The Clarence Parker Hotel was originally
built to be an office building. The original owners were Vaulker and
Christenson. When the economy slowed in the 30’s and the outbreak of Work War
II, the building sat empty for about 20 years. It was often referred to as the
Sparrow Hotel as the top 4 or 5 floors were just steel girders, inhabited by
birds of the area. After the War, Clarence Parker bought the building and
finished construction, turning it into the 250 room Hotel that was named after
him. In 1961, at the Diamond Jubilee, and in honor of the Dakota Territory’s
Centennial celebration, the new Lounge was named the Centennial Room. In 1953
when President Eisenhower came to see the Garrison Dam Project a block of 20
rooms were used by his entourage. Charlie DeMakis from Charlie’s Café was the
personal chef to Eisenhower while he was in Minot. It is now known as the
Parker Senior Center.
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| The Sparrow Hotel |
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Clarence parker in the 1950's
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