeks previously, no inhabitants could have been found. The vote went in Minot’s favor 499 to 134 for Burlington

Main St. 1890's

King Leo's Opens

King Leo’s opens in Minot ….. the ad in the newspaper on January 22, 1963 proclaimed that King Leo’s was open for business. They billed themselves as the “Aristocrat of Hamburgers)…. King Leo’s was open Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to Midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 1 am… The opening menu featured Hamburgers - 15 cents …..  Cheeseburgers – 19 cents ….. French fries – 12 cents …. Soft drinks 10 and 15 cents ….. hot chocolate – 12 cents and triple thick milk shakes – 20 cents …. All burgers were made with 100% US Gov’t. inspected ground beef…. King Leo’s was located on the Magic Mile (south Broadway – where Arby’s is now).

 (not the Minot King Leo's)

Henry's Drive-In and more

Restaurants of the Past – 60’s and 70’s  – Larry’s Palm Café – US 83 South …. Open 24 hours a day – Henry’s Drive –In – on Highway 83 North – across from the Airport – Featured 15 cent hamburgers and A steak dinner for 74 cents….. Hansen’s Drive-In at the junction of hwy 83 and Hwy 2&52—Featured Henny Penny fried chicken – ½ chicken meal for $1.00 ….. Miyo’s Restaurant – located 1 ¼ miles east of the fairgrounds featuring Chow Mein and Chinese food…. Benny Mar – owner……. The Taco Shop – Home of Sam – Mr. Taco – 1514 South Broadway – MSC Homecoming Special – 3 tacos for $1.00 ….. The Village Inn – 1929 North Broadway – home of Food, Fun and Flicks (they showed old time movies) – “where pizza is always in good taste” …..